Forgot the Struts are also less then 2k miles old. OEM unbranded Delphi.

doclees wrote:

This clunk is with bumpy roads going slow or speed bumps. That rocking roll of the front suspension brings it out. What is left to test?

Was this a shot in the dark or could you visualize wear or movement?

Finally got a mechanic that is on the ball. Range Rover and Jaguar factory trained so he hates working on them but a wealth of knowledge. He feels that there is some play in the swaybar bushings but not much. His online mechanics association that tracks difficult to find/DX problems reported 36 customer complaints of clunk being bushings and 15 from "rag" connector in steering column. I can't find that in the RAVE but I don't feel any steering wheel impulse with the clunk.

Finally got a mechanic that is on the ball. Range Rover and Jaguar factory trained so he hates working on them but a wealth of knowledge. He feels that there is some play in the swaybar bushings but not much. More of a horizontal play than vertical so I guess I will do that next. His online mechanics association that tracks difficult to find/DX problems reported 36 customer complaints of clunk being bushings and 15 from "rag" connector in steering column. I can't find that in the RAVE but I don't feel any steering wheel impulse with the clunk.

Not to hijack but I have a rattle when going low speed over bumps - anti roll bar links? Is there a way to see if these are gone? I also have the occasional bang sound when on full lock either way - any ideas? Current stable:
2006 BMW M6
2007 4.2 V8 S/C FF
Gone:
2002 4.4 V8 FF

End link play can be see but IIRC you need to get both front tires off the ground so not to tension the sway bar. Find this first then see what is left.

Hi all. Hoping this may help someone but unsure where to post it really.

I've been reading with interest all of the posts here as I have had an awful noise from the front of my 2005 L322 for several months now. She's topped 100k miles so could have been anything so I systematically changed everything I could including complete suspension struts (due to an air-spring leak), both control arms, both lower ball joints and drop links so everything is new but I still had the same high pitch metallic "Ping" type noise at parking speeds and occasionally over speed bumps. Everyone could hear it a mile off but even 2 MOT centers including one with an all singing shaker ramp for testing suspension could't track it down.

Yesterday I finally fixed it!

I had modified the brakes to 4 pot Brembos a year or so ago with second hand calipers that I had professionally refurbished at BCS so the entire upgrade cost me around £1500 in all with top grade discs, pads, backplates etc. The "ping" was caused by wear in the pad guides in the calipers allowing the pads to move and contact the guide alternated by forward and reverse motion braking. It doesn't have to be that much movement given the weight of these beasts and the energy transferred to the brake system so it was like tapping an anvil with a heavy hammer each time I braked in a forward then reverse direction. I can only assume that when I first fitted the calipers, the new paint cushioned the pads and it has gradually eroded. To fix it I managed to swage the trailing edge of all 4 pads by centre popping the back face making the pad slightly wider until it was a snug fit in the caliper but still barely free enough to move and ever since no more noise. I'm ecstatic as it was really bothering me and quite embarrassing as an engineer. So I hope this may help someone in a similar predicament.

Just an update. Haven't changed the bushings out yet but noticed how higher tire pressure stresses any front end joints. I just picked up the RR after it sat at mechanic for a week. Front tires were low to about 25 psi. In driving the 12 miles back with the low pressure absorbing bump impact I rarely heard the swaybar clunk. After filling to 42psi it brought it out again. It also brought out the very early wear sound in the wheel bearing.

42 psi??? No suspension left in the sidewalls at this pressure!

The bearing noise is most likely caused by the rock-hard tyre's tread blocks as they hit the road.

Maybe but max tire pressure is 55 psi on the Pirellis. Still has some give. That said this tire is the one with just a bit of feathering. Sounds plausible the extra pressure and extra pavement slap from the feathering causing odd sounds. The next step was to put this tire back on the rear and see it the noise changes. Needs to go in for inspection (MOT) and an alignment check. I'll have it rotated then. I've never run these at stock pressures. Just the leaky low in the 20s which was quiet. Well I would be ecstatic if that is all it is but I will refrain from getting my hopes up.

I'm curious as to which Pirelli has max pressure of 55 psi. I've seen 44, 50, 65 and 80 but never 55 on any brand.

I'll check the actually pressures. I know it was 50 something. Just guessing the middle range.

50 psi. Not 55. Some did have 51 max. These are 235/65 -19. The extra inch or so in diameter put my speedometer dead on with GPS and radar.