Pedders told me my shocks are about to shoot through my bonnet!?!??

[javt99]

For the past several months I've been hearing a solid clunking noise (sounds like metal on metal) every now and then when driving. It sounds like it is coming from the front-right. It happens randomly when I go over bumps ranging from a rock on the road, to a nasty speed bump. Although often I'll go over bumps and hear nothing at all. I've taken my car to 2 different mechanics and neither have found anything, although they suggested it was because my radius rod bushes were badly worn. I have since installed new bushes and the clunking noise remains.

I just took it into Pedders for an alignment after putting in the bushes and I was told that the plates above the shocks were very badly torn and that the shocks (or springs?) could shoot out through the bonnet if I don't get these plates fixed pretty soon. Apparantly this is could be the cause of the noise. He called them something like berrum plates... burm, buren, something like that...?

My question is - could this actually happen, or is he just trying to scare me into buying stuff? They're going to charge me $110 parts and $150 labour. Is this likely to be the cause of the noise I described?

Thanks for any advice guys!

[TWOJZ]

bearing plates. If the break, the shock struts won't go through the bonnet unless you hit a decent bump. Anyway, replace them, but do it yourself and buy them from elsewhere. Its pretty easy to do.

[bradcad]

I think from past experience the noise, if it is froom the the plate, will actually be a worn bearing in the strut top bush. I have had one of these fail, but only because it was polyurethane and overstressed from incorrect tightening

[teastpilot]

My question is - could this actually happen, or is he just trying to scare me into buying stuff? They're going to charge me $110 parts and $150 labour. Is this likely to be the cause of the noise I described?

Thanks for any advice guys!

Yes it could actually happen, depending on the age/condition of your shock absorbers and the road condition your driving on...

(if your suspension drops to near its lowest travel then gets compessed to near its limit quickly the shock will attempt to slow down the full spring travel ((this assumes u have good condition shock absorbers)), however if the force exerted on the top bearing plate is equal to or above the remaining rubber left in your top bearing it will shear it away and procede upwards, this will be worse in a lowered vehicle as the spring wont be at a height to counteract the upward movement of the shock/downward movement of your car, before it does some serious carnage)

and yes it will be the cause of your klunk, usually your shocks are shot by the time these bearing plates go and overall less likely to happen.

[bradcad]

Just for interests sake I was running super low king springs with new munroe gt gas shocks, hit a good size pothole at 70k's (she was a biggin) when it popped. Worst it did was push the bonnet up a little and left a small blemish. Nothing serious enough that you have to stress about it untill you can afford to get it repaired.

[javt99]

Thanks for the info everyone!

Just how "easy" is this repair? Will I have to raise it and remove the struts along with everything else? Or can I just remove the old bearing plates from inside the bonnet and simply replace them. If someone could provide some very rough steps that would be awesome!

I need my car in a couple of days to drive it along a bumpy dirt track (very conservatively). I have very limited time to attempt this repair so I might have no choice but to let Pedders do it.

[panda88]

i'm having the same problem as well but when i went to pedders and asked for strut top and bearing sthey quoted me $370? so far the cheapest i have found is $220 and they said they use pedders products as well. How much should i be paying for this?

[bradcad]

Get onto GSL- I think i paid something like $150 (180) for the pair including the bearing. You can buy the bush by itself but best replace them both. Infact I might even have a pair of nolathane bushes without bearings as spare......

replacing is relatively simple- will need spring compressors if you are on std height springs, but basically jack up, unbolt the top and it can be changed from under the wheel arch. The last one i did took something like 45 minutes from memory

[javt99]

I was just quoted $85 for the pair, but no idea if that includes any bearings. Pedders quoted $110.

Seeing as how I don't have a spring compressor I think I'll be letting them do it. If I had the time, I'd have used the money I would have saved to buy a spring compressor. Oh well, maybe next time

[adam69]

I have the same prob with the clubby.LH side is noisy.On the to do list.

[BOGANV8]

i would say this will be the problem the part below collapses and creates a knock noise... farily simple to change if you have the tools... genuine are fairly cheap as are the bearings just make sure you put the bearing in the right way if your going to tackle it..




