Graunching sound?
Discussion
Towards the end of a long, top-down drive yesterday I noticed as I slowed a graunching sound as the car's front end dipped on braking.
When I stopped, I pushed the front of the car down and it sounded like metal against metal contact. The suspension bushes were replaced with poly versions in the last six months so it's unlikely to be that, especially since the noise was identical no matter which side of the car was depressed. So I'm speculating (wildly) that it's chassis rubbing against exhaust or somesuch.
What could it be? And could it be serious enough for me to cancel a drive up to Scotland this weekend...
When I stopped, I pushed the front of the car down and it sounded like metal against metal contact. The suspension bushes were replaced with poly versions in the last six months so it's unlikely to be that, especially since the noise was identical no matter which side of the car was depressed. So I'm speculating (wildly) that it's chassis rubbing against exhaust or somesuch.
What could it be? And could it be serious enough for me to cancel a drive up to Scotland this weekend...
quote:
Towards the end of a long, top-down drive yesterday I noticed as I slowed a graunching sound as the car's front end dipped on braking.
When I stopped, I pushed the front of the car down and it sounded like metal against metal contact. The suspension bushes were replaced with poly versions in the last six months so it's unlikely to be that, especially since the noise was identical no matter which side of the car was depressed. So I'm speculating (wildly) that it's chassis rubbing against exhaust or somesuch.
What could it be? And could it be serious enough for me to cancel a drive up to Scotland this weekend...
Spring, damper unit, top mount ???
I had a BMW that graunched just as the nose lifted after braking - the dealer lubricated the bushes and the noise vanished.
Manek - check it's not the engine mount/mounts coming loose. The manifold(s) rest on the chassis if the bolts come out altogether (happened to me - no graunching, but a weird twisty feel when applying power). You should be able to feel a gap, not quite big enough for your little finger, between the manifold and chassis at the closest point just forward of the block. Check each side.
I think you need to get under the car to tighten these bolts so a ramp is going to be necessary.
Good luck.
T/.
I think you need to get under the car to tighten these bolts so a ramp is going to be necessary.
Good luck.
T/.
Does sound like the wishbones noving endways along the bushes and rubbing against the chassis. Having new bushes is no guarantee against this, unless you've also got the thrust washers fitted between the chassis and the wishbones. If it's this you should be able to see it, and a smear of oil will probably quieten things down until you can put it right.
Thanks for the suggestions, Peter and Trefor.
I don't think it's wishbone movement because it makes exactly the same noise whether moving or static, and there are no fore/aft forces when static.
I've had a look at the engine mountings too and they appear sound -- there's room betwist manifold and chassis as far as I can tell.
I had a poke about for half an hour just now, grovelling around near the front suspension and believe I've pinned the noise down to the offside end of the front anti-roll bar.
What I suspect may have happened is that a nut is looser than it should be or somesuch. I'll take a spanner to all the anti-roll bar joints tomorrow and see if that makes a difference.
Are there any gotchas there I should know about?
I don't think it's wishbone movement because it makes exactly the same noise whether moving or static, and there are no fore/aft forces when static.
I've had a look at the engine mountings too and they appear sound -- there's room betwist manifold and chassis as far as I can tell.
I had a poke about for half an hour just now, grovelling around near the front suspension and believe I've pinned the noise down to the offside end of the front anti-roll bar.
What I suspect may have happened is that a nut is looser than it should be or somesuch. I'll take a spanner to all the anti-roll bar joints tomorrow and see if that makes a difference.
Are there any gotchas there I should know about?
Wasn't planning to undo anything! 
A mechanic at Fernies reckoned that it could have been suspension bushes but had never encountered an anti-roll bar making a noise, unless maybe it was rubbing on the two bushes that hold it in place just behind the rad. Odd.
However, the beast was given a thorough going over with a wet rag and so on this morning and, guess what?, by the time I'd finished, the problem had disappeared.
Sleeping dogs...
>> Edited by manek on Thursday 27th June 15:05
A mechanic at Fernies reckoned that it could have been suspension bushes but had never encountered an anti-roll bar making a noise, unless maybe it was rubbing on the two bushes that hold it in place just behind the rad. Odd.
However, the beast was given a thorough going over with a wet rag and so on this morning and, guess what?, by the time I'd finished, the problem had disappeared.
Sleeping dogs...
>> Edited by manek on Thursday 27th June 15:05
Well, it's happened. Here I am in Scotland, five miles out on a scenic drive through some damp Scottish scenery and there's a horrible smell of burning -- tyre rubbing on fibreglass following suspension collapse.
