Front suspension rattle/thudding noise 2003 td4

The noise has developed over a couple of months and appears to come through the drivers foot well area/behind the steering column. It only happens on poor road surfaces at speeds of between 20 and 40mph when the noise is pretty constant. Bigger bumps don’t seem to trigger it and it completely disappears over 40mph no matter how bad the road. It also stops when slight brake pressure is applied. Have changed anti roll bar bushes, track rod ends, lower ball joint. Have removed strut and both spring and damper appear to be fine. Have not changed lower wish bone but both bushes look ok when tested with a bar and all engine mountings appear to be ok. Garage and myself are at a loss and its starting cost. Wondering whether it must be the wishbone bushes? Has anyone experienced similar or can anyone give me some guidance?
Regards

Have replaced a few shocks for thud's recently. Everything is visually OK, but after replacing everything else, only place left to go was struts, and that cured it

There's an engine mount down on that side that has a tendancey to fail

Check for play in the lower wishbone joint. This is a known spot for 'thuds' on freelanders. To check, lift corner of car on a jack and give the wheel a bit of a shift side to side and front to back. A good visual sign is if the boot looks collapsed on the joint.

I see you can buy just the ball joint, rather than the whole arm. Is it possible to change it in situ, without major dismantling, i.e removal of hub and wishbone from the car?
No knocks but boot on joint looks a bit squashed up.

Only easy if it has been replaced before with 3-bolt ball joint, otherwise, it is riveted in, and they are tough muthers

Arm has to come off - it is possible to get ball joint nut undone with a ground down ring spanner - without the need to remove driveshaft nut and hub etc.

Easiest way is to buy complete arm with new ball joint and bushes
but, if you have good drill bits, and know how to use them properly, then you can just change the ball joint with a new 3-bolt one, which has the advantage that you can change just that in the future

Did you find the problem? Same issues on my 2001 TD4. However it only started after i changed the front struts and brakes.

Nixybird said:

Did you find the problem? Same issues on my 2001 TD4. However it only started after i changed the front struts and brakes.

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It was most likely - knackered drop links .

Re-tightening all the wishbone/ front cross-member bolts often sorts this problem.

Have changed the drop links, bushes on anti-roll bar, brakes, struts and wishbone on drivers side and no joy............

I'm having the exact same problem so going to change the lower arm, rear bush and mount, and ball joint next week. I'll keep you posted. I did have a response from another member of a forum who said that a crack had developed in the subframe. I just hope I don't find that after buying all those parts for the lower arm. the drop links are being changed as well due to them being well nasty looking after twelve years on the hippo. Cross fingers ✋

Well the top half is completed but still getting the creaking grinding noise so its got to be one of the bushes on the arms or the lower ball joint. I have the complete arm and the housing for the big rear bush with the bush already in place so should cure the noise? The weather's a bit pi$$y today, and I've no garage, so will have to get back to you once I've completed the task. I've noticed other people are suggesting that it can be a bit of a nasty job removing some of the bolts and nuts on this arm and bushes. The arm has been on the car for 12 years and looks as though it could give way if it has a good knock so I decided to change the lot, just in case you're wondering why I'm not just replacing the ball joint or bushes. I'll let you know how I get on.

Did you ever get an answer for this?