knocking and thump in engine bay of my vt!

[mrVT]

Hey guys today driving my car have noticed that i can hear a thump or a knocking noise coming from the engine bay iam trying to hear the exact place seems to be near the left hand side of car tyre(i think) it happens alot when either iam turning the steering wheel or when iam going over a bump on rd or a speed hump my guess would be either steering rack or a ball joint? what do u think this could possibly be as that thumping knock is quiet annoying!!!

[accentstencil]

Maybe link pin bushes are worn.

[Overdose]

I had a problem sorta like this and it was the engine mount, when I accelerated pretty hard it would lift up and smack down again.

[fitz_vt]

does the noise keep going and get louder at 60, if so then take it to your mechanic, if it is just when you go over a bump your engine mounts are gone as

I had a problem sorta like this and it was the engine mount, when I accelerated pretty hard it would lift up and smack down again.

Engine mounts are $130 each from Holden, or $69.95 if your in Adelaide from motormate in either elizabeth or ST Marys. i would sell you a set but i need mine for when i get my new engine

[mrVT]

from a thumping clunk noise i can hear a jiggle near the front end from left hand wheel dunno if engine moutns or that rod thats connected near brake caliper i took it off and looked loose and rubbers were cracked what do u guys think???

[holdenvtman1123]

Its the sway bar link to strut rubbers that are worn. grab a kit from holden or an auto shop for 30 - 40 bucks. buy the kit its cheaper than just the rubbers.

[callum_88]

oh wow i never thought about the engine mount, thats prob what it is, mine makes a noise when speeding up and when i brake, so im guessing its something loose

[kart_racer]

Could be the engine mounts, although mine were totally collapsed and I had nothing like that.

To check, just have a look underneath your car at where the bottom of the sump is sitting. If it's just above the height of the rear crossmember, it's fine. If it's below it, then the engine mounts are sagging.

Could be the radius rod bush on the left collapsed, leaving enough movement to cause clunking of the radius rod against the crossmember, or sway bar.

[Hot-Rod]

Sounds like bushes attached to link pin.

[darkrider]

I have this same problem and the mechanic told me its the steering rack however my engine mounts need replacing as well

[MIG.29]

Definetly the link pins, you can get heavy duty ones off ebay fairly cheap and heaps stronger than the originals. I got some my self and they started making the exact noise your describing after about 2 weeks of installing them, just needed a little extra tightning as the rubbers had warn in.

[VXSSComm]

I had the same problem. The noise ended up being my front suspension. As the bushes where worn out completely and needed replacing.

[Longman]

Yep, 100% link pins. The jingling is the cup washers rattling around and the knock is the sway bar. Can fix for around $30 for new link pins/bushes off ebay.

[stirringaxe]

Now this may be totally unrelated to your problem but your description does seem similar to a problem I had.

If your problem is linked to any of the above & those suggestions fix the problem then all good.

However if it doesn't then try this.

I had a weird clunk coming from my VTII when I did a U-turn, or on some right & left hand turns.

It was quite a clunk & was concerning me.

I had everything checked out, replaced the link pins, checked all the bolts holding the "k" frame, checked all the ball joints, sway bars etc etc.

Still got this clunk.

Turned out there are two bolted on gussets, about 300mm long, going from the chassis to the cabin floor. There is one on each side of the car. They are near the back of the engine area.

They have 4 nuts on each one, the studs being welded onto the body work. They are obviously there to stop some an amount of chassis flex or something.

Anyway after the 8 nuts tightened up - hey presto no clunk anymore.

I wouldn't have thought such a small thing could have created such a concerning noise, but it did.

It had a lot of very experienced mechanics & wheel alignment guys scratching their heads for quite a number of weeks, while we ruled everything else out.

[mitmit]

thanks stirringaxe the clunking sound of mine's has gone now

[MIG.29]

C'mon mrVT the suspense is killin me!
Tell us what it is!! LOL

[retal052]

Ditto mitmit, Thanks stirringaxe. Owe you mate, saved me a few $$ on bushes

[Full Spectrum]

Don't forget to have the mushrooms checked, do you know how many do the bushes and bearings in VT's. Mine was cracked hitting a pot hole and the noise whilst at first not much became louder in time. Links done. Radius bushes done. Inner outer bushes done. Tie rod ends done. Finally when i changed the springs and shocks they found the mushroom bushes worn but the bearings cracked. My worst side was the left the side the noise was on, and that was the one with the worst damage. Common fault. Funny thing, i actually have the video of the day it cracked. I made a joke about aussie roads, like that's aussie for massive hole in the road. The bump didnt sound huge but i felt it. And i didnt think then it was something that bad.

[CHA53R]

I did my bushes a couple months ago, nolathane were $35 for bushes by them selves and with the pins were $60 better to do the lot I say. Better safe than sorry when it comes to suspension.