Strange clunking noise from underneath

Shifty1962 · Mar 19, 2009

Over the last two weeks since the snow has gone I've developed a clunking noise (well my TD5 90 has) when going over the smallest of bumps and turning corners. Can't recreate it by rocking the motor. Shock absorber bushes are brand new so its not them.
Been underneath and had a good look at the suspension bushes but no clue as to which ones are the culprits. Definitely from the front though.
I've bough a complete bush set from Paddocks but would like to change out the offending ones first so I dont do any more damage.
Any ideas as to which ones its likely to be. My money is on the radius arms but until I get them off its a complete guess. I'm away working for all of April so I want to get it sorted before then.

landy 3.9v8 · Mar 19, 2009

id say radius arm bushes to mate and belive me they are tight to change

lil-landy · Mar 19, 2009

Sure the handbrakes completely disengaging?

Oddie · Mar 19, 2009

A frame ball joint?

Dirty Gertie · Mar 20, 2009

lil-landy said:
Sure the handbrakes completely disengaging?

That would judder even if you were going in a straight line.
Is it happening on both locks or just one?
Have a good yank on everything underneath for any play; radius arms, panhard rod, drop-arm ball joints, check your props and UJ's as well, if it's more of a clicking than a clunking, it could be a CV joint.

Shifty1962 · Mar 20, 2009

It's defo a clunking and seems to be when changing direction.
Not props or handbrake.
I'll drop the radius arms off this weekend and have a bash at the bushes first.
I made a press many years ago from some RSJ bits and an old bottle jack so I'm hoping to be able to get the old ones out reasonably easy.
Watch this space.

The Mad Hat Man · Mar 20, 2009

OD is yo man - check the a frame ball joint. That will give those symptoms.

lil-landy · Mar 20, 2009

Dirty Gertie said:
That would judder even if you were going in a straight line.

If you don't completely disengage it, like, the red light on the dash is off, but it still seems to be on, it clicks as you go around corners

Found out meself.

Shifty1962 · Mar 20, 2009

The Mad Hat Man said:
OD is yo man - check the a frame ball joint. That will give those symptoms.

Will do. I'll change all the bushes eventually but just want to get this sorted quickly before I go away.
Thanks for the suggestions and I'll let you know the culprit as soon as I found out.

boydy1989 · Mar 20, 2009

swivels maybe? Mine are a bit worn (they are getting rebuilt soon) but they make it clonk over corners, especiallly when turning - jack up each front wheel in turn and see if these any play when wobbled about a verticle axis

Shifty1962 · Mar 20, 2009

boydy1989 said:
swivels maybe? Mine are a bit worn (they are getting rebuilt soon) but they make it clonk over corners, especiallly when turning - jack up each front wheel in turn and see if these any play when wobbled about a verticle axis

They look OK (nice and clean) but will also give them a good going over.

Oddie · Mar 20, 2009

A frame ball joint.

Shifty1962 · Mar 20, 2009

Just had a proper look underneath and it's defo the driver side radius arm bushes where they bolt to the axle. There is about a 1/4 inch of free play side to side and the rubber has completely perished to the point where it can not bee seen. The nearside arm is perfect with no play and the rubber is clearly visible.
I'll jack the motor up today and get the arms off and hopefully I'll be back in business sometime tomorrow. I'll reuse the nuts and pivot bolts for the time being but will change them for new when I've got more time as the driver side front bolt has obvious wear due to sideways movement of the arm.

Dirty Gertie · Mar 20, 2009

lil-landy said:
If you don't completely disengage it, like, the red light on the dash is off

You have a red light telling you when it's on?????

You're posh!!!

lil-landy · Mar 20, 2009

I does....heated seats too

ratty · Mar 20, 2009

lil-landy said:
I does....heated seats too

everyone else has amber difflock lights on their landys.

Red lights mean stop.:doh:

Shifty1962 · Mar 30, 2009

Problem solved at last.
Changed all bushes but still got the metallic clunk.
Turns out is was the upper front shock mount bush which had completely disintegrated.
Sods law its one of the few you cant see on the car and its a b***stard getting the thing out. Had to remove the front spring in the end as the shock cage would not come out like its supposed to.
While I'm at it does any one have any tips on how to stop the shock twisting when you try to undo the top nut? The bottom has a spanner flat on the thread but the top dont.

Trewey · Mar 30, 2009

Shifty1962 said:
While I'm at it does any one have any tips on how to stop the shock twisting when you try to undo the top nut? The bottom has a spanner flat on the thread but the top dont.

Stilsons.

Shifty1962 · Mar 30, 2009

Thought of that but the top of the shock is the bit connected to the piston shaft and it sits inside the mounting cage. I cant get anything on it cos its still inside the cage, even at full extension, and if I could it would bugger up the nice shiny slidy bit which slides through the oil seals on the shock. If I grip the shock body the piston end still turns.

I've tried an air impact wrench to get it started but no joy.
The thing has been soaking in 3in1 for two days now as it was a bit rusty to say the least.
If I cant get it off I'll have to cut the bugger and fit new shocks which seems daft as theres nowt wrong with these ones.

boydy1989 · Mar 30, 2009

angle grinder.

New shocks are less than £10. And they come with the spanner flat on the end.

Strange clunking noise from underneath

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