nasty clonk

[froggy]

Hi, my series 1 Xantia, just noticed a nasty "clonk" noise coming from front near side wheel, every time I catch a pot hole. The tyre has worn in the middle only, not sure whether this would be connected ? anyone got any ideas on the noise and tyre wear. normally my tyres wear on their outer edges! many thanks in advance Terry.

[Stickyfinger]

Drop Link or lower ball joint are the normally reported reasons....both quite cheap to fix and easy DIY jobs.
Others with more knowledge will offer more upsetting choices I expect

(love the "location" btw )

[GiveMeABreak]

Tracking, tracking tracking! If you're in a 'pot hole hell' area (who isn't these days and don't get me started on Road Tax) get it repaired (or DIY it as Sticky says) then get your wheels tracked and checked again in a thousand miles or so (most places won't charge for the re-check and adjustment). You'll be surprised just how much they can be out on just a single pot hole knock. Leaving it unchecked will wear your tyres faster and could have 'knock on' issues (no pun intended)!.

[Gibbo2286]

Middle tread wear is usually caused by over inflation.

[chinkostu]

Drop Link or lower ball joint are the normally reported reasons....both quite cheap to fix and easy DIY jobs.
Others with more knowledge will offer more upsetting choices I expect

(love the "location" btw )

Lower balljoint is far easier with the hub off the car too, otherwise you have to brace the hub against something while you lever it!


(And most of the time you'll need to chisel it out as the tool wont budge!)

[BenC5HDi]

Tracking, tracking tracking! If you're in a 'pot hole hell' area (who isn't these days and don't get me started on Road Tax) get it repaired (or DIY it as Sticky says) then get your wheels tracked and checked again in a thousand miles or so (most places won't charge for the re-check and adjustment). You'll be surprised just how much they can be out on just a single pot hole knock.

If the tracking is out after a pothole knock, then something is bent. Potholes don't magically unscrew track rod ends and alter tracking.

Wear in the centre is most likely over inflation and I'd wager the knock is a drop kink or more likely a knackered ball joint.

[GiveMeABreak]

....Potholes don't magically unscrew track rod ends and alter tracking...

Well they can according to this RAC report: "According to the RAC’s tyre partner, ATS Euromaster, hitting a pothole can cause a number of wheel and tyre problems. Initial impact on a vehicle can cause buckled wheels, cracks, lumps in the tyre, cracked alloys and it can knock out the tracking and wheel balancing. A recent report found that a third of all recorded vehicle damage is as a result of potholes."
http://www.rac.co.uk/advice/potholes
I hit a bad pothole and several drain grids that were too recessed into the road. I had my tracking done the month before and checked 3 weeks later. I went back again after hitting these babies and it was out again! Personally speaking, as my front tyres are £130 a piece, I'm not content to have the tryres wear too early either

[BenC5HDi]

....Potholes don't magically unscrew track rod ends and alter tracking...

Well they can according to this RAC report: "According to the RAC’s tyre partner, ATS Euromaster, hitting a pothole can cause a number of wheel and tyre problems. Initial impact on a vehicle can cause buckled wheels, cracks, lumps in the tyre, cracked alloys and it can knock out the tracking and wheel balancing. A recent report found that a third of all recorded vehicle damage is as a result of potholes."

Yes. "vehicle damage". i.e. Something bent, cracked or broken. Not unscrewed. Think about it. It's physically impossible..

[froggy]

The front offside Ball joint is the cause of the noise! will I need any special tools to replace it ? will a good socket set be enough? many thanks Terry.

[Stickyfinger]

Gordon's youtube guide.

[GiveMeABreak]

Cracking Video for the entertainment value alone, especially Mrs Gordon, the reluctant helper.

[chinkostu]

The front offside Ball joint is the cause of the noise! will I need any special tools to replace it ? will a good socket set be enough? many thanks Terry.

It can be done in situ if you make a good enough job of unpeening the old one and can bolt the castellated socket on. I found it easier with the hub off but my issue was the socket just rounded the holes out as the balljoint has been cut off, and the distinction between where the peening was and the hub waswasn't entirely clear, so spent an hour cutting it back and got a friend with a chisel to drive it out

[CitroJim]

A very powerful (and it needs to be a bloody good one) impact gun will do the job well and saves a lot of dismantling...

The big electric ones seem to do the job well...

[chinkostu]

On a ramp with decent balljoint and 35mm impact sockets it must be a 5 minute job. On a drive you'll need to get it high enough to get the sockets and gun underneath!