Metallic 'clonk' sound
Metallic 'clonk' sound
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Discussion

cressell

Original Poster:

35 posts

100 months

Sunday 24th March 2019
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Hi folks.

As I was out in my '09 DB9 Coupé today, I heard a strange metallic sound at two occasions. First, when coming to a stop after leaving the motorway, and the second time when driving around a parked car blocking my side of the road. The sound comes, I think, from the driver side of the car (LHD).

It sounds very much like a metal plate dropping against the ground. Quite nasty, to be honest. Any ideas what it might be?

Also, my left rear suspension creaks... And there's a squealing noise from the steering column.

anonymous-user

85 months

Sunday 24th March 2019
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Interesting. I have lived with what I think is that weird noise for a while, well, very occasionally I will hear it then nothing for months. Its a metallic clunk sound like something is hitting something else with a bit of grating. On mine I am sure it comes from the rhs front. I have had the car inspected by AM and an indy and both found nothing wrong. I am getting its serviced this coming week and will ask the question again. The only constant I have noticed is when the car has been parked outside overnight (rare) and it has been cold. I thought it could be suspension but if I drive it like I stole it over bumpy roads I get nothing, trackdays nothing. Then very occasionally on a cold morning, clunk, then once the car is warmed up nothing. I am starting to wonder if its something to do with the air ventilation system as it does seem to be temperature related and my car doesnt start ‘blowing’ until I have been driving for a few minutes, so could be a flap/valve stuck?

Also worth checking the metal shields/guards behind the front wheels (where the hubs attach) for any stones being stuck/wedged. Clearance is very tight behind there and I have had stones twice get caught and make a horrible scraping noise before falling away further down the road.

I will post if anything gets found re the above and it would be interesting to know how you get on. It is the only niggle with my car that I cant seem to solve.

cressell

Original Poster:

35 posts

100 months

Sunday 24th March 2019
quotequote all
soofsayer said:
Interesting. I have lived with what I think is that weird noise for a while, well, very occasionally I will hear it then nothing for months. Its a metallic clunk sound like something is hitting something else with a bit of grating. On mine I am sure it comes from the rhs front. I have had the car inspected by AM and an indy and both found nothing wrong. I am getting its serviced this coming week and will ask the question again. The only constant I have noticed is when the car has been parked outside overnight (rare) and it has been cold. I thought it could be suspension but if I drive it like I stole it over bumpy roads I get nothing, trackdays nothing. Then very occasionally on a cold morning, clunk, then once the car is warmed up nothing. I am starting to wonder if its something to do with the air ventilation system as it does seem to be temperature related and my car doesnt start ‘blowing’ until I have been driving for a few minutes, so could be a flap/valve stuck?

Also worth checking the metal shields/guards behind the front wheels (where the hubs attach) for any stones being stuck/wedged. Clearance is very tight behind there and I have had stones twice get caught and make a horrible scraping noise before falling away further down the road.

I will post if anything gets found re the above and it would be interesting to know how you get on. It is the only niggle with my car that I cant seem to solve.
Thank you for your reply! Annoying when one can't find what's causing it, isn't it! The point about shields behind the front wheels is interesting, there's a lot of gravel out after the winter still so I'll have to have a look. My sound came today after driving for half an hour or so.

Flymo01

2 posts

98 months

Sunday 24th March 2019
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My DB9 (2012 MY) occasionally produces an unexplained metallic ‘clonk’ sound. Seems to occur after driving for a while and may be related to manoeuvring a low speed (with significant or even full lock steering input). On a couple of occasions I’ve noticed it when parked - once with engine still running, once just after engine shutdown. It sounded to me like it might be thermal expansion related. Inspection with Indy specialist did not reveal any issues.

AlistairMcD

76 posts

108 months

Monday 25th March 2019
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I had similar at low speed and typically intermittent when on full lock. I mentioned this to my AM service guys and they found nothing wrong. However, after a service it never returned. I put it down to the taking off/on of the under tray as it never happened again.

morty1961

379 posts

213 months

Monday 25th March 2019
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dbs2000

2,756 posts

223 months

Monday 25th March 2019
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I had this on my old DBS too. I happened twice I think, it's quite an unnerving noise. It generally only happened at low speeds and turning, it was never traced sadly.

cressell

Original Poster:

35 posts

100 months

Monday 25th March 2019
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Thanks, I'll check the next time I hear the sound.

cressell

Original Poster:

35 posts

100 months

Tuesday 26th March 2019
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soofsayer said:
Also worth checking the metal shields/guards behind the front wheels (where the hubs attach) for any stones being stuck/wedged. Clearance is very tight behind there and I have had stones twice get caught and make a horrible scraping noise before falling away further down the road.
This was it! Case closed - stones getting caught behind the guards, banging like hell when they snap loose.

anonymous-user

85 months

Wednesday 27th March 2019
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Excellent!