Noise from front end - poss suspension?

Done a search of many of the Freelander 1 posts but not sure if I have found the solution.

Knocking noise from the front end of my 2000 L series 5 door. Sounds like its more on the drivers side but not 100% sure. The knocking noise happens a lot on rough ground, but disappears on smooth roads, and seems much quieter on rough ground after the car has covered a few miles.

So far I have done the following:
- New ARB bushes
- Made sure the ARB is central, and positioned with jubilee clip fix
- New drop links
- New wishbone ball joints

Things I am now looking at:
- OS top engine mount rubber has broken. Waiting for a new one to turn up
- Read a bit on here about inner CV joints and wonder if my OS one is on its way out. Outer ones make no noise on full lock, and did re-pack the inners with grease when I changed the IRD last week.
- Wondering if the bottom engine steady to the subframe needs replacing
- Wondering if strut top mounts might cause knocking

Anything else anyone has come across that I should be looking to try and sort this? The car is pretty well sorted now - just waiting for a recon VCU from Freelander Specialists for next week before going on a whole new voyage of exploration with the back end, so this knock is getting annoying!!

A voyage of exploration with the back end!

Bottom engine steady is known to fail. If ones gone it'll make the others work harder!

After bouncing the suspension up and down a bit today with Mr D Do, and comparing it to his, the knocking seems to be coming from inside the strut, and the up and down movement seems surprisingly small, so a pair of new front shocks ordered.

Conscious of the number of views of this thread but the minimal responses (and the difficulties in diagnosing issues on a forum), anyone had experience of the front struts wearing out internally and causing knocking noises?

The Wombat said:

After bouncing the suspension up and down a bit today with Mr D Do, and comparing it to his, the knocking seems to be coming from inside the strut, and the up and down movement seems surprisingly small, so a pair of new front shocks ordered.

Conscious of the number of views of this thread but the minimal responses (and the difficulties in diagnosing issues on a forum), anyone had experience of the front struts wearing out internally and causing knocking noises?

Click to expand...

Delphi shocker valves are known to get noisy over the years. This crops up on MG's too !!

I've heard of it, never seen it though.

Time to put this one to bed as well.

Replaced the front struts today (amongst other things ). Result...

No knockings or bangings from the front end at all. Must have been the old strut internals worn enough, slightly bent etc that was making them knock.

The Wombat said:

Time to put this one to bed as well.

Replaced the front struts today (amongst other things ). Result...

No knockings or bangings from the front end at all. Must have been the old strut internals worn enough, slightly bent etc that was making them knock.

Click to expand...

The valve head goes loose on the shaft over time causing this knock. I had the same thing on my ZS180. I fitted replacement shocks but wanted to know what was causing the noise so I pulled the shock apart. The only thing I found was the valve head has got loose on the shaft!! At least you sorted it now

Thats good info, chrs

So having bought myself a 52 plate K series GS 3 door and been driving that around for a while, I got back into the wife's 2000 W diesel today (the one this thread relates to for solved front end clunks), and it feels loose and noisy at the front end again, especially when compared to my K Series.

I am certain the tracking needs doing which will get the feel a bit better, and I have 4 new tyres to put on at the same time as all 4 current ones are close to the wear marks. Before I do the tyres and the tracking through, I want to make sure there is nothing else wrong with the front end.

With this in mind, and having replaced the struts, top mounts, drop links, TREs, and ARB bushes, here is the rest as best as I can tell:

- Wishbone bushes. They seem fine, no sign of damage, perishing, or breaking up, but will polybush them to try and eliminate this as a possible cause of noise
- inner track arm bushes - Will check these for play as it should be fairly obvious, and there is a knock from the steering if you turn it vigorously from side to side
- Lower rear engine mount - signs of oil contamination on the bushes so they might be soft
- Top OS engine mount rubber is broken so needs replacing anyway

Just to confirm, could anyone give me a run down of what sort of noises I might hear if the wishbone bushes are gone, and is it usual for them to go without any visible signs of deteriating?

Inner track arm bushes are not available separately (talked with Island 4x4 about this today), and they had heard the rack is similar to an old Vauxhall Astra rack. Any thoughts on getting the inner bushes separately would be very useful.

Engine mounts need doing as a matter of course, but I suspect this is not directly related to the noisy suspension. Any thoughts appreciated.

Bush wise I've used many from rimmer.
Freelander 1997-2006 Suspension Bushes at www.rimmerbros.co.uk

The lower engine steady bush is also available in poly.
ROVER 220 420 620 820 SI TURBO T16 POLYURETHANE ENGINE MOUNT STEADY BUSHES BUSH | eBay

Cheers m8y, thats very handy. I should be able to order the specific bushes from that.

Assuming the lower engine mount is just a case of remove the old rubber inserts and press the new poly ones in.

Is there any experience of getting track arm inner bushes? I have not had a look at how they are constructed yet.

Chrs for the info

Had a chance to have a good look at it today.

Inner track arm ends are fine. Tiny little noise coming from the area where the column enters the rack. Sounds like there might be a little bit of play in the pinion, but very very small.

Forgot I only replaced the OS TRE as the boot was split, ans sure enough, the NS TRE is loose as a busy lady of the night and makes about as much noise. Just ordered up a new one and then we will see what else is making a noise.

Slowly slowy catchee monkee!!!!

The Wombat said:

Cheers m8y, thats very handy. I should be able to order the specific bushes from that.

Assuming the lower engine mount is just a case of remove the old rubber inserts and press the new poly ones in.

Is there any experience of getting track arm inner bushes? I have not had a look at how they are constructed yet.

Chrs for the info

Click to expand...

I always use Poly bushes as a replacement as they are easier to fit and longer lasting than rubber.
The Engine tie bar bush is an easy push fit. There is a slight increase in engine vibration through it though unless it's re-profiled before fitting.
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