Freelander 1 Freelander Knocking

Nodge68 said:

I have Bearmach drop links on mine. Annoyingly I have a knock that I can't trace.

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I will add my half a six pence on this. Again I replaced my Drop links with the Bearmach ones about 3 months ago because the previous drop links had broken (again Bearmach). When turning the steering wheel to test some other part I replaced I heard a loud bang. Checked all the stuff I just replaced and BOOM! Both Drop links had snapped at the top join. Fed up with this did a load of research on LandyZone and found out OME links were FAI so found a chap on eBay that was selling them (Still is see link) £9 each that includes postage. I have done all sorts to the suspension and a few thousand miles since and no problems.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Landrover-Freelander-MK1-1997-2004-Anti-Roll-Bar-Drop-Link-Stabiliser-/200507696712?fits=Model:Freelander&hash=item2eaf30a648:m:mZBxqMjvB2YWjieCtEtL1ig

Madmustang said:

I will add my half a six pence on this. Again I replaced my Drop links with the Bearmach ones about 3 months ago because the previous drop links had broken (again Bearmach). When turning the steering wheel to test some other part I replaced I heard a loud bang. Checked all the stuff I just replaced and BOOM! Both Drop links had snapped at the top join. Fed up with this did a load of research on LandyZone and found out OME links were FAI so found a chap on eBay that was selling them (Still is see link) £9 each that includes postage. I have done all sorts to the suspension and a few thousand miles since and no problems.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Landrover-Freelander-MK1-1997-2004-Anti-Roll-Bar-Drop-Link-Stabiliser-/200507696712?fits=Model:Freelander&hash=item2eaf30a648:m:mZBxqMjvB2YWjieCtEtL1ig

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It appears that Bearmach might well be using cheaper manufacturers to make there products. Bearmach used to supply good quality products, that lasted well.
Looks like I'll be avoiding them in future.
I always thought the LR OE supplier was Delphi. Delphi drop links look like the OE parts, whereas FIA don't.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Land-R...lander&hash=item360736f0c6:g:W94AAOSwV0RXsaZ2

Nodge68 said:

It appears that Bearmach might well be using cheaper manufacturers to make there products. Bearmach used to supply good quality products, that lasted well.
Looks like I'll be avoiding them in future.
I always thought the LR OE supplier was Delphi. Delphi drop links look like the OE parts, whereas FIA don't.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Land-Rover-Freelander-MK1-2-0-TD4-4x4-Delphi-Front-Left-or-Right-Drop-Link-/232049275078?fits=Model:Freelander&hash=item360736f0c6:g:W94AAOSwV0RXsaZ2

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Yes I think you are right I am easily confused, Either or really whatever your preference as long as it works for you.

Mine had a definite loose ARB link, offside lower ball. Easy to find. Swapped for a Bearmach one and similar noise, although as Nodge says above mine is on slight uneven road (i.e. top layer of tarmac missing) not bumps. I think it is because the 'hole' in the road causes the strut to 'drop' rather than rise.

Thinking it is either new link or the strut valve problem mentioned above. Can I take the ARB links off and drive it safely (slowly and over bit of road that causes problem?) or will it be even more of a wallowing Hippo???

andyfreelandy said:

Mine had a definite loose ARB link, offside lower ball. Easy to find. Swapped for a Bearmach one and similar noise, although as Nodge says above mine is on slight uneven road (i.e. top layer of tarmac missing) not bumps. I think it is because the 'hole' in the road causes the strut to 'drop' rather than rise.

Thinking it is either new link or the strut valve problem mentioned above. Can I take the ARB links off and drive it safely (slowly and over bit of road that causes problem?) or will it be even more of a wallowing Hippo???

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You can pop the drop links off and drive the car to see if the noise goes. Make sure the bar can't drop into anything while moving and remember that the handling will be different.

I didn't get a chance to do any work on the Hippo this last weekend - will have a look on the next...

