[Mk2] [Generic] Rattling knocking noise driving me insane

[Race Idiot]

Hi Peeps

I've got this strange rattle/knock noise coming from the front (I think, it's very hard to detirmine where realy) that seems to coencide with driving over rough roads and also coming to a stop.

I had a check underneath the car and everything looks fine, front suspension doesnt seem to have any play in it no undue tyrewear everything nice and even. I had the front calipers/discs/pads all replaced recently and everything seems to look good there nothing seems to be loose and the car has no problems braking.

Now initially I thought it might be one of the undertrays at the front which were missing bolts in places moving about. Put some new bolts on and even one behind the front splitter which was missing but that doesnt seem to make any difference. I took the frunk lining out, spare wheel pretty much everything to see if anything was moving about in there.

It seems pretty hard to pinpoint where the noise is coming from and it only seems to occur when just driving around town slowly, anything over 30mph you stop hearing it unless the road is pretty bumpy. Then coming to a stop you start hearing it agan.

Could it be the topmounts are shot? Is there anyway to tell, I had a look underneath the dustcovers at the top and can only see the retaining nut nothing looks too out of place there. I actually do have a set of pillowball front and rears that I could replace the stock ones with.

Anyone have any ideas?

[teccyjim]

Ive got a similar problem mate, only mine feels like the car is gonna explode above 60mph. Im replacing the shocks early next week with some old coilovers i have lying around as ive been trough pretty much the same fault diagnosis as you and can only think its the top mounts, as someone suggested.

Jimbo

[HighwayStar]

Droplinks OK?

R

[Quigonjay]

as mentioned droplinks or top mounts would be the most likely suspects but bushes wear out too, worn arb bushes can cause a knocking for instance
i find a good way to indentify knocking suspension is too jack the car up and place a lever under each wheel in turn moving the suspension up and down, see if you can replicate the noise you are getting, if you can try to feel for the knock rather than localise it by ear

[Race Idiot]

as mentioned droplinks or top mounts would be the most likely suspects but bushes wear out too, worn arb bushes can cause a knocking for instance
i find a good way to indentify knocking suspension is too jack the car up and place a lever under each wheel in turn moving the suspension up and down, see if you can replicate the noise you are getting, if you can try to feel for the knock rather than localise it by ear

Droplinks are new, I also have TRD antirollbars fitted with new arb bushings. I'll give replicating the sound a go when it's not totally freezing like it is at the moment.

[mrfil13]

if you have rebuildable struts check that the nut that holds the shock into the strut is tight, this happened to me, they were second hand struts and the nut had come loose.