C3 - 2003 Hdi 16v Exclusive

[french connection]

Please can anyone assist with a really annoying problem with my front suspension, over the last few months it developed a loud knocking noise which you could hear over most road surfaces and was coming from what sounded like o/s/f.

I suspected the lower ball joint as I had the n/s/f replaced two years earlier and sounded the same, so I took it to an independent who i've used before and they diagnosed the lower ball joint and I could see there was movement in it.

I've had this replaced and its better to a point, but i'm now getting a series of knocking/banging noises still which I can hear when turning right round a roundabout or across a junction which has an uneven road surface, I can also hear it sometimes when driving straight if the road is bad but not heard it if i'm turning left.

I have had both drop links replaced last year, also had both top mounts changed two years ago, car has also had new springs under warranty last two years.

The garage checked over everything today and cannot see anything atall, and on road test couldnt hear it but as soon as i've driven it again it does it.

The o/s/f driveshaft was also changed last year.

Has anyone got any ideas?.

 

Cheers

Simon.

[techbod]

this sounds like the C/V joint and very common when turning because that's when the bearings in it mesh so if they are breaking down or have no grease in them the noise gets louder mainly when cornering.

[french connection]

this sounds like the C/V joint and very common when turning because that's when the bearings in it mesh so if they are breaking down or have no grease in them the noise gets louder mainly when cornering.

Hi,

 

Appreciate your reply and help, so if this to be the cv joint would it also make a knocking noise when I was driving straight aswell?, only this morning when driving very slowly in traffic as I was going over an uneven road surface I could hear a rumbling sort of noise from the same place then when I speeded up and went over more uneven road surface but while still driving straight I heard a load knocking, but it is definatley more noticeable when turning right where it makes a series of knocking.

[techbod]

the C/V loint is deseptive because of the noise and more noticable on turning but if it were realy bad then it could be heard all the time due to the break down of the bearings in it which would mean the drive shat would be imballanced ( nothing wrong with the drive shaft ) but it would throw the shafft off ballance hence your problem.

[paul.h]

Seems odd the garage could not see anything wrong. Sounds like a CV joint though. If you can find a large empty car park, drive round in tight circles forwards and backwards both left and right circles - this will often give the offending knocking of a worn CV joint. Also with the car jacked up and when turning the wheel play/roughness may be detected in the joint.

 

Did the noise start soon after any repairs, has the car passed an MOT with the noise ?

 

Other things could include

- the coil spring cup added to stop tyre/brake hose damage when the spring breaks could need slight adjustment if it catches the lower end of the spring - had to do this on mine on the driver's side and cured it by slightly bending the cup away from the spring. A simple check would be to remove the cup and road test the car and see if the noise goes.

- after I had the front springs replaced under warranty, the driver's side spring top mounting failed and was noisy - the bearing had come apart during fitting.

- steering rack mounting bolt loose - had this on a Saab once and that gave a knocking noise.

- anti roll bar mounting rubbers worn.

- loose bolts in the suspension.

- worn rubber mountings in the front sub frame.

- a worn wheel bearing could give a rumbling/whine noise but unlikely a knocking noise unless loose - some Saabs had this.

[french connection]

Seems odd the garage could not see anything wrong. Sounds like a CV joint though. If you can find a large empty car park, drive round in tight circles forwards and backwards both left and right circles - this will often give the offending knocking of a worn CV joint. Also with the car jacked up and when turning the wheel play/roughness may be detected in the joint.

 

Did the noise start soon after any repairs, has the car passed an MOT with the noise ?

 

Other things could include

- the coil spring cup added to stop tyre/brake hose damage when the spring breaks could need slight adjustment if it catches the lower end of the spring - had to do this on mine on the driver's side and cured it by slightly bending the cup away from the spring. A simple check would be to remove the cup and road test the car and see if the noise goes.

- after I had the front springs replaced under warranty, the driver's side spring top mounting failed and was noisy - the bearing had come apart during fitting.

- steering rack mounting bolt loose - had this on a Saab once and that gave a knocking noise.

- anti roll bar mounting rubbers worn.

- loose bolts in the suspension.

- worn rubber mountings in the front sub frame.

- a worn wheel bearing could give a rumbling/whine noise but unlikely a knocking noise unless loose - some Saabs had this.

 

Hi Paul,

 

Thanks for your reply, well it is odd that garage cannot find anything and very frustrating!.

 

This noise has been coming on for a while but when they looked at it I was told it was the lower balljoint which has been changed and made little or no difference to the problem, strange thing is I had the o/s/f driveshaft replaced last year so thats why I have doubts as to whether it is a CV joint problem but i'm not an expert so could be wrong.

 

I have in last two years had both drop links done aswell as the other lower balljoint by main dealer, they also replaced both top mounts as i had a creaking noise, both springs replaced under warranty aswell.

