![]() | Home > Technical (L322) > Creaky suspension? |
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Andy Member Since: 24 Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 2944 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Over the last few days, the ffrr is making all kinds of creaky noises. It seems like it's coming from the front. Noticeable when slowing to a halt, steering whilst at a crawl and over speed bumps. It's a combination of creaking and knocking. Any ideas what it could be folks? 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded |
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Mapmuppet Member Since: 03 Sep 2008 Location: Guildford Posts: 153 ![]() ![]() |
Noddy, does it sound like she's running on leaf springs ?
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Andy Member Since: 24 Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 2944 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Yeah, thats probably the best analogy - where are these front bushes located? I'm doing the front brakes this weekend so I'll do the lot together. 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded |
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dan_uk_1984 Member Since: 12 Nov 2008 Location: Bude, Cornwall Posts: 4014 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
It might be the start of the front ball joints failing. They arent too expensive to replace, I had them done at an independant, I think �150 per side inc parts & labour should cover it. Mine failed within 6 months of each other, so it may be worth having both sides done if it does turn out to be this.
The looking from the front, the one which I needed to replace was the middle ball joint....
but before all that, you need to disconnect the air suspension sensor. This just bolts to the top of the arm:
Its a 10mm nut and on the other side which the sensor arm is on its a slotted section for a 10mm spanner to sit into. Once removed, the EAS system doesn't seem to mind you messing around with the arm in order to tuck it out of the way sensibly, so dont worry too much about keeping it in exactly the position it was removed from. Now its time to business. Remove the nut from the top of the ball joint. Its a 21mm nut, but your unlikely to get a socket into the gap between the nut and the CV joint on the hub. So I used an adjustable ring spanner thingie. It was tight to crack open and unthread. I needed an extended on the handle of the spanner in order to get it undone.
Now undone, but as with any tapered seat ball joint, it was going no where fast. So i then undid the other end of the arm which attaches to the chassis. Again, 21mm bolt head and nut. Easy to undo and remove. Once the bolt was pulled out, i just levered the arm out of the chassis with screwdrivers and spanners so it hung in mid air. I then set about attacking the rubber seal of the ball joint so that i could get a large open ended spanner across the neck of the ball joint. I used a screw driver to break off the clip for the rubber and to beak/split the rubber boot to get easy access with the end of the spanner. With the spanner in place around the neck of the ball joint, I put the other end on the top of the jack and pumped up the jack so that the spanner put some leverage on the taper seat to split it open.... you can see how much force by the bend in the spanner: ![]()
A few very heavy taps with a hammer on the hub casting had little effect, so i figured i waould just leave it under pressure overnight with a liberal amount of penetrating spray and hope it would pop over night. Just as I was spraying joint ... *PING* , the ball joint dropped out. :clap: Refitment: Put the ball joint in loosely first and hold it in place with a few turns on the nut:
Then put the chassis end into place and slot the bolt back through and tighten up the nut.
Put the jack under the ball joint end and lift up the ball joint so that it takes a decent weight of the hub etc. This stops the ball joint from spinning round when you tighten the nut back up...
Re-attach the height sensor arm, put the wheel back on and your done. ![]() |
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Andy Member Since: 24 Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 2944 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Cheers for that Dan.
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dan_uk_1984 Member Since: 12 Nov 2008 Location: Bude, Cornwall Posts: 4014 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I copied that info from rr.net....
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Andy Member Since: 24 Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 2944 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Its easily remedied mate- just undo the bolt slightly whilst its on the floor and re-tighten it. 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded |
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Andy Member Since: 24 Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 2944 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The strangest thing- it's not doing it now! Quiet as a mouse! 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded |
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Andy Member Since: 24 Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 2944 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Nothing mate- just stopped creaking! 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded |
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GKP Member Since: 01 Aug 2009 Location: Hants Posts: 75 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Nine times out of ten the creaking from the rear suspension is caused by a failing bush in the upper wishbone (pictured and arrowed below). They're not expensive to buy - under �20 - but can be a pain to do at home if you don't have the correct insertion tool. I just remove the whole hub and press the bush in and out with a hydraulic press, but a dealer would do it in situ, so expect to be billed for about an hour's labour.
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Andy Member Since: 24 Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 2944 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I've done similar jobs on trucks with a socket and a G clamp in the past! 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded |
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RRCanuck Member Since: 23 Dec 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 172 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Nice info boys |
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Andy Member Since: 24 Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 2944 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Well, just took the car for MOT and it failed - ball joints!
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Andy Member Since: 24 Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 2944 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Euro Car Parts wanted �50 a side plus vat for the arms, so I went to Island 4X4 - �35 each inc vat delivered |
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