Hi all,

I started noticing a knocking noise from the front drivers side, mainly when going over speed bumps and such at slower speeds. At first I thought I was imagining it but it got worse and then started screeching and creaking. As soon as I pulled into the garage he knew what it was as he had heard me coming

I have now had the lower arm controls replaced but she feels a little bit harsher than before. I don't know if it's just my imagination but it's a bit like too much air in the tyres. There is also a very very slight vibration through the steering wheel around 50mph.

I'm going to check the tyres pressures later although I don't see why they should have changed. Is there anything else I should check or anything that should have been done after replacement?

She doesn't pull either side and the steering wheel is centred but could the tracking be out slightly?

I can't shake the feeling that she's just not quite right, or is it just me

Thanks

It's always a good idea to get the tracking checked after replacing suspension components. They're all made to a tolerance, but the tracking might have been adjusted while the originals were slightly worn.

If it's never had one done, i'd recommend a full 4 wheel computer alignment, i've had it done on my Range Rover and previous cars and it's made a massive difference to the driving experience each time.

It might all settle down in a few days, or it might just be that it was so sloppy before and for so long now it feels tight!

I already had the passengers side done just before I sold you the car, so I suppose drivers side was only a matter of time. Geoff

Check with the garage that they tightened the bolts from arm to subframe with the car on the ground at standard height, if they did it on a lift and tightened them with the wheels hanging then the bushes will be wound up and can give a harsh ride... Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
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Thanks guys. I'll check with the garage tomorrow then maybe look at wheel alignment,

Is the system kwik fit use any good?

It depends what they have, most tyre places just have a basic 2 wheel laser alignment system.

Some (including some Kwikfits) have a computer based one, where flags are fitted to the wheels and an over head sensor at the front of the ramp calculates the wheel caster, camber and toe in/out. So they can adjust both the front and rear tracking (toe in and out) as well as the camber (how vertical the wheel is) and caster, (the self centreing effect). they can also make sure the adjustments are even on both sides.

Some people say the Hunter system is better than the Hoffman one, which is better than the John Bean one, but really i think they're all just as good, it just depends if the bloke operating it knows what they're doing and if they can be bothered to spend the time on it.

On my previous Jaguar it made the car turn in better, gave me another 2mpg, ran straight as a die and stopped all the uneven tyre wear. On the Range Rover it's corrected some tyre wear and it definitely feels more predictable when cornering.

Normal 2 wheel is usually a free check and £25ish to adjust it. Proper 4 wheel is normally around £80ish.

I've not spoken to the garage today but noticed that the car seems to be a little off level when parked at work. At first I,just thought it was the way I had parked but I looked on the info screen and the level indicators looked out of line and when driving they seemed to keep changing. I plugged my iid in all 4 wheels had different settings. I've balanced them out and it looks and feels a bit better now but still not as I remember it.

The wheels should have different settings, no two sensors are the same... Did you do the levelling as per GAP's instructions?? Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

no I didn't, I'm a man I don't read the instructions

I have done it properly though and made some adjustments.

 Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Sorry Haylands, I forgot to thank you for the tip

No problem mate, glad you got it sorted... have you found out if they did the final nut tighten on the ground??? Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

I'm going to call in and see them today.

I finally got this checked as the car needed another service, 2nd in 6 months , and I asked the garage to check the suspension. They loosened it off then dropped it back on to,the wheels and tightened it back up then checked the tracking and it feels,much better.

Thanks for the tip Haylands. You were spot on

supershuttle wrote:

I already had the passengers side done just before I sold you the car, so I suppose drivers side was only a matter of time.