Mk1 Xantia front end rattle but everything new

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aerodynamica
Donor 2023
Posts: 1299
Joined: 26 Dec 2007, 18:10
Location: Glasgow
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD VSX Mk1 Sinker A.K.A Slugmobile 13'
'Old Katy'
previous convictions: totaling 52litres of LHM in one go:
1968 ID19B 'Old Polly' Stellar white
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker Silver
1992 XM 2.0 SEi Turbo Manual Anthracite Grey
1982 CX 20 Pallas 'Old Goldy'
1993 XM 2.1 SD Auto Light blue
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker light Blue
1982 BX 16 TRS 'Cyril' Vallelunga Red
1995 Xantia 1.9 D SX Auto Dark green
1977 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Aphrodite' Regatta Blue
1982 GSA Pallas SE Silver Pearl
1980 CX 2000 Reflex Vallelunga Red
1978 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Prometheus' Midnight blue
1984 BX 14E 'Cecil the slugmobile' Maroon
1987 Fiat Panda 'the mighty panda'
x 97

Mk1 Xantia front end rattle but everything new

Post by aerodynamica »

Hi all now that Old Katy has breezed the MOT test with only a tyre needed I'm pressed with more trivial matters...

I've been plagued with a kind of rattling/ tapping that is felt (more than heard) through the pedals. It occurs at low speed such as car parks an almost always caused where there's a sharp deflection of one of the front wheels downwards where there's a diffenential of movement between the sides.

It's strange because in the recent months I've changed: both front ball joints, checked the drop links (look semi new as in replacd in the year before I got the car so say 2 years) no movement detectable in the droplinks, none in the track rods, strut tops ok, recently replaced the RH driveshaft, P links and front bushes new in the last 6 weeks, Anti roll bar bushes inspected and fine, I suspected at one point that it might have been the two handbrake cables rattling on the top of the anti roll bar so I fitted a thick rubber tube to the roll bar right below but it wasn't this anyway. I'm kind of at a loss! What could cause this? It has occurred the whole time I've ran the car (1 year) and the replacement parts in the front axle have made no odds. Rear arm bearings done at the end of last year.

It never shows up at normal driving whatsoever and if anything, the drive is very insulated. It is just a phenomenon of low speed manouvreingwhere there's a change in camber or a ridge such as going up a ramp in a car park.

Drives beautifully otherwise and I'm tempted to ignore it long term since it's so occasional and unobtrusive but still a bit annoying. Any ideas?
Graeme M
2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer 2.0 HDi
elma
Posts: 3745
Joined: 13 May 2007, 02:17
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: Undisclosed
x 287

Re: Mk1 Xantia front end rattle but everything new

Post by elma »

Sounds like drop links, I often describe the noise as a little gnome hitting the underside of the car below the drivers feet at high frequency with a tiny hammer. To feel play in drop links is hard as the tension in the suspension holds them in place. I've found it best to put the suspension on intermediate height and with the offending wheel just off the floor (millimetres) the noise can be replicated easily shaking the bottom of the wheel.
aerodynamica
Donor 2023
Posts: 1299
Joined: 26 Dec 2007, 18:10
Location: Glasgow
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD VSX Mk1 Sinker A.K.A Slugmobile 13'
'Old Katy'
previous convictions: totaling 52litres of LHM in one go:
1968 ID19B 'Old Polly' Stellar white
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker Silver
1992 XM 2.0 SEi Turbo Manual Anthracite Grey
1982 CX 20 Pallas 'Old Goldy'
1993 XM 2.1 SD Auto Light blue
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker light Blue
1982 BX 16 TRS 'Cyril' Vallelunga Red
1995 Xantia 1.9 D SX Auto Dark green
1977 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Aphrodite' Regatta Blue
1982 GSA Pallas SE Silver Pearl
1980 CX 2000 Reflex Vallelunga Red
1978 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Prometheus' Midnight blue
1984 BX 14E 'Cecil the slugmobile' Maroon
1987 Fiat Panda 'the mighty panda'
x 97

Re: Mk1 Xantia front end rattle but everything new

Post by aerodynamica »

Good point, it is hard to replicate - not sure about the Gnome though! I think mine is a gremlin.

I was trying the crow bar method of prying the ball joints to try and show play up but nothing. Then the old 'get an assistant to rock the car while you grab the drop links but nothing. I think you're right that it holds under tension a lot of the time.
Graeme M
2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer 2.0 HDi
elma
Posts: 3745
Joined: 13 May 2007, 02:17
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: Undisclosed
x 287

Re: Mk1 Xantia front end rattle but everything new

Post by elma »

Only time I've ever replicated drop link rattle is as I've described above. I don't check them anymore as I know the noise well and it's a right faff..
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