Mystery knocking

[redsturgeon]

I have a knocking from the front of my old normally reliable Honda Accord. It is not engine or gearbox related since it is there when I coast out of gear.

I think I can feel the knock through the steering wheel.

It is not constant but comes on at low speeds, <30mph when braking and sometimes on acceleration. My engine undertray was loose so I thought that was the cause but now it is refastened the noise is still there.

Any ideas?

John

[ReformedCharacter]

I have a knocking from the front of my old normally reliable Honda Accord. It is not engine or gearbox related since it is there when I coast out of gear.

I think I can feel the knock through the steering wheel.

It is not constant but comes on at low speeds, <30mph when braking and sometimes on acceleration. My engine undertray was loose so I thought that was the cause but now it is refastened the noise is still there.

Any ideas?

John

Driveshaft?

RC

[bungeejumper]

Anti-roll bar bushes? Does the sound get louder when you're cornering?

I take it you've checked your wheels for trapped twigs and so forth? Wouldn't be the first time.

Could still be a CV joint, though. Here's hoping not. Best of luck.

BJ

[Tedx]

You havent come back from Calais recently have you?

[Mike4]

Is it a regular knock in time with the speed the wheels are turning? If so, visually check the inside walls of your tyres as a first step. Easy win if you find a lump!

If it is random, perhaps more in time with bumps or undulations in the road, I'd say a worn wishbone/suspension bush or failing shock absorber.

[redsturgeon]

You havent come back from Calais recently have you?

Yes I have!

[redsturgeon]

Is it a regular knock in time with the speed the wheels are turning? If so, visually check the inside walls of your tyres as a first step. Easy win if you find a lump!

If it is random, perhaps more in time with bumps or undulations in the road, I'd say a worn wishbone/suspension bush or failing shock absorber.

It is random more to do with braking or even taking foot off gas and slowing without brakes. Not louder on cornering. Not louder under hard acceleration. Not regular with road speed changes.

Not too long since MOT and nothing worn picked up there.

John

[pje16]

I, too, suspect CV joints

[Mike4]

I, too, suspect CV joints

CV joints usually click regularly on full lock, but not going in a straight line.

Or used to on Minis 50 years ago anyway!

[Urbandreamer]

It may be assumed that the wheel nuts are tight, but I'd check that they are anyway.

Yes I did have a wheel with loose wheel nuts once.

[bungeejumper]

It is random more to do with braking or even taking foot off gas and slowing without brakes. Not louder on cornering. Not louder under hard acceleration. Not regular with road speed changes.

Long shot, but you did say it's an old Honda. We did once have something rattling and knocking under deceleration on my wife's Polo, which turned out to be a partially sticking caliper on one side of the rear brakes. (Drums, of course, not discs.) It was waggling about quite noisily.

Caused by a sticking handbrake cable on one side, and easily spotted by comparing the left and right brake assemblies from beneath the car. Easily freed up and lubricated, and it never happened again.

BJ

[redsturgeon]

Thanks guys, and the prize goes to............



Urbandreamer!


"Someone" just tightened the wheel nuts with an impact driver and then forgot to torque them up on one side with a long wheel brace.

Thanks for all the other suggestion though and I'm so pleased it wasn't the CV joints.

John

[bungeejumper]

Thanks for all the other suggestion though and I'm so pleased it wasn't the CV joints.

I'm just glad you're still with us! OMG, I've never had a loose wheelnut, though I've seen a wheel fall right off somebody else's car. Yikes, the thought makes me shudder.

BJ

[redsturgeon]

Thanks for all the other suggestion though and I'm so pleased it wasn't the CV joints.

I'm just glad you're still with us! OMG, I've never had a loose wheelnut, though I've seen a wheel fall right off somebody else's car. Yikes, the thought makes me shudder.

BJ

I think/hope they had a way to go before falling off they were still more than finger tight. Don't need to be too loose before making a racket apparently.

John