VS Calais Front Suspension Noise

[Sara Pax]

Hello all,
My VS Series II Calais is making some strange noising from the front end.
It only does it after about 50 kms of driving
Its sort of a clicking sound from the LHS
I have been under the car and cant see anything wrong
My thoughs are that the LHS Front Shock internal valving might be crook and when it heats up it starts clicking
Any other Ideas
Thanks

 

[Struma]

Hello all,
My VS Series II Calais is making some strange noising from the front end.
It only does it after about 50 kms of driving
Its sort of a clicking sound from the LHS
I have been under the car and cant see anything wrong
My thoughs are that the LHS Front Shock internal valving might be crook and when it heats up it starts clicking
Any other Ideas
Thanks

I was about to post with a similar issue.

My VS Ute has started making a very loud creaking/clunking/knocking ratchetting sound that really feels like somthing in the steering/suspension.

It won't make the noise when it is cold but as soon as it has driven a bit (warm days are worse) the noise starts every time I go over a bump and/or around a corner.

My mechanic has been over the entire suspension and said that all of the bushes are intact - his opinion is that a bush is loosening up once it gets warm...but he claims not to have heard it when he took it for a test drive (that's cos the bloody thing was cold!)

To me it sounds and feels (through the steering and through the floor) exactly like the stabiliser bar tie end bushes, which I have had to replace twice since I got the thing lowered - which was only about two years ago so the shocks should still be good (right?).

I have stopped using nolathene bushes on the sway bar tie ends and gone back to rubber - this seems to at least stop them disintegrating so quickly but this noise is attrocious.

It makes most of the noise when the suspension is extending i.e. when going over a hole, cornering or taking off from the lights (maybe a bit quickly).

When I brake hard I am convinced I can feel movement somewhere in the system - it feels like everything except the wheels keep going forward for another 10 or 20 millimetres; as well as this I am convinced (this could be psychosomatic) that it starts to oversteer once it warms up.

I would be grateful for any advice about this issue, or failing that maybe a recommendation for a decent suspension technician on the Brisbane Northside; I don't want to take it back to a mechanic who says he can't hear what is obviously a significant noise.

Cheers.

 

[greenacc]

Struma, going by your perfect description it sounds like you have got worn Radius rod bushes. the other bushes in your front suspension are probably flogged out too.

 

[BlackVXGTS]

The other thing to check would be your front wheel hubs. Jack up the front and try and move the wheel with one hand on the top and one on the bottom. If you can feel significant play or a clunking noise then that's your problem.

 

[Rhino Racing]

I had a top strut bearing make this clicking noise just as you described. Was left hand side too. Dunno why it wasnt there when it was cold... but changing the top bearing only fixed the problem.
It is a simple fix, i hope that is all you have to do.
Good luck.

 

[Struma]

Struma, going by your perfect description it sounds like you have got worn Radius rod bushes. the other bushes in your front suspension are probably flogged out too.

Thanks for the tip - sorry about the delay getting back about this one...mongreal car just got back from the workshop AGAIN...3rd time in 6 weeks...first the radiator, then the heater tap and now the harmonic balancer.

I took every opportunity to hassle the mechanic about the noises (even straight out mentioned radius rod bushes this time) and he keeps telling me that he has checked all of the bushes and they are all good - problem is that he is too busy to get right into it...which is why I am looking for a specialist in this sort of thing (and maybe another mechanic)...the challenge here is that if you find someone who has the time you have to ask yourself why isn't he busy? I'm still happy for any recommendations though - especailly for a small shop or someone just starting out on their own.

Cheers.

 

[rcnugget]

ive heard some batches of nolathane bushes make strange noises and this is normal, not that I have ever had this problem but may be something to look out for

 

[Sara Pax]

Well stuff me rotten
I spent 3 days pulling apart the front end
Replacing the Struts, strut tops and bearings
Only to go for a drive and the noise was worse
More investigation revealed that the noise was from the Steering Rack tie rod at the rack end
The ball joint was dry and making all the noises
I greased it a bit and the noise went away
So now its going for 2 new tie rods and a wheel alignment
What a ****er

 

[GAMBLR]

also having these noises, albeit for different reasons...
firstly, i spoke to a suspension place, who told me the swaybar links and the rubbers that go with them are prone to deteriorating on the VN onward models, especially if the front suspension has been pulled out. often makes clunking noises and clinking noises like a chain dragging. i got quoted $150 fitted and installed a new swaybar link kit from Nolethane.
secondly, if the suspension is clunking around a bit, it may pay to check the strut top mounts and bearings. when doing mine for the first time, we lost 2 or 3 ball bearings from the case, and i didnt think too much of it. then after travelling through the hills, i found the shaft of the strut had torn away the inners of the mount, and was poking up under the bonnet. figures those bearings are more important than what i thought... steering feels heavier and creaks a fair bit, especially at slow speeds.
sigh, and i thought all i needed was springs and a wheel alignment lol

 

[Sara Pax]

Well stuff me rotten
After all the exploring around the front end i gave up and bought 2 new struts, 2 new strut tops, and 2 new bearings
Spent a few days in the stinking heat installing all this gear
Then i went for a drive and the Flucking noise was worse
So i did more investigation and found out the original noise was the flamin tie rod ball joint at the rack end on the left side
It was drier than a Nuns nasty
Sprayed some grease at it and now the noise is gone
Wouldnt that rip the crutch out of ya night dress
OH well at least the front end is new now
Just have to get the tie rods replaced