Drop arm.

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mick the builder

Well-Known Member
Posts
5,901
Location
Sligo,Wild West of Ireland.
I'm getting a tapping noise what seems like a cable slapping the bulkhead when I pull away through first and second. Driving me nuts but can't find anything out of the ordinary. As it sounds like a steering associated noise and all the tre,s are OK, I thought d change the ball joint in the drop arm as there is a knock when I move the ball joint fully either way. Should I buy the complete drop arm for £26, ball joint unknown. Just an aftermarket ball joint for £6 or an oem balljoint for £ 50ish. How hard is it the replace just the ball joint.
 
I'm getting a tapping noise what seems like a cable slapping the bulkhead when I pull away through first and second.

Do you have rubber mats?
I had that "slapping" noise and it was the mat catching on the back of the clutch pedal then slapping back down:).

Does it do it if at standstill, or only if you actually move off?

J
 
Do you have rubber mats?
I had that "slapping" noise and it was the mat catching on the back of the clutch pedal then slapping back down:).

Does it do it if at standstill, or only if you actually move off?

J
I was driving today and thought I'd sussed it. It sounded like iwas around the lower bulkhead above the accelerate peddle. I grabbed the metal door check and rattled it around and it gave the same sound . Unfortunately when I drove with one hand holding the stay but the noise was still there. I may have to open up the dash and see if there's anything in there slapping around. It seems to be getting worse so I need to find the cause. It's only there pulling away in first and second hen it goes.
 
I was driving today and thought I'd sussed it. It sounded like iwas around the lower bulkhead above the accelerate peddle. I grabbed the metal door check and rattled it around and it gave the same sound . Unfortunately when I drove with one hand holding the stay but the noise was still there. I may have to open up the dash and see if there's anything in there slapping around. It seems to be getting worse so I need to find the cause. It's only there pulling away in first and second hen it goes.

A loose retaining doofer in the door frame/bulkhead ?

Inertia makes it clang, then it sits where it lands until you slow again ...
 
I've got the special tool to change the ball joint in situ. I've only used it with the drop arm off though, mine comes off quite easy.
Special tool was cheap enough even though I can't remember what I paid for it:rolleyes:
 
Can you remember the old VW Golf advert when a slight squeak was driving the young lad up the wall? An old mechanic, in a remote garage, cured it by putting a tiny drop of oil on his girlfriend's dangly earing. :rolleyes:
I doubt it's your drop arm ball joint Mickles.:)
 
When you at you hear a knock on full lock,how’s the panard bushes?

another squeak is bonnet edges on wings near bulkhead or them bonnet bushes on bulkhead
 
Can you remember the old VW Golf advert when a slight squeak was driving the young lad up the wall? An old mechanic, in a remote garage, cured it by putting a tiny drop of oil on his girlfriend's dangly earing. :rolleyes:
I doubt it's your drop arm ball joint Mickles.:)
I know, at the end of that long explanation, I realised I was clutching at straws.:). As I said, only in first and second pulling away. Sounds like a cable, speedo?, slapping against a panel. :confused:
 
Air vent flap come loose from the cable. The one along where it comes out if the heater box and through the bulkhead. Normally has foam around it so should deadening any sound. o_O
 
In my experience, the cheaper drop arm kits are harder to fit/don't fit as well as the genuine/better quality ones. Last time I did it, the bottom washer/cap was a couple of mil too thick - no way it was ever going to fit. I feel your pain with the mystery noise, I've had a clunk for over a year that only happens when backing off or braking at low speed. Bushes changed, everything tightened, gearbox changed - I've even bought new year drive shafts.
 
Did you do the A frame axle bush ?
Mmmmmmm? Never thought of that. Makes sense while accelerating through first and second. Would the noise feel like its under floor or lower bulkhead. It's more of a cable slap on a panel that a knock. I thought I'd sussed it with the copper brake pipe from the mc hitting the baulk head but that wasn't it.
 
Mmmmmmm? Never thought of that. Makes sense while accelerating through first and second. Would the noise feel like its under floor or lower bulkhead. It's more of a cable slap on a panel that a knock. I thought I'd sussed it with the copper brake pipe from the mc hitting the baulk head but that wasn't it.
Quick way of checking A frame knuckle.
Apply handbrake, roll motor at rear wheel(taking up the slack in gearbox/axle)
Once the slack is gone the A frame will move/jump
Roll the motor forward then backwards and watch the knuckle

good luck hunting the noise.
 
In my experience, the cheaper drop arm kits are harder to fit/don't fit as well as the genuine/better quality ones. Last time I did it, the bottom washer/cap was a couple of mil too thick - no way it was ever going to fit. I feel your pain with the mystery noise, I've had a clunk for over a year that only happens when backing off or braking at low speed. Bushes changed, everything tightened, gearbox changed - I've even bought new year drive shafts.

I've had this too. Shortly after buying the land Rover I replaced the drop arm ball joint and found I had to do a little judicious grinding and filing to get the components to fit. The whole assembly was too long to get the bottom plate in and the clip located so I had to take a bit off the flat ends of the cup components. The plate itself needed a gentle grind around its circumference to get it in.

I've got an occasional clunk too. I can't feel any slack when I wobble the components or attempt to rock the vehicle back and forth. Mine shows up at low speed, especially when I'm slowing down on the approach to a junction and then decide I've got room to go, so get off the brake and onto the accelerator. It doesn't happen every time, but I'd like to know what it is.
 
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