Knocking from drivers side front wheel

[Challo]

Girlfriends Ford Ka (03) is making a knocking noise on the drivers side front wheel. Its intermittent but normally over rough roads.

I think its the drop links, but wanted to have a look myself over the weekend. Is it easy to spot if this is the issue? Also is it something someone with limited spanner skills could repair?

[Foofighter]

How many miles?

Over rough roads, would've thought more likely a shagged wishbone bush. Had many experience with them on Mondeos going. Probably in the territory for one going.

Depending on your skill or confidence level, nothing stopping you changing one on the drive if it is that. A drop link is so much easier, as long as you torque it all back up again. A lower wishbone you're looking at hooking the hub off the strut, often this involves the pinch bolt shearing off. Then seperating the lower ball joint without shagging that out and trying not to pull the whole drive shaft out of the gearbox.

Get a haynes manual, all off it is detailed well in there.

[Rickyy]

Try giving the drop links a good wiggle. If they move with very little resistance they're dead. Easy to replace as long as the nuts aren't seized, I had to attack mine with a grinder!