C5 got to go soon ride is poor!!

[waynedance]

Ok the ride on my C5 2003 2.2 man exclusive is poor. I get a horrid rumble slight knocking noise more apparent at slow speeds over small road imperfections, you can make the noises louder by slightly laboring the engine and the noise is from drivers side. At speeds you can slightly hear a droning rumble noise from the drivers side, does not sound like a bearing.

I can not find any play in any joints (using a mot ramp with shaker plates) the bottom arms and rear bushes, drop links, bottom ball joints, had 2 x garages check for play in the inner rack arms and track rod ends. New tyres have also been fitted.

Really trying to like the car but this poor noisy ride is doing me in.

Please help, any ideas?

[411514]

Have you changed the spheres recently, if not might be worth doing, if not them then possible either lower rear torque rod engine mount or right hand side top mount, i might be tempted to change the droplinks also just to make absolutely sure, only cost £20 ish a set, whilst it is supossedly possible to check the condition of the engine mounts by trying to shake the engine by hand this isnt exactly the most reliable check so it might be worth changing all 3 engine mounts as a matter of course, they are fairly cheap and easy to fit

[waynedance]

Changed the drop links twice, most recently when the bottom arms were done. I have a set a front spheres and fluid ready for fitting, not done yet as not to confident to fit myself.

Do the front legs give any problems?

What about the anti roll bar bushes? I can not see any play in them.

Really want to love the car but this poor ride.............

[411514]

The fact that labouring the engine causes the rumble really would point to at least one of the engine mounts, possibly lower rear if not all, however that would not really affect the ride quality itself just make the car juddery, i believe you have 3 spheres on the front, i have not changed them myself but haynes rate it 2 spanner, pretty easy, which seems to be the general consensus on here, hope you can sort it, it might be worth getting under the car and giving the driveshafts the rough treatment to check for play in either the gearbox end or cv joint possibly

[waynedance]

I will try and have ago at changing the spheres, I did try and look for play in the cv joints and all seem good.

[RichardW]

Next time it does it, just pull the handbrake on slightly to see if goes away....