I'm trying to diagnose the cause of a knocking noise on my '92 1.4 Carb ZX (105k miles on clock)...
The noise only seems to happen under load, on right hand turns. It can occasionally be heard on left handers faintly, but it never occurs off load. The noise is a rhythmic knocking, that appears to increase frequency with road speed. It's from the front of the car, most likely L/H corner. It also seems to happen in bump travel when going striahgt, although of course it's only momentary. Doing slow circles in a car park it's the same; no noise at low load at all, with rhythmic knocking on right handers under load (held back with the brake).
At first I thought it was an outer CV, although I'm starting to get concerned it's the diff as it only occurs under load, doesn't explain why it's so prominent only on right handers tho. In fact the whole one direction only thing has got me stumped, as the CV or diff are going to make the same noise in both directions surely?? . Perhaps it's an engine mount or suspension bush somewhere?
To test it I jacked up each side, started it, put it in gear and loaded up the spinning wheel with the brake. with wheels straight it rumbles and knocks, but would it do this anyway thru the diff which doesn't normally work this hard? On full lock, the LF makes the noise very loudly...
Thi problem has been going for probably 15k miles (I bought it never intending to do more than a years driving in it while I got my other project car on the road, however...'ve now got attached!) without the symptoms getting too much worse...I've noticed I've also got a leak from the gearbox, so perhaps I'm out of oil also...
Anyway, I'm new to this forum as you may see, looks like a really useful place for info (I did try a search before posting but no luck...). Thanks for your help in advance, can anybody shed any light on this, or had it happen before?
Thanks,
Al
Try a google search on pug 306 1.4 gearbox failure and see what comes up.....
