"Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

[Grey Nomad Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grey Nomad]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

Hi all

I had just fixed my TJM bashplate from knocking over corrugated roads (see my other post) and was revelling in the boulevarde ride from my Prado when another knocking noise started. After a look around, I noticed that the Bilstein shock shafts were almost ready to punch holes up into the guards on both sides. Added to this, the shock shafts were "flapping around" in the shock tower. I notified the suspension place where I got the Bilsteins/Kings fitted and, to their credit, they were most concerned. The problem was that the lower washer just wasn't up to the job, had deformed badly and started to slip down the shock shaft.
After removing and replacing the strut assemblies and fitting the correct and heavier washers, all is now OK. It seems that Bilstein had supplied incorrect washers and the installer hadn't spotted this at the time. Even a numbskull like me would have spotted that a washer about 0.8mm thick would deform with a 2000kg 4WD pounding up and down on it!
Unfortunately you can't see this washer as it is tucked up inside the shock tower.
Let's hope that mine was an isolated incident.
The installer has been told to be aware of incorrectly packaged washers in future.

Cheers - John

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

That's such a shame. It seems more and more reputable brands are having serious quality-control issues. That one 'simple' mistake could spell big and expensive trouble on a lonesome 4WD track.

I am glad to hear the installers were quick to respond and that the problem has been promptly cleared up. A quick response from the installer is also a good sign.

It might be worth writing Bilstein a quick email, describing your woes. Whilst they may have already heard it from the installer, there's nothing like also hearing it from a concerned consumer. In this case, a consumer with a good sized audience listening in and learning from your experience.

All the best,
LFaR.

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

have you found the source to this orange?

i seem to have a similar knocking sound from LHS splash guard area....rattle/knocking sort of sound

[nickchap Member Find all posts View Profile Close nickchap]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

I have had similar problem. RHF knocking noise when hitting hard bumps- especially under braking!
Have EFS 40mm lift. Returned to fitter after Flinders trip- some 6 months after lift.
He said he could just push a thin piece of wire between RF lower strut bush and support :shock:
Said the rubber around bush seemed distorted and the bottom of the strut could be knocking on the bottom of the lower wishbone
as there is not much clearance underneath :roll: I did explain the I had just come back from the Simpson and other tracks that were
badly corrugated.
They replaced RH strut- as yet no knocks but I haven't given it a good work out yet :twisted:
It may be worth a look to see if this problem is the source of some of you guys knock :idea:
Hope it helps

Nick

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

yeah, add me to the growing list. Only started since I installed the bilstein platinum package, I took it back to the suspension installer and he says that he checked everything but couldn't find anything wrong. The noise occurs when going over speed humps or on rough roads. It sounds like the front right. I cut the recovery hook bolts back to ensure no fouling with the body mounts as suggested above to no avail. Checked sway bar bushes, no dual battery, checked radiator and inner guards - all okay. I might just persist with the installer as in my view he should pull the front struts out and check them properly.

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

how firm should the wheel arch splash guards be?? They seem firm but the black plastic does seem to move from behind the bullbar (the black splash plastic which toyota needed to cut and fit to the bullbar) sometimes bits of it are hanging out and other times i'll park the car to check it, only to notice the bit of black plastic moved back behind the bar

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

I found what's making the rattle. On the soverign bullbar just below the foglight (in my case LHS) there is a horizontal thin metal plate screwed in on 3 screws, that's what's rattling at the moment. Not sure how i'm going to fix it since all three screws are tight, perhaps put some silicon which will mean i'd never be able to take the thing off again

[karrathaprado2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close karrathaprado2]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

Put some silcone, not a lot just enough to bed it in and you will stop the rattle on that. ALL you are trying to do is put some material behind to cushion the plate and she should be good to go.

[don1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close don1]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

hi

did you try checking your OI recovery bolt if it's hitting the front body mount bolt..
some of the OI bolt are bit long and they won't touch until the body flex when turning or braking.

thanks..

[metro09 Member Find all posts View Profile Close metro09]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

Ok - so I got a new sovereign bar fitted (long story, had an altercation on the way back from the GTG)

Ever since then I am hearing a rattle (sounds like metal on metal) and I initially thought something was loose.

After taking it back to the panel beaters, they tell me all is good - but the rattle is still there! They tell me its because of the new brackets that are on the sov bar (aparently the design was changed a few months ago to make the bar move more to avoid cracking issues)

I have pretty much looked all under the car - checked the OI Recovery point bolts (and placed some tape on it to see if after a few days the tape was 'scratched' - but nothing), and got a copy of the instructions from the site (thanks guys!)

Has anyone ever adjusted the bar downwards? Looking at the gap it is around 15mm - but I am thinking of lowering it a touch (i do remember the old bar sat a little lower - it was also a sov bar).

Next stop would be to get the suspension checked.

[metro09 Member Find all posts View Profile Close metro09]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

Bump!

Still tearing my hair out!

Took the second battery out. the noise really REALLY subsided (only heard it once - I think!) actually, you could pretty much say it was gone!

Put battery back in, screw up tight. NOISE.

Any hints?

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

Do you have your second battery up front ( ie on opposite side to the normal battery ) ?

If so, could be the weight of the battery is flexing the front RH guard downwards just enough to start something on the chassis hitting something on the body - most likely something related to the bullbar.
The body can move a fair bit relative to the chassis.

Or it could be the battery itself knocking - do you have a bracing strap fitted between top of the battery and the body ?

[metro09 Member Find all posts View Profile Close metro09]

Re: "Knocking noise" - coming from the front ??

Yep its up front. Has the battery brace as well.

I might pull it out and make sure all of the mounting screws for the plate are tight.