knocking front suspension

[bmben]

recently ive noticed it, so i jacked up car and gave the wheel a wobble and it knocks (not a wheel bearing) with the steering lock on, theres a bit of left/right movement that you can feel. can also hear and feel it when driving along, mainly on crap roads around oxford...its annoying the hell out of me! just a case of worn mounts or bushes?

cheers guys
Ben

[georob]

Balljoint? Tie rod ends?

[stonesie]

It is most likley to be the bottom ball joint on one side thats worn, you need to have a look and confirm that it is this before you go ordering parts as new arms are around £50 each for decent after-market ones and near £90 for the genuine article, I would avoid the cheaper ones.

It is also worth having a good look at the rear bushes on the arms, these are about £22 the pair from the genuine parts section on here and an upgrade to the offset M3 bushes is a good move as theyre the same price, last longer and improve the feel of the steering, if you do these bushes then i would change both arms then you know it will be right for years to come

(This is what i have done to mine)

[aj_mckay]

Ah the good old sumpbreaker roads of Oxford, how I miss them. Not.

Another vote for inner ball joints from me - worth checking.

[Mox3d]

+1

Inner ball joints. If it tramlines like a sob then these and/or those pesky rear bushes.

...and I thought Norfolk roads were bad.

[swinster]

Have a look at the top mounts of the front suspension, mine was similar this was the last thing I looked at after changing all of the rest. Doh...

[bmben]

Best get some proper tools out then!wait till the weekend feels a bit unnerving driving it tho...nowt will fall off will it??? i'd be tempted by top mounts on suspension, jus cos its been lowered (when i bought it) and theres nothing in the history to suggest new top mounts, its had a few new bushes on front end, and by the looks of it the ARB bushes are shot to pieces - would that make nasty noises?
Ben

[stonesie]

Yeah the ARB links can make a bit of a racket but you would not feel it through the steering or by rocking the wheel so I don't think that's your main problem.