Front Suspension Rattle

[Peter.N.]

I have had a rattle from the nearside front suspension which has gradually got worse, I notice it particularly when driving over the forest track to the road. It sounds like the anti roll bar drop link, but I have changed it and its still there. I put some additional grease in the new link balljoints as it looked very sparse. It sounds as though it could be the anti roll bar bushes, do they give trouble? because I have not had this problem on any of my other XMs. Its obviously something that is not under load like the suspension ball joint because it only does it on an undulating surface in a straight line.

Incidentaly, it looks as though I have already changed the drop link as it was still quite shiny with no noticable wear, but I have obviously forgotten about it, but that's par for the course.

Thanks in anticipation.

Peter.N.

[citroenxm]

Hi Peter N

I'd suspect bottom ball joint too. They can be a weak point on all the cars that feature them, peugeots too...

What you could do, jack the car up at front, let both front wheels "hang" and then with a bar leaver the bottom arm and see if you have any play... Simulating an MOT testers action..

Keep us informed..

Regards
citroenxm

[Peter.N.]

Hi citroenxm

The noise doesn't sound right for a suspension ball joint as they dont normally rattle unless the weight is lifted off them, this rattles in 'level flight', but I could be wrong so I will try, as you say, moving it with the weight off, and will keep you informed.

Peter.N.

[mebedforduk]

Strut tops?

Jack up, and try and move wheel upwards.

Should move a bit on its rubber stops, but anything more.......

Mark

[noz]

Peter,

What about the old "exhaust hitting the side of the tunnel" classic?

Cheers

noz

[Peter.N.]

Noz and others

Thanks for all the suggestions but the noise definitly seems to be coming from the front n/s suspension, it sounds directly related to the movement of the lower suspension arm. 35 years of driving over the same flinty forest track gets one attuned to the frequency of vibration. Of course I could be completely wrong I'll let you know!

[Xmauritius]

Yeah i had a rattle too from the near side suspension too once, sounded more like someone hitting a pan with a hammer as i went over rough ground. I found the lower balljoint to be very loose so i changed that but it only made a little difference, the noise went when i replaced the drop link though.

I think with the weight fo the car on the balljoint its rarely heard.

Rouben

[Michael P]

So far on all the cars that I owned the front suspension was dodgy. THat was a Golf, a CX, 3 BXs and now my XM (exception Ford Fiesta). THe XM was remarkably quiet and is now getting louder. I tried to hunt down this dreadful problem on my last BX, we tried in vain to find out what it was. As one of the chaps says here, the top end of the strut seems a major suspect. So I would have a look at that. The road quality down here is really slowly killing it. So I will have to look at it sooner or later. I am tempted to replace everything in one go. Why do the repair in three or four attempts?


Michael

[Peter.N.]

What an idiot! I took my car in for MOT yesterday and it failed on the off side track rod end and only that I am pleased to say. I replaced it today and guess what, the rattle on the 'near side' has gone and silence once again reigns.

I had poked, prodded and levered everything on the n/s front to no avail and have just found out why!

Peter.N.

[citroenxm]

Hi all

Anti rattle springs/retainers on the callipers can be forgotton and cause a HUGE rattle!!




Regards
citroenxm