Clonk at front

[Miserablegit]

Afternoon all,
I’ve had an occasional clonk at the front passenger side at low speed on broken surfaces. Dealer couldn’t find anything.

Took it to a motorsport garage today and whilst unable to pin it down thinks it might be play in upper or lower ball joints on wishbones. These ball joints don’t seem to be replaceable.
I’ve got a new set of top wishbones but wondering what the options are for the lower wishbones-
Has anybody had the ball joints replaced or do I just buy more genuine parts paying the Alpine tax?
I’m going to combine all of this with a
Life 110 spring/damper replacement.
Thank you in advance

[Rocket.]

Can't help for the noise at the front but I would bet it is probably the ball joint.

I had similar noise at nearside rear but only when going over a sharp bump or cats eyes and sure enough upon checking it was upper rear arm ball joint knackered. I had to replace the whole arm and ball joint but found a good used one on ebay replaced it myself and now all is well.

These cars do seem to go through suspension components (mine a 2019 S on 31,000 miles) so far I have replaced both rear dampers and the upper rear arm, sounds like from your experience the front will be next!

[fossett]

hey, you can get some very very posh ones from MP-R in France https://www.mp-rezeau.fr/categorie-produit/alpine/...

[Miserablegit]

fossett said:

hey, you can get some very very posh ones from MP-R in France https://www.mp-rezeau.fr/categorie-produit/alpine/...

They aren’t expensive enough

[Miserablegit]

Many thanks both- I’ll dig deep and order the parts…just hope throwing money at the problem fixes it.
It’s so annoying not being able to just replace the ball joints…

[James Elmer]

Hi Mg,
I’m not sure I can add any more intel, but is it a clonk or a bobble? If a bobble, it would suggest top mounts in other cars, or perhaps a damper issue?

[Miserablegit]

Hi James,
It’s a definite clonk! which happens at low speeds on broken surfaces. Doesn’t always happen but is very noticeable when it does. Such a pain that the parts aren’t replaceable and are quite expensive IMHO.

[jont-]

Have similar at the moment. I'm off to Spires on Saturday to have a look and diagnose, but like Miserablegit it's most obvious at low speeds on slightly rough surfaces. Cost aside, I wonder what availability/lead times are like for parts...

[Miserablegit]

I’m waiting for dealer to get back to me…
Please keep me updated as I’d be interested in Spires’ diagnosis. They are a tad too far for me to go for an investigatory trip. Was going to book them for the suspension replacement but might stick with the local place I’m using. Forgot to add there is also a smidge of play in the steering track rod on the same side.

[jont-]

Unfortunately no real conclusion. Nothing loose was found, on a quick drive around the block Matt thinks it may just be the spherical mounts on the ASTs which do make more noise than the bushes. Otherwise just keep enjoying it until something more obvious becomes apparent.

[Simon Owen]

jont- said:

Unfortunately no real conclusion. Nothing loose was found, on a quick drive around the block Matt thinks it may just be the spherical mounts on the ASTs which do make more noise than the bushes. Otherwise just keep enjoying it until something more obvious becomes apparent.

I have had exactly this on previous cars, I don’t think the architecture of the A110 helps as slight noises like this transmit through the car more noticeably. Am I right in thinking the road spec AST’s have bushes rather than spherical bearings ? Not exactly a knocking but I ‘think’ the Bilsteins on my car are more noisy than stock on rough surface/ broken tarmac.

[The Fonze]

The road spec AST's have spherical bearings at the mounting points the same as the "track" version. Essentially the same damper with different spring rates, I believe even the valving is the same. I also experience some noise at lower speed from the bearings or valving on my AST's, had the same on Nitrons etc on my Lotus.

The Life110 bilsteins have a rubber bush at the mounting points similar to OEM.

[pbennett2005]

My A110S when cornering on rough roads and braking has very occasionally caused concern. The symptoms...a knocking/juddering type noise coupled with a light steering wheel vibration. It lasts for less than one second. I'm guessing it's a combination of the wider 18inch wheels at a certain degree of turning with front loading under braking over bumps all causing tyre to bodywork contact. This model, afterall is track focused and not for the conditions described. Any comments gratefully received as I am only guessing. Regards, Phil

[The Fonze]

More likely to be brakes related I would imagine. The standard discs/pads are rather poor even for spirited road driving and can transmit vibrations into the pedal/steering. I had similar on mine before changing to the Life110 girodisc up front.

[MaFue]

pbennett2005 said:

My A110S when cornering on rough roads and braking has very occasionally caused concern. The symptoms...a knocking/juddering type noise coupled with a light steering wheel vibration. It lasts for less than one second. I'm guessing it's a combination of the wider 18inch wheels at a certain degree of turning with front loading under braking over bumps all causing tyre to bodywork contact. This model, afterall is track focused and not for the conditions described. Any comments gratefully received as I am only guessing. Regards, Phil

It's unlikely to be tyre/ body contact. Are you sure that it's not the ABS kicking in momentarily when braking and cornering over rough surfaces and the tyre loses grip?