Turns out the offside damper has collapsed, broken in the middle. So on Monday it's Green Flag time, get it towed back to Thames Valley Racetech (who fitted the Leda dampers in the first place only 9 months ago) and then fly home sometime.
Anyone else heard of a damper just breaking in the middle like this? It's ruined my holiday!
Turns out the offside damper has collapsed, broken in the middle. So on Monday it's Green Flag time, get it towed back to Thames Valley Racetech (who fitted the Leda dampers in the first place only 9 months ago) and then fly home sometime.
Anyone else heard of a damper just breaking in the middle like this? It's ruined my holiday!
quote:
Well, it's happened. Here I am in Scotland, five miles out on a scenic drive through some damp Scottish scenery and there's a horrible smell of burning -- tyre rubbing on fibreglass following suspension collapse.
Turns out the offside damper has collapsed, broken in the middle. So on Monday it's Green Flag time, get it towed back to Thames Valley Racetech (who fitted the Leda dampers in the first place only 9 months ago) and then fly home sometime.
Anyone else heard of a damper just breaking in the middle like this? It's ruined my holiday!
Had similar when my CrapSpax decided to unscrew. Scary. Has the rod broken on yours? If so, I wonder whether the damper end fittings are binding on something? Dampers really don't like being put under bending loads.
From what I can see (and I don't want to mess with it since the spring is bent over at a near-right angle and I don't want to be anywhere near it if that potential energy gets accidentally released), the top of the rod has broken and come away from the top joint.
However, there really is nothing for the damper to bind against since there's a clear space around it, apart from the spring.
Do you or anyone know what the warranty period is for Ledas?
However, there really is nothing for the damper to bind against since there's a clear space around it, apart from the spring.
Do you or anyone know what the warranty period is for Ledas?
quote:
From what I can see (and I don't want to mess with it since the spring is bent over at a near-right angle and I don't want to be anywhere near it if that potential energy gets accidentally released), the top of the rod has broken and come away from the top joint.
Sounds suspiciously like the CrapSpax failure, where the top joint was screwed onto the end of the rod and (in my case) apparently not thread locked properly. I'd talk to Leda asap if I were you. I would like to think that they would sort this out no questions asked regardless of the warrantee situation. After all, this is total and potentially lethal failure of a safety critical component in circumstances that point firmly to a design/manufacturing fault.
quote:
Anyone else heard of a damper just breaking in the middle like this? It's ruined my holiday!
This has happened quite a few times with the Nitrons fitted to the Tassies and to one fitted to a Griff I believe.
One of the recent mods to the 520 is to change the top shock mount so that the sideways movement is controlled to help protect the shock. rod and top joint.
Steve
quote:
Anyone else heard of a damper just breaking in the middle like this? It's ruined my holiday!
This has happened quite a few times with the Nitrons fitted to the Tassies and to one fitted to a Griff I believe.
One of the recent mods to the 520 is to change the top shock mount so that the sideways movement is controlled to help protect the shock. rod and top joint.
Steve
She's gone off on the back of a trailer for delivery to Thames Valley who have agreed to repair under warranty -- they reckoned they'd not heard of such a failure before. It was a sad sight seeing her being trailered away!
Meanwhile, I've booked a flight home tomorrow, and am now off for a long, consolatory walk in the Scottish highlands. In the rain...
Meanwhile, I've booked a flight home tomorrow, and am now off for a long, consolatory walk in the Scottish highlands. In the rain...
Thanks Trefor.
I have to say, it's brought me close to a decision to sell the car, partly because of the expense of running it (in the current economic climate, it's now a big issue for me) but also the regular hassles.
So now I'm looking to see if I can get anywhere close to TVR-stylee thrills for not too much more than I'll get for it. I reckon my budget could be around £17k, maybe £20k.
Candidates so far (in potential order) are:
911 (fab drive, but too many around? Could also be costly to run)
M3 (nice to drive but a bit dull?)
Corrado VR6 (fab drive but a tad old now)
Alfa 156 Veloce (Bit dull and dodgy dealers)
I have to say, it's brought me close to a decision to sell the car, partly because of the expense of running it (in the current economic climate, it's now a big issue for me) but also the regular hassles.
So now I'm looking to see if I can get anywhere close to TVR-stylee thrills for not too much more than I'll get for it. I reckon my budget could be around £17k, maybe £20k.
Candidates so far (in potential order) are:
911 (fab drive, but too many around? Could also be costly to run)
M3 (nice to drive but a bit dull?)
Corrado VR6 (fab drive but a tad old now)
Alfa 156 Veloce (Bit dull and dodgy dealers)
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