 

I dont think this noise came on after any repairs to be honest, and the garage had it on the ramps and checked a few things and said everything looks in order but as soon as I drove it away and hit an uneven road and while turning right round an island heard a loud series of knocks from o/s/f, its definatley more likely to do it if im turning right or steering is turned a bit to right but I can make it do it while driving straight if the roads uneven etc.

 

It did pass the MOT back in Feb when main dealer did it and was serviced, I have always had it maintained by main dealer but this independent has done a bit of work for me including this balljoint but I took it to dealer yesterday for a second opinion, he had a good look on ramp and couldnt see anything but on road test I managed to get it to make the noise but not very loud when going round an island, he said it would be better to leave it to develop as like you have suggested it could be a number of things but CV joint was mentioned by him.

 

I dont know whether its best to leave it to get worse but I dont like to do that, i like things sorted before anything goes completely but not prepared to waste money changing things until they find it!.

 

It is strange as even at very low speeds while crawling in traffic near where I live i can hear it rumbling and knocking as I go over uneven road and thats driving straight.

 

Any further suggestions/ideas much appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Simon.

[techbod]

im still going for the C/V joint because I just put a scenic through its MOT and both joints were screwed and they didn't show up on the MOT ( they are not a fail unless they are really bad ) basically they cant be tested unless the car is moving/steering turning that's when you get the clunk and the MOT doesn't do that apart from testing the breaks,

 

a wheel bearing gets louder in a straight line so its not that,

 

a clunk over pot holes are normally suspension related ( link arms/tie rod ends.bushings lower ball joints ) even engine mounts

 

squeeze the rubber C/V boot to check if there is any grease in there?.

[paul.h]

In the latest Car Mechanics magazine a Honda Civic had a knocking from the front which turned out to be the shock absorber needed replacement. You could check to see if it bounces ok and look for an oil leak on yours - but this should have been noticed by the garage.

[french connection]

im still going for the C/V joint because I just put a scenic through its MOT and both joints were screwed and they didn't show up on the MOT ( they are not a fail unless they are really bad ) basically they cant be tested unless the car is moving/steering turning that's when you get the clunk and the MOT doesn't do that apart from testing the breaks,

 

a wheel bearing gets louder in a straight line so its not that,

 

a clunk over pot holes are normally suspension related ( link arms/tie rod ends.bushings lower ball joints ) even engine mounts

 

squeeze the rubber C/V boot to check if there is any grease in there?.

 

Hi Dave,

 

Appreciate your reply, I will have a look at the CV boot as soon as I can and let you know if there is any grease in there.

[french connection]

In the latest Car Mechanics magazine a Honda Civic had a knocking from the front which turned out to be the shock absorber needed replacement. You could check to see if it bounces ok and look for an oil leak on yours - but this should have been noticed by the garage.

 

Hi Paul,

 

Interesting point that as I suppose it could be that, but the mechanic did shine a torch around the springs and pressed on each corner and nothing seemed out of the ordinary or at least that is what I was told.

 

I am getting more concerned about this, as when I came out of work today and turned right at a nearby junction I got the usual series of knocking but does seem to be getting louder and cant really understand how nothing can be showing up underneath when its making such a noise!.

 

As I previously mentioned an independent and a Citroen main dealer have both had a look at it and nothing is shouting out as been wrong, all they have said I can do is leave it to develop more then take it back but anything could happen so not keen on doing that.

 

I do know of a garage I used to use a few years ago which I may take it to for another opinion as he may just be able to find something, he is a Peugeot specialist but cant see a Citroen but to different so thinking it may be worth a try.

 

As you have said it could be one of a number of things as it also does it when driving straight just not as much, think it just needs someone to spend sometime on it going through it slowly and try and track it down that way.

 

Simon.

[Guest Bry]

Hi Paul,

 

Interesting point that as I suppose it could be that, but the mechanic did shine a torch around the springs and pressed on each corner and nothing seemed out of the ordinary or at least that is what I was told.

 

I am getting more concerned about this, as when I came out of work today and turned right at a nearby junction I got the usual series of knocking but does seem to be getting louder and cant really understand how nothing can be showing up underneath when its making such a noise!.

 

As I previously mentioned an independent and a Citroen main dealer have both had a look at it and nothing is shouting out as been wrong, all they have said I can do is leave it to develop more then take it back but anything could happen so not keen on doing that.

 

I do know of a garage I used to use a few years ago which I may take it to for another opinion as he may just be able to find something, he is a Peugeot specialist but cant see a Citroen but to different so thinking it may be worth a try.

 

As you have said it could be one of a number of things as it also does it when driving straight just not as much, think it just needs someone to spend sometime on it going through it slowly and try and track it down that way.

 

Simon. look at your wheel nuts they could be loose simple as it might seem

[paul.h]

I think the Peugeot 206 and the Citroen C3 have common parts, possibly the same chassis, so using a Peugeot specialist ought to be ok. Most cars have CV joints though so any garage ought to be able to diagnose a faulty one.