Metallic squeak in front axle area

[BenS]

Short summary: almost at work and I notice a metallic squeak in the car, coming from the front. Happens when going over bumpy ground and turning. Can get it to happen by dry steering when stationary, so definitely not the rear. There was no audible bang or snap of anything breaking while driving either (I mean I do listen to music but I can still hear the engine over it).

My instinct is a broken suspension spring or damper, but I had a look at what little area of the spring you can see and nothing there. I know that's not exactly evidence as they have a habit of breaking at the very top or bottom where you can't see it, as happened with my rear a while back. There is no sagging (again, didn't happen last time), but also bouncing the front up and down while parked doesn't make a sound at all.

My other possible thoughts are: loose engine mount potentially?, loose wheel bolt (didn't have time to check that, I'm in work now), or somethingin the steering rack (hope not).

As I said, I'm pretty convinced it's suspension, but if anyone knows better, I'd like to know before I drive it home to the garage! Cheers

[cyclone]

look at the upper spring/shock mount there is a bearing in there lets the spring and shock assembly turn when you turn the steering wheel while the car body obviously does not.

[BenS]

Update: got a colleague to sit in and wiggle the wheels back and forth. Bearings seem to be working as normal but the noise has disappeared. I even drove it round the car park weaving side to side and there was nothing at all. Will see how the drive home goes then....

[V3nn3tj3]

My best bet would be the top mount of the front suspension. They are really made of chocolate as they fail after 60k.
There the same as my c2's and have replaced them on both my vts (sold now) and loeb. And the ones on my thp were in a very bad shape only after 55k..

[V3nn3tj3]

They're... (not there, i sweat that was autocorrect!!!)

[BenS]

Well I'm at 52k miles so that is a likely cause. Will get it booked in for the garage to have a poke as they're better equipped than I am by a long way.

[BenS]

Update #2: Took it easy on the way home on the motorway rather than back roads. Again, not a sound. Managed a small squeak going over a big pothole/dip in the road near my house, but still no creak/squeak while turning thereafter. Will get it booked in for this week and see what the cause is :confused:

[V3nn3tj3]

One way to know is to just have a look at it. Let me explain as best as i can. Not a native english speaker as you might have noticed but here we go....
Get a light and shine it at the top mount through the plastic mesh under the window. Make sure you can see the nut that's in the middle of the mount.
Just like this (picture is from a c2. But it's exactly the same).

Now have a good push at the car in all direction. Best is down and up and down and up, etc. If you see any movement of the big washer/nut compared to the car. It's a faulty top mount. If not. Than they are still ok. If they fail, they fail very quickly and tear themself apart over 100km or so. If they don't move you're safe.
Other option are the rubber mounts of the wishbone/control arm. It very hard to detect or see if they are faulty, they might look a 100% while beeing worn out.

Hope this helps.

[BenS]

Thanks man, very easy to follow. I'll give it a look

[lfcrule1972]

Let us know when you know Ben

[hilas]

One way to know is to just have a look at it. Let me explain as best as i can. Not a native english speaker as you might have noticed but here we go....
Get a light and shine it at the top mount through the plastic mesh under the window. Make sure you can see the nut that's in the middle of the mount.
Just like this (picture is from a c2. But it's exactly the same).
[ATTACH=CONFIG]14279[/ATTACH]
Now have a good push at the car in all direction. Best is down and up and down and up, etc. If you see any movement of the big washer/nut compared to the car. It's a faulty top mount. If not. Than they are still ok. If they fail, they fail very quickly and tear themself apart over 100km or so. If they don't move you're safe.
Other option are the rubber mounts of the wishbone/control arm. It very hard to detect or see if they are faulty, they might look a 100% while beeing worn out.

Hope this helps.

I dont have that "pin"! In right side i have a hole . in left side i dont. Is this normal?

[BenS]

Forgot to ever update on this - the noise never returned so I'm banking on it having been a stone or other debris wedged in the general area which dislodged itself.

Hope someone can answer the above query though

[V3nn3tj3]

Sorry for the delay. Mine did have them but the remplacements did not. Nothing to worry about.

[TomTom]

Sounds like the mendibular angle

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