Banging!!!

[stoner]

I'm getting fed up!
My 320i suddenly felt quite harsh from underneath with a lot of banging and hard bumpin' over potholes, if you hit one on a corner it would kick the back end round. Anyway I've just had the rear beam bushes replaced (at the usual great expense!) as advised my trusted local garage and it's better but it still hasn't cured it all.
The worst rattle/knock seems to now come from the front offside area, seemingly just below the pedals - is that where the front wishbone locates? I can sometimes feel vibration through the pedals and sometimes the steering feels a little vague.
Any ideas - does this sound like a wishbone bush has gone, do I need to change my garage???

Cheers guys

[eko]

Sounds like wishbone to me!

[GBE30]

It does sounds like your wishbone (lower arm bushes) have gone completely. They are located around the pedal area.

Your garage should have picked it up! Search the forum for other similar posts, always a very helpful tool when I have had a problem.

If you dont mind me asking how much did they charge?

[stoner]

Thanks eko, I'm beginning to hope that's all it is - I'll be happy with that. Cheers bud

[Brianmoooore]

SUDDEN banging from one front corner is usually a broken roll bar link, link to wishbone bracket, or roll bar bush bracket.

[stoner]

Thanks GBE30, This is mad; It's just been MoT'd by them and they picked up the rear bushes but they've had the car on a couple of occasions to try and track these things down.

For the MoT it needed the rear bushes, a small amount of welding to the o/s/f inner wing and to sort out a slight blow on the exhaust manifold to downpipe joint.

Labour:
bushes 5hrs@ £40/hr £200.00
welding 2hrs £ 80.00
MOT £50.35 £ 50.35
ex gasket 0.25hr £ 10.00

Parts:
bushes x2 £ 23.80
ex gasket £ 5.13

VAT!!!
TOTAL £436.85 (OUCH!)

[stoner]

Hi brian, just glanced back through my history and apparently (I forgot this) they replaced the o/s/f anti roll bar link and......the o/s/f rear wishbone bush. I think I better be having a chat with these boys don't you?

[GBE30]

Sounds like a lot of money for your MOT mate.

I always like to read up on stuff and have a good old look at what could be at fault myself, then decide to either pay someone or give it a go!!

The forum is a gold mine for advice etc, and most questions that I have ever asked have been answered 100's of times before!

[stoner]

I did look into the wheel arch area the other day in frustration and I did spot what I thought was too much of a "gap" between the anti rol bar and the arb bush but didn't notice it obviously damaged or the bracket but perhaps it could be that. Remain philosophical at all times and keep your sense of humour - IT'S ONLY MONEY!!!

[stoner]

Hi GBE30,
I'm a mechanic by trade but I'm also self-confessed crap-I know my place and that I'm a tinkerer rather than a mechanic!
I now work shifts which makes the car even more necessary and also I'd be working on the street as I have nowhere off road to do these things. I'm sure I could probably do the job but the confidence wains and the time isn't always there when you can't use public transport.
I love to read up about most things but it that's usually about it these days.

[stoner]

Brian, the more I think about what I saw "in the wheelarch" the more I like the theory that it could be roll bar bush or bracket linked as it's also fixed to the bulkhead just behind the pedals and as the wishbone bush and droplink has been done(sorry I forgot that bit earlier guys) it could be there. Let's face it's all in the same area. Thanks for your thoughts fellas.

[Bob_S]

arse end swinging about, loud bang? I'm going for front arb problem!!

[GBE30]

Hi GBE30,
I'm a mechanic by trade but I'm also self-confessed crap-I know my place and that I'm a tinkerer rather than a mechanic!
I now work shifts which makes the car even more necessary and also I'd be working on the street as I have nowhere off road to do these things. I'm sure I could probably do the job but the confidence wains and the time isn't always there when you can't use public transport.
I love to read up about most things but it that's usually about it these days.

Yeah maybe i have too much time on my hands!!!

I just hate to think that I am paying someone to do something I can do myself! I am by no means a mechanic but i do like to understand how things work and fix them if need be.

I hope you get it sorted mate. Banging would do my nut!

Gareth

[stoner]

Alright fellas,
It didn't disappear overnight! I keep looking at this area because it is driving me nuts(I have a 52 mile commute each day on crap roads) but I noticed tonight that the outer control arm ball joint appears to be showing shiny bits where I think perhaps rubber should be. Would that transmit the "clonking" to the pedal area through the arm? I think it might tie in with the other symptoms of slightly vague steering, some vibration through the steering wheel and light vibration under braking-which can also be felt either through the floor or the brake pedal.
Cheers guys,

Dave