Knocking noise in rear suspension - solved

[CJ]

I've had a knocking coming from the nearside rear for about 6 months now and its been doing my head in, I've been under the car hangin' out of the suspension to try and find the cause to no avail. I had the car over with Paul Nolan today to get a few belts and a fuel filter fitted, I asked him to take a look at the rear to see if he could work out where the noise was coming from. I was quite surprised to hear it was a worn droplink (shortened by the way), the noise could only be replicated by hanging out of the ARB from the right side (which I hadn't considered). The link was only 6 months old when its started knocking, I had ruled it out because the links had 3000kms of wear (i.e. practically brand new). It just goes to show that these parts might not always last as long as you would anticipate - never rule out what you would consider to be the most obvious cause of noisy suspension!

CJ

[kevinod]

I guess you're just unlucky, or do the shortened ones not last as long?

[CJ]

or do the shortened ones not last as long?

Theres no reason why they shouldn't, standard length links on lowered suspension would last a lot less than shortened ones...

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

Just goes to show - imagine what the droplinks are like on a 95/96 car that has been in the country a few years without having had them changed.
Droplinks and bushes are oft ignored items for the majority of FTO owners and yet they are one of the first things you probably need to address on the car.

[paullen]

I had the same on the front of my GX. It statrted knocking, I ruled out the drop links as they were less than a year old with under 1k on them. One was completely siezed!

[Muad_dib77]

or do the shortened ones not last as long?

Theres no reason why they shouldn't, standard length links on lowered suspension would last a lot less than shortened ones...

CJ

Forgive my ignorance.. Why would the standard lenght link be affected by lowering the car?

- Does this mean that when I get my car lowered I should consider getting all droplinks replaced at the same time? (And it's no longer a simple matter of getting new springs)..

[CJ]

Forgive my ignorance.. Why would the standard lenght link be affected by lowering the car?)

The distance between the anti roll bar and and the test of the suspension is shorter with lowering springs in place.

Does this mean that when I get my car lowered I should consider getting all droplinks replaced at the same time? (And it's no longer a simple matter of getting new springs)..

Not necessarily, leave the originals in place, they'll be fine but will wear out quicker when the car is lowered. When they do need replacing, stick in the shorter links.

CJ

[CJ]

OK, I really should change the title of this post to 'Knocking noise in rear suspension - not solved', I replaced what was considered to be the problematic droplink last night and I still have the dreaded knocking. When I had removed the original link, I had my doubts it was the culpret as it was still quite sturdy, a quick drive afterwards with the new link in place revealed that all was not well.

Back to the feckin' drawing board!

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

Back to the feckin' drawing board!

CJ

You sure its suspension noise?
Could it be the exhaust banging against anything? - this happened to me recently and a little adjustment on the exhaust sorted it.

[CJ]

You sure its suspension noise?
Could it be the exhaust banging against anything? - this happened to me recently and a little adjustment on the exhaust sorted it.

As far as the exhaust is concerned, I've hung out of more than once to determine if thats the cause, Paul Nolan was convinced it was the droplink as the knocking appeared on the LHS when he hung out of the RHS ARB.

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

You sure its suspension noise?
Could it be the exhaust banging against anything? - this happened to me recently and a little adjustment on the exhaust sorted it.

As far as the exhaust is concerned, I've hung out of more than once to determine if thats the cause, Paul Nolan was convinced it was the droplink as the knocking appeared on the LHS when he hung out of the RHS ARB.

CJ

How long is it since you changed the ARB bushes?
Try taking out the spare wheel and toolkit - since I've removed mine from the car I've had less noise from the rear. Handy 15kg loss as well

[Dave]

How long is it since you changed the ARB bushes?
Try taking out the spare wheel and toolkit - since I've removed mine from the car I've had less noise from the rear. Handy 15kg loss as well

what happens if you get a puncture?

[CJ]

How long is it since you changed the ARB bushes?

Changed to a set of poly bushes about and a year half ago, thy look perfect but I might take them out reposition them.

Try taking out the spare wheel and toolkit - since I've removed mine from the car I've had less noise from the rear. Handy 15kg loss as well

That was the first thing I tried - no change.

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

How long is it since you changed the ARB bushes?
Try taking out the spare wheel and toolkit - since I've removed mine from the car I've had less noise from the rear. Handy 15kg loss as well

what happens if you get a puncture?

I carry one of those emergence repair pressurised cans. I've used these before and they're pretty handy.