annoying front suspension rattle.

[Monkeymagic]

Today i noticed a i was getting a very slight rattly noise which i believe is coming from the nsf. It only does it at slow speed over little bumps etc.
It sounds like the wheel is a touch loose but quiet.
I did the top mounts maybe 5k ago but only standard black ones.and lower arm poly bushes.
It does sound like a top mount or possibly drop link?
I think i may poly bush the front arb anyway.
Whats peoples views top mount or drop links.
Are there any uprated drop links available?

[Error404]

5k on the top mounts is about 4.5k more than I can make a set of OEMs last

I'd check top mounts and drop links as you suggested. No need for "uprated" drop-links IMHO. OEM are excellent quality and should last years.

[Monkeymagic]

So what is the definitive answer on what top mounts last? I strongly suspecy them too but was trying to kid myself.

[Error404]

I've found the Meyle HD last longer than OEM, but not a major improvement. All OEM style ones are ***** really.
Other options....Pro-mounts get good reports but NLA now I believe, some people like the Compbrake ones, Rusty is testing his beastly prototypes...

[Monkeymagic]

Are the hd ones blue?. Im unsure about solid top mounts with my kws and public roads etc.
Has anyone trialled rustys mounts who can pass comment?

[s2driveruk]

i have the same issue - i'm not sure if it isnt a rattle from the arb mounts/droplinks

Done about 10k miles on my Meyle HD's and they are pretty quiet....unless they are the issue

[Monkeymagic]

Ill jack it up and give the droplinks a check first. 5k is probably a bit over estimated and its an occasional use car so i find it hard to believe they have gone already... i know they are a weak link but all the same. Ill post my findings but still suspect top mounts!

[andy10v]

Droplinks are an easy check, just lie on your back/side, reach up and grab the droplink, shake it hard and see if it knocks.

[macspring]

Don't ask me how I know, but is the wheel a bit loose, or the big threaded bolt that ties the driveshaft to the wheel hub ?

Worth a check as both are easy to verify.

Oh yeah, check you brake calliper for the tightness of the bracket, and the calliper itself.

And make sure the big threaded cap that holds the shock in the strut housing is indeed fully tight.

Lastly, the nut and bolt that holds the front wishbone's ball joint tight in the bottom of the hub.

And if it's not the three set of nuts and bolts for the front wishbone's ball joint, then is the top mounts. :roll eyes:

They really are a pain on B4s.

I presume your front bumper / headlight / HID box etc. are all tight ?

[veneto rs2]

NSF means near side fender/wing?

If yes check i inside your wheel arch for the carbon canister that's hanged inside there...

Got that annoying rattle on slow speed on uneven surfaces or little bumps for ages and checked the all lot form supsension to steering to.... just name it and it was check.
Eventually found one screw holding the carbon canister was lost and it was banging on the wheel arch....

Stefano

[Monkeymagic]

Ill work my way round the bits and pieces. Ive built or rebuilt most of the csr now so doubt its something loose. I however realky believe it is a top.mount.
I looked at the comp brake ones. Are these any good?

[K Simmonds]

I have the Compbrake one's fitted, they were on my car when I purchased it and I've covered over 10K on them, there's no play in them whatsoever so they seem to last well. They do make the ride a little harsher, mind you my car is on H&R's, fully polybushed and the subframes both have solid alloy bushes so it's hard to compare with what they'd be like on say a stock car.

[Monkeymagic]

Im running kws and poly its pretty stiff.
I have 2 big concerns.
1 how does a spherical bearing thats exposed like that going to survive the weight and turning forces etc.
2 a piece of alloy sitting against steel it going to transfer some serious noise and stressesthrough the chassis??

[K Simmonds]

I know what your saying as the bearing isn't very big and it's in an exposed spot but mine are fine and I've heard generally good reports from other members using them, think I may have read about one or two sets that have had a failed bearing.

They don't transfer anywhere near as much noise as you would expect, my car is very firm but I wouldn't say it's excessively harsh. I've been driving it on a real mixture of roads over the past week, on decent A roads, duel carriage ways etc it's great, on B roads is OK but you get the odd hard bump from minor pot holes etc. On single track country back roads it's not very comfortable at all compared to a stock car but not much harsher than my MK2 with Eibachs and polybush's. If I wanted to soften the ride I'd put the springs back to stock instead of going back to rubber composite top mounts.

I am running stock 3B wheels at the moment but I gave it try on my 17's with 215/45 R1R's last week and apart from on really rough bit's of road I was still happy with the ride, it drove very nicely on decent roads.

[Donnie]

Do you run standard calipers? The slides get loose in their bores and cause the most annoying mettalic rattle. Test it by slighly pressing the brake while its making noise.