A mini update for this thread: as mentioned earlier, I found a new knocking noise after I'd fitted new Bearmach drop links. As it turned out, the new links were not the problem: it was the ball joints, as all was lovely and quiet after replacing the lower wishbones.

But now there is a soft knock from the left front. The Bearmach drop links have some surface corrosion, but otherwise look fine.
I've bitten the bullet and ordered a pair of Delphi drop links and will fit those and see whether the noise goes away...

let us know if it workd Rob

That's a lot of different knocks!

Most days our car goes up and down our pot-holed drive at least 6 times. Most days it also goes to the same park to walk the dog, which has 3 sets of horrible double sleeping policemen each way. Its a wonder the thing hasn't been shaken to pieces - but haven't had any long lasting problems. I did have a knock going over bumps, I ignored it and it went away. I did have another knock when moving off in reverse, I ignored it and it went away. I also had a 'creak' on acceleration, I eventually diagnosed it coming from the door - opened the door accelerated and no creak - once again my chosen method of resolution fixed that as well. In the height of the summer this year when the temp got up to about 35 degrees 1 day, I got a really loud creak that seemed to be coming from the FR suspension - that was really difficult to ignore, but weather patterns fixed that one

Replacing my wishbones and large rear bush cured most of my knocks too, and swapping out the Bearmach drop links cured the other knock I had. I now have a creaking noise from the front on large slow suspension movements. It's there when I turn the steering too, so I'm thinking it could be the track rod bushes where they fix to the rack.

It's knock central. I'll add mine to the list for posterity. I have a knock from the rear, more of a soft thud, when going over the same kind of shallow tarmac holes people are mentioning. It's a bit too much to ignore now so I'm going to have a poke around at some point. It feels like the rear wheels (particularly the left) are dropping into the bumps in the road. I have another knock from the front. It's been there for a couple of years but I've followed the grumpy technique there and just ignored it. It's a light knock, almost like a crack sound, occasionally heard on a sharpish acceleration.

kernowsvenski said:

It's knock central. I'll add mine to the list for posterity. I have a knock from the rear, more of a soft thud, when going over the same kind of shallow tarmac holes people are mentioning. It's a bit too much to ignore now so I'm going to have a poke around at some point. It feels like the rear wheels (particularly the left) are dropping into the bumps in the road. I have another knock from the front. It's been there for a couple of years but I've followed the grumpy technique there and just ignored it. It's a light knock, almost like a crack sound, occasionally heard on a sharpish acceleration.

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Check out your rear diff bushes

Madmustang said:

Check out your rear diff bushes

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Just done all three. The front was shot. The rears a bit tired.

kernowsvenski said:

Just done all three. The front was shot. The rears a bit tired.

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How does it sound now?

Madmustang said:

How does it sound now?

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The diff was "thumping" on a heavy gear change (mine's an auto). That has gone now but the knock I describe above definitely feels like a suspension or subframe issue. Like some of the posts above, it occurs on patches of road with the surface course missing, pot holes etc, but also when coming off speed cushions/humps.

check for cracked subframe attachment

kernowsvenski said:

The diff was "thumping" on a heavy gear change (mine's an auto). That has gone now but the knock I describe above definitely feels like a suspension or subframe issue. Like some of the posts above, it occurs on patches of road with the surface course missing, pot holes etc, but also when coming off speed cushions/humps.

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Sounds like you are going to have to rattle every bush/link and strut like the rest of us

kernowsvenski said:

It's a light knock, almost like a crack sound, occasionally heard on a sharpish acceleration.

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See if if occurs with the doors open. I was really surprised when I found the noise I was getting was the doors - or presumably the chassis flexing.

Don't try it out while plod is around though!

Madmustang said:

Sounds like you are going to have to rattle every bush/link and strut like the rest of us

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That's my plan.

GrumpyGel said:

See if if occurs with the doors open. I was really surprised when I found the noise I was getting was the doors - or presumably the chassis flexing.

Don't try it out while plod is around though!

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I'll give that a try at an opportune moment, although I suspect a front strut for that one.