Name that Clonk?

[Dave350iTVr]

I’m afraid this is an extremely non-technical way to describe a problem I have with my 350i at the moment. Whenever I start the car from cold and initially drive it, there is a clonking noise from the front nearside when turning into any sharp corner (backing out of the driveway being the biggest offender). It occurs whenever the steering wheel is turned more than 90 degrees in any direction. It isn’t an extremely loud clonk but enough to raise the suspicion of a problem. The strange part to this problem is that after the car has “warmed” up and has been driving for a while, this noise goes away and cannot be recreated on the roads. Is this a ball-joint on its way out or maybe something completely different?
Cheers, Dave.

[mild2wild]

It sounds like a problem I had, it turned out to be the rubber mounts on the antiroll bar, give it a thump under the wheel arch when the car is cold and see if there is any movment. Mine also clonked less when hot maybe its the rubber getting warm from the engine.

[350matt]

This sounds very similar to a noise I had for some time just before the upright fell off! In my case the bottom joint had rusted badly enough to disintergrate the cup of the joint and the ball just 'popped out' one day fortunatly at low speed. Not wishing to scare you but the balljoints do need replacing at regular intervals. It's something that difficult to check on the bottom as the spring holds it all in massive tension so taking out any slop you could feel by hand.
Another possible source is the lower inner wishbone mount again on the front as this is just another Mk2 granada bit and is only a rubber bush. Again this was causing a 'clonk' on mine and again it wasn't till I removed the spring that I spotted it.

Matt

[Dave350iTVr]

Okay the Ostrich manner of dealing with the problem has not helped me, as this noise has got more frequent and louder! I've changed my mind about ball-joints or rubber mounts being the problem. I think the problem is due to a dry shock absorber - which sounds like it is on its way out. Would this account for those earlier symptoms I described? If so I’m off to ATS tomorrow – which worries me could be another potentially bad mistake!? Unfortunately money is a bit of a restraint at the moment.

[JMorgan]

Try Wedge. I am not sure but you might have to be careful about using the correct ones. One way I located an anoying clonk was to remove the wheel, and jack the hub up to normal level (axle stands in use of course) and waggle things to see what clonked (the only way available at the time to me) and proved to be the leading link rubbers/fixing. I would not go near ANOther unless I was sure what I wanted them doing and what to fit.

[Dave350iTVR]

New poly bushes have been fitted - that was the source of the problem.

>> Edited by Dave350iTVR on Sunday 3rd March 18:32