rough ride

david mcfall · Unread post by **david mcfall** » 28 May 2008, 18:08

dear forum
my 1999 xantia 1.8 has a very hard ride from the front.i have changed the front spheres,accumulator,drop links and btm ball joints.it sounds like there is a rattling from the front when i go over the slightest crack in the road.i am wondering if it would be other bushes (anti-roll bar or guide sets or wishbone bushes)or would it be the shocks itself?
any ideas?
thank you

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 28 May 2008, 21:21

Is it hydractive? if so, did you change the centre sphere?

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 29 May 2008, 08:17

maybe your front hight corector linkage is sticking, so it is not alowing the front hight to adjust automaticly
regards malcolm

david mcfall · Unread post by **david mcfall** » 29 May 2008, 19:16

sorry its not hydractive.centre sphere was changed and ticks about once a week.i was out in it today and there definetly sounds like there is a rattle from the front.its really frustrating when i know this car can give the "magic carpet ride".the ride over the road is clunky and rattly at the front.i would just like some ideas to try as the troops at the forum are outstanding at giving tips and sorting problems.
thank you

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 29 May 2008, 21:06

Clunky/rattly ?

More than likely the droplinks then. Easy peasy and cheap to replace. They are approx 10" rods with e balljoint each end, linking the suspension strut tube to the antirollbar.
A very common noisy front rattler in any car.

Supply your VIN for correct parts identification, as a couple of variants exists.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 29 May 2008, 22:55

To get a rattle after you've changed the drop links you either have the
wrong type of droplinks fitted or there's still movement from the wheel
bearing/lower wishbone bushes or track rod end Cv joints - nothing else
to add on this list unless it's a clonk from movement of the engine due
to worn mountings, worn driveshaft intermediate bearing or even by
exhaust vibration onto the bodywork.

Process of elimination that you can try giving a tug on before you spend
more money chasing noises. Do the tyres wear unevenly as there may
be nothing more than a noise that needs fixing!!

Andrew

Penguin · Unread post by **Penguin** » 30 May 2008, 09:31

Having just sh*t myself reading the top strut thread, could this be worth investigating here?

kr1s · Unread post by **kr1s** » 30 May 2008, 11:27

Long shot but you havent left anything rolling round on the innerwings/ frontpanals after all the work you have done . A rogue nut or spanner can sound awful in the car on test .....??

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 30 May 2008, 12:13

Hard ride still points to a sphere problem or at the least issues with
the travel of the suspension. What's the fluid in the system like - have
you tried LHM flushing solution?

As far as rough/noisy symptoms, I'd certainly have a look at the lower
wishbone bushes as these will clonk/rattle and throw the whole geometry
of the main strut leg out wearing the tyres and possibly putting strain on
the strut top, driveshafts mountings and trackrods.

That said, the corrosion issues mentioned elsewhere are an all or nothing
issue - there doesn't seem to be any degradation of the ride/travel/feedback
- it just decides to go 'pop' which in my case yesterday was when I was
nowhere near the car!! I guess the car could still drive - just the travel of
the extended strut will be less and it's only acting against the bonnet catch...

Andrew

pete_wood_uk · Unread post by **pete_wood_uk** » 03 Jun 2008, 13:08

Silly question, but if you just have the car sat, running, in the drive and bounce the front up and down, is it hard then? Is there stiction in it?

Pete

Unread post by **myglaren** » 03 Jun 2008, 14:13

pete_wood_uk wrote:Silly question, but if you just have the car sat, running, in the drive and bounce the front up and down, is it hard then? Is there stiction in it?

Pete

Not sure if that was deliberate or accidental but either way it is a wonderful word. Get it copyrighted.

Unread post by **aerodynamica** » 04 Jun 2008, 09:55

Stiction = Static friction. It's the friction force that must be overcome for a suspension (any type) to move from rest. If it's so bad that it won't move though it's better described as seizing!