Notice the centre bit has broken away from the rubber thats your problem...



Parts break down

[javt99]

I've had my bearing plates replaced by Pedders. For a short while I didn't hear the clunking noise at all, but now it is back. It is a lot less frequent than it use to be, but I am still hearing the same old "clunk" noise.

And still, it doesn't matter whether I go over a massive pothole or a small rock. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. Any other ideas??? Cheers.

[TWOJZ]

I've had my bearing plates replaced by Pedders. For a short while I didn't hear the clunking noise at all, but now it is back. It is a lot less frequent than it use to be, but I am still hearing the same old "clunk" noise.

And still, it doesn't matter whether I go over a massive pothole or a small rock. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. Any other ideas??? Cheers.

I have one idea.. Don't go to pedders.

[Farlig]

common fault unfortunately. and since you need to drop the strut assembly to inspect the condition of them, not many places do it.

[myberlina]

I have the same problem. It has also been to Pedders and had about $800 worth of replacement suspension parts including this part BOGANV8 has pics of above. I also had FE2 shocks and springs thrown in (brand new of ebay) at the same time.

AND STILL THIS NOISE IS THERE ****ING ME OFF. Since then I have installed a subwoofer. My problem is solved... for now.

I am actually thinking it may be the steering rack. I say this cause when I was at Northland SC a few weeks back, turning out from the multideck carpark. At the time I was turning I also went over a speed hump and heard this almight groan from the front end and wasn't going fast at all. There has never been any loss in power steering fluid or operation. Only thing is wheel alignments never last more than 3-4 weeks.

Could my steering rack be the problem?

[vt_lover]

i had the same prob, spent about a grand and was still there. i took it to four different steering and suspension guys and still no luck and then it got the better of me so i spent a whole weekend playing with it and i found the nut on the l/h side radius rod damper was not loose but not tightened to torque so done it up and haven't heard the noise since!

[Gokz777]

can anybody tell me how much it would cost to replace the shock absorbers (springs and all) in a VT 3.8L V6 (98 or 99)? I think all of my shock absorbers are gone to hell, and best that I replace them all at once. thanks for any help you can give me

[edals]

I have the Same Problem. I thought it was just a bump i went over everyday and it was just a metal plate under the road (on the same road same spot) . Great. Well better get this on my todo list. :-(. Do i need to remove the whole shock to replace it? Confused as bradcad mentioned it can be changed from just from under the wheel arch. Bit more detail please? Undo the top bolt, then do i press the strut down then slip it back over the top?

[edals]

Bump, Just seeing if i have to take out the whole strut to replace them? And will i need a wheel alignment after? I have all the tools just checking whats easiest.

[vbtruk]

hate to say it but we are having the exact same problem, we are getting a clunking noise in the front Left suspension, Have replaced the front radius rod bushs, the sway bar endlinks, tie rod ends, wheels bearing/hub, and the top strut bush and bearings and although the noise is still there it is no where near as loud, have noticed the sway bar end links are very stressed when done up. VT SS Series 1.
was thinking lower control arm ball joint or bush, and the shock everything else is new!!!

[SS 1998]

i had the same problem.......n get it fixed for 190 which included labor an a wheel alignment. havent had a problem since.......when i got it checked out to sus out the problem they said its not dangerous unless i hit something hard.

[edals]

i had the same problem.......n get it fixed for 190 which included labor an a wheel alignment. havent had a problem since.......when i got it checked out to sus out the problem they said its not dangerous unless i hit something hard.

What did they replace to fix it? Bearing plate?

[SS 1998]

they replaced the ball joint.

[edals]

Well i got the VX booked in to holden, see what they find. hope it wont require me to sell i kidney lol

[gslrallysport]

can anybody tell me how much it would cost to replace the shock absorbers (springs and all) in a VT 3.8L V6 (98 or 99)? I think all of my shock absorbers are gone to hell, and best that I replace them all at once. thanks for any help you can give me

Hi mate,

Have a squiz here:
KYB / Kings Commodore Lowering Packages!

Regards,
Greg