Knock Knock Knock Thump

[Jarmizz]

Hey guys & girls,

Awesome website/forum, well I know its not nice but my first post of your fabulous forum is one asking for help with my Celica.

I own a 1987 Toyota Celica GT Coupe, 3SGE engine, lowered, mags, cold air induction and a few other extras. My problem is just lately I have heard a strange knock/bump sound in what seems to be coming from the front left hand side of the car. Like its in the suspenison almost, I thought it might have been the bonnet moving in the latch so I tightened that up but still that strange noise haunts me.

So I thought it might be a lose bush in the suspension but I have tryed to move the suspension around with no luck of finding that dam sound.

I was hoping (I know its bad) that one of you have had the misfortune of hearing this sound. Any ideas of what the sound may be would be great, oh and I only hear the sound if going over large bumps. It almost sounds like the suspension hitting the bumper stop but it isnt.

Any ideas would be great, cheers

Regards

James

[GT4 BOOSTER]

could be the front strut bottoming out , how old are the springs they get weak with age and become too short ,does the front of the car bounce when you press down on each side or is it stiff to push ? ( shockers worn ) , may also be a broken ball joint or the bushes in the front wishbones.

[daktari]

Sounds like it could be a balljoint. Or lower arm bushes. You need to jack the car up and place it securely on axle stands. (It`ll hurt if the thing falls on you :D ) Then get under it with a long lever and start levering things around. Your looking for vertical movement of the wheel/hub assy for the balljoint. You might be able to actually see play in the balljoint as your levering it. and fore and aft movement with the lower arm bushes. BTW. It`ll be easier if theres two of you.

Failing that it could be the top suspension mounts.

Good luck.

[starletsr]

Welcome to the family James

Hope people give ya some good advice on here

Enjoy!!

Shelly :group-cuddles:

[jonnor]

Just got mine back from my friendly Jap Import Garage today - Mine was making similar noise on the off side front - Thought it was exhaust knocking but that was solid when I checked - Thought could be caliper or brakes? even engine mounting rubbers?and ball joints but nothing - Still knock knock every time i went over bumps.Garage said they stripped down the suspension to the o/side then put back together and hey the noise had gone? No problems with suspension bushes etc? Explanation - This just happens sometimes? Problem is its nothing particular - Just general loosness and wear which can make the whole front wheel assembly start to knock on something - Problem is you have dismantal and put everything back to see if youve fixed it.

[Rookey]

Hey guys & girls,

Awesome website/forum, well I know its not nice but my first post of your fabulous forum is one asking for help with my Celica.

I own a 1987 Toyota Celica GT Coupe, 3SGE engine, lowered, mags, cold air induction and a few other extras. My problem is just lately I have heard a strange knock/bump sound in what seems to be coming from the front left hand side of the car. Like its in the suspenison almost, I thought it might have been the bonnet moving in the latch so I tightened that up but still that strange noise haunts me.

So I thought it might be a lose bush in the suspension but I have tryed to move the suspension around with no luck of finding that dam sound.

I was hoping (I know its bad) that one of you have had the misfortune of hearing this sound. Any ideas of what the sound may be would be great, oh and I only hear the sound if going over large bumps. It almost sounds like the suspension hitting the bumper stop but it isnt.

Any ideas would be great, cheers

Regards

James

So far, As far as I can remember, this is the most polite introduction to TOC ...like EVER!hehe :P

Welcome to the club, I hope you find a solution!

Dave! :)

[Calisto]

welcome to TOC James :group-cuddles: have fun.

[Dan_Q]

My ST182 made that noise for quite a few months, couldnt find the problem anywhere

Then it went away for a bit....................... then threw the front nearside driveshaft- sheared the bugger in two.

I can't say for certain whether the knock was related to the driveshaft fatigue failing, but i'd put money on it- just not my mortgage ;)

If you do get around to stripping the suspension to check for knocks it may be worth torquing up the hub nut whilst its stripped.

Good luck and keep us informed

[taff]

if it happens round courners sounds like cv joint

[Cubic Incubi]

shockers are worn out it sounds.

[mikeb]

As taff said, if it only happens when you have steering lock on then it is likely to be a CV joint.

If it happens when goining in a straight line over a bumpy road surface, then it is somewhere in the suspension. I have read somewhere that top mounts can wear out on GT4s. Don't know if the 2wd suffers the same problem.

It could just be a suspension bush. They can look OK, even when they are at fault. I had a rear antiroll bar one wear out and I had a knocking sound (sounded a bit like exhaust hitting underbody). It looked fine but when you squeezed the bush by hand it stopped the noise. Now the other side is doing the same, so it must be fairly common (on the rear at least, I've never had any problems at the front though).