Thump/bump noisy front suspension

[puss]

Hi all, I apologise if this has been discussed before but I've not found it. I got a new VXR8 last Sept and after about 70 miles it developed a noise like a bump/thump sound at the nearside front when driving over uneven surfaces. It's not a metallic rattle that would point to brake components as has been suggested elsewhere. My local dealer near Heathrow first replaceed a droplink which surprised me given the car's low mileage. Not surprisingly, this didn't make any difference, so they then fitted a new shock absorber to that corner but that has also not made any difference. I know front shocks have a poor reputation so it is possible that a faulty new one was fitted. I think they did replace it because the tracking is now slightly out which does suggest something was done.
So, does anyone have any other ideas ?
Just for the record, if anyone's interested, the car has now done 1800 miles and I've also had a new rear screen (faulty element before), wiring fix to gear selector illumination (flickering on/off) but these were initial build quality issues so the car hasn't been unreliable as such, although, the noisier Wortec exhaust has created a few trim rattles but I wouldn't have it any other way. I've had much 'better' cars before, inc Merc SL55, Audi RS6, 911s, numerus TVRs, etc, but this has to be one of my favourites because of the grin factor, rarity, noise, value for money and comfort so would like to fix the noise problem
Cheers

[monkfish1]

puss said:

Hi all, I apologise if this has been discussed before but I've not found it. I got a new VXR8 last Sept and after about 70 miles it developed a noise like a bump/thump sound at the nearside front when driving over uneven surfaces. It's not a metallic rattle that would point to brake components as has been suggested elsewhere. My local dealer near Heathrow first replaceed a droplink which surprised me given the car's low mileage. Not surprisingly, this didn't make any difference, so they then fitted a new shock absorber to that corner but that has also not made any difference. I know front shocks have a poor reputation so it is possible that a faulty new one was fitted. I think they did replace it because the tracking is now slightly out which does suggest something was done.
So, does anyone have any other ideas ?
Just for the record, if anyone's interested, the car has now done 1800 miles and I've also had a new rear screen (faulty element before), wiring fix to gear selector illumination (flickering on/off) but these were initial build quality issues so the car hasn't been unreliable as such, although, the noisier Wortec exhaust has created a few trim rattles but I wouldn't have it any other way. I've had much 'better' cars before, inc Merc SL55, Audi RS6, 911s, numerus TVRs, etc, but this has to be one of my favourites because of the grin factor, rarity, noise, value for money and comfort so would like to fix the noise problem
Cheers

Lower arm inner bolts loose, lower arm ball joint knackered, engine mounts loose. Could be any of these if its not the damper. And if they didn't put the top mount back properly then it could be that.

[stevemj]

Mine had this and was fixed by Motor Bodies of Luton under warentee - they had to get some parts and fit these.. I don't know what these were though.

I think 'Essex HSV' had his car in the same dealers about a week or so before for the same reason.

Hope this helps

Steve

[puss]

Thanks for the heads-up. I spoke to Darren at Motorbodies who is their VXR8 specialist and he was very helpful. He listed some mods that are available for all Vauxhall dealers to see on their system to fix this type of issue so I went into my local dealership today, gave them the ref. nos. and booked it in again. The guy there seemed surprised about these technical mods which is about par for the course. Hopefully they'll understand what they're all about. One is just to rotate the spring to a different position. Another is to modify the upper strut mounting (I think) and the 3rd was to fit some damper rings. Here's hoping.

[louthmonaro]

Can you post the Vauxhall ref numbers on here please?

[stevemj]

Motorbodies gets good comments on here.

S

[puss]

Ok, technical notes as follows:
08-TI-42, 09-TI-03 & 08-TI-40. Not sure which is which but one is about 'damper rings, another is about turning the spring round and the final one relates to the upper strut mount.
Anyway, I've spoken to the service manager at the garage it's now booked into to get him to investigate these notes and order any relevant parts rather than waste a day taking it there and then rebooking for another day when they get some parts in.
Will report back after 17th Feb