Banging noise from the front suspesnion

[Rubce]

Hi All

As I have mentioned on here before the Stag has been making groaning/banging noises from the front nearside for a while now. It was making a right noise on the Llandudno run today On Friday I found the source of the problem! The coil spring is deformed and rubbing against the suspension turret. Given that the struts were totally refurbished as part of the car resto in 2010 and have only done 12,600 miles since then, I am feeling a bit pisssed off Anyway I have dug out a spare strut that I had in the attic and started dismantling it and ordered a new spring, damper insert and top mount. Hopefully be able to get the entire struts rebuilt by Wednesday and then swap it with the defective one currently on the car. Then it should just be a case of replacing the knackered spring and I will have a spare serviceable strut for the future. I suspect the speed bumps and pot holes which infest our local roads in Crewe are to blame for the springs early failure.

Bruce

[72BLUE]

I suspect the speed bumps and pot holes which infest our local roads in Crewe are to blame for the springs early failure.

Or possibly the speeds that you drive at...............

Keith

[73stagman]

Has the spring actually broken or is the top mount / seat damaged somehow? (The top just because the bottom of the spring looks like its sitting comfortable)

[stagwingnut]

Is it possible your insert has worked loose ,therefore deforming the appearance of everything , I think it very unlikely a spring problem ! As u know the new style collars are far from ideal ? Just a thought ! Regards Graham

[V Mad]

A few months ago I had the struts out to replace a spring and when put back the same thing happened - the spring was distorted and touched to body. I had to remove it again and reposition/rotate the spring so it was straighter. I wonder if yours has rotated in situ?

[Rubce]

Or possibly the speeds that you drive at...............

Keith

Keith

Are you implying that I drive fast? I prefer to think I hussle along!

Bruce

[Rubce]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your suggestions. I will investigate the cause further once I have swapped the strut out but at this stage I don't believe that the spring has fractured. I am taking the spare strut casing into work tomorrow to gritblast and paint. Hopefully get the entire thing reassembled tomorrow evening ready for fitting to the car.

Regards

Bruce

[72BLUE]

Ahhemmm, I refer you to post number 71 of this thread http://www.stag.org.uk/forum/showthr...449#post284449

[Rubce]

Ahhemmm, I refer you to post number 71 of this thread http://www.stag.org.uk/forum/showthr...449#post284449

eh? Andrew dropping out of the convoy was nothing to with speed of travel.

B

[Rubce]

Evening All

I completed the rebuild of the spare strut yesterday evening and fitted it to the car this afternoon. Three problems with the old strut have been noted so far:-

a) gaitor disintegrated after only four years use (minor point but still poor)
b) the spring was rubbing on the suspension turret. The spring appears bowed and to have moved slightly on the bottom seat.
c) the top mount can be moved up and down a few millimetres by hand, generating a banging sound. The bowl beneath it is securely in place on the damper stem.

Any suggestions on why the top mount is doing that?

So the initial findings seem to be that the loud clanking noise I could hear was a combination of the spring rubbing on the bodywork and the top mount moving vertically.

Whilst driving the car this evening I was pleased to hear that the clanking sound has now gone but a slight groan developed after a few miles. A dry joint perhaps? I will give it a few days to see if it sorts itself out.

Regards

Bruce

[73stagman]

Spring compressors on and remove the top mount and see if the rubber metalistic bushing is intact and that the shims and spacers are not worn to nothing..

[73stagman]

stag top mount.jpg
Don't know if this will help much. But you can see either the shims and washers or the top bush itself must be damaged if its loose on the top of the strut...Assuming the top of the strut is still straight!

[flying farmer]

IIRC I noticed the same free play problem on my car when I fitted the lowered springs some years ago, I ended up grinding down the spacer slightly to remove most of the free play in the bush as I was concerned it would knock as it went over bumps.

Neil

[Richard G]

Evening All

I completed the rebuild of the spare strut yesterday evening and fitted it to the car this afternoon. Three problems with the old strut have been noted so far:-

a) gaitor disintegrated after only four years use (minor point but still poor)
b) the spring was rubbing on the suspension turret. The spring appears bowed and to have moved slightly on the bottom seat.
c) the top mount can be moved up and down a few millimetres by hand, generating a banging sound. The bowl beneath it is securely in place on the damper stem.

Any suggestions on why the top mount is doing that?

So the initial findings seem to be that the loud clanking noise I could hear was a combination of the spring rubbing on the bodywork and the top mount moving vertically.

Whilst driving the car this evening I was pleased to hear that the clanking sound has now gone but a slight groan developed after a few miles. A dry joint perhaps? I will give it a few days to see if it sorts itself out.

Regards

Bruce

Mine does same as your item c.

Just renewed all strut etc.
I intend fitting additional top thrust washer on topside ,should sort it.

[KOY 23]

I bought some shim washers from Namrick, some had I/d of strut thread to take out play, others had same I/d as o/d of spacer to increase play as I had a tight one. Still got some left over if you want them.