Weird knocking noise front left side

[A80Avant]

I have been having a knocking noise for the past month front left side(my drivers side) as it is LHD. It appears more readily on slow speeds, more on bumps, metallic in nature, not rhythmic as per wheel speed but not entirely sure on that either.

We have replaced inner and outer driveshaft joints and still persists. It happens also with or without gear.

Apparently suspension parts appear solid, droplinks new too, nothing obvious.

anyone had similar experience and what did you end up having changed ?

[SteveH]

Strut top nut loose. I've had this on mine and it was only slightly loose.

[steve briance]

Are the new drop links tight? Been there done that - it is surprising how much noise a new droplink makes when it is only slightly loose at the strut end...

[A80Avant]

Good points. I'll check those 2, they are simple. Anything else?

[hunker7]

Calipers in good condition? I've had issue like that when sliders wore out.

[Error404]

As above I'd do a spanner check on all the suspension fasteners first of all

[A80Avant]

Seems to me the best thing to do.

question, can a wheel bearing give similar issues? I'd expect rotational knock esp in corners although I can't convince myself this is rotational

[4WDrifter]

also check that the bolts attaching the driveshafts to where the drive comes out of the bottom of the engine are tight. they are both right hand thread so the bolts on the left side of the car want to loosen. I have had mine loosen!

[A80Avant]

I checked the torx nut of the strut and it's tight. One down more to check...

I do use the mount savers I forgot to mention. Could it be that the metal ring could be causing the noise? it wouldn't explain the noise coming even without road discrepancies though

[4WDrifter]

My driveshaft looseness showed as a knock when you lifted off and then accelerated, like when negotiating a speed bump.

[A80Avant]

it's getting looked at. Plausible cause so far seems the wheel bearing. We shall see

[bertman]

Check your ball joints,I had an really annoying rattle/knock that I could not find.Had checked everything and it turned out despite looking ok and being tight the ball joints where knocking ever so slightly where they were a bit worn
Had replaced drop links,top mounts etc and the noise went away when I changed out the joints

[A80Avant]

wheel bearing changed, and noise still there.

Although I had powered bushes and replaced them with AK motorsport, it was pointed out to me that they have way too much play on them and my noise could be due to them. I enclose a short video of the right side with the left being worse.

I'm not sure of this could cause any noise unless excessive movement causes a rattle somewhere else.

https://youtu.be/NkfYUkuBXRQ

Once the black bushes arrive we will also change the gear box mounts.

If the car is left off gear and the rattle is still present, can this be a gear box related noise?

[SteveH]

Do those bushes have a steel insert? My powerflex bushes have no movement in them.

[A80Avant]

yes, these have a steel insert.