Knocking diagnosis help please.

alanmc

Ladies and Gents,

Recently, I've noticed a knocking from the front right wheel of my car when going around roundabouts. In a straight line, there's no noise. I think turning left is ok as well.

It's not really a knocking ... more like a "whump whump whump whump" sound. It's rhythmic and increases in frequency with road speed. The steering feels tight and precise as ever. No vaguness or wooliness at all.

Things I've checked:

- Wheel bearings on both sides seem fine ... no wobble or harshness when spinning by hand.
- Visual inspection of the suspension parts. All the bushes and boots look ok. I didn't go at it with a pry bar yet.

Does it sound like a CV joint? The reason I think this is because of the rhythmic quality of the sound.

My car is a 2004 Nissan 350Z.

Tea drinker

Sounds like CV to my unprofessional ehh... eyes.

Avns1s

If it's the CV joint the first sign will be that the boot (rubber covering) will be cracked or burst and losing the grease. This allows water and grit to get in which chews the joint.

I dont think I have ever seen a CV joint gone without the boot being burst so look here first.

alanmc

Avns1s wrote: »

If it's the CV joint the first sign will be that the boot (rubber covering) will be cracked or burst and losing the grease. This allows water and grit to get in which chews the joint.

I dont think I have ever seen a CV joint gone without the boot being burst so look here first.

Ah balls. I had a good look at all the bushes and boots and everything seemed in good nick. I'll look again when I get home. I'm in the crappy diesel today.

George Dalton

Come on lads, I would have expected better from you. Diagnosing a front CV joint problem in a rear wheel drive car?? Tut tut

OP how does the front right tyre look? Any uneven wear on the inside edge? Any bulges in the sidewall?

alanmc

George Dalton wrote: »

Come on lads, I would have expected better from you. Diagnosing a front CV joint problem in a rear wheel drive car?? Tut tut

OP how does the front right tyre look? Any uneven wear on the inside edge? Any bulges in the sidewall?

Tyres are good. Maybe 8 months old. No uneven wear. I had the wheels off recently replacing some wheel studs so ai had a good look at them. They do feather a bit on the shoulder, but apparently that's common on the Z.

BTW: The sound was there before I went to replace the studs so it's not related to that.

Avns1s

George Dalton wrote: »

Come on lads, I would have expected better from you. Diagnosing a front CV joint problem in a rear wheel drive car?? Tut tut

OP how does the front right tyre look? Any uneven wear on the inside edge? Any bulges in the sidewall?

Good point. Not familiar with the 350Z so hands up, should have checked.

alanmc

Avns1s wrote: »

Good point. Not familiar with the 350Z so hands up, should have checked.

I should know. It's my bloody car. Oooops!

Avns1s

alanmc wrote: »

I should know. It's my bloody car. Oooops!

I wouldn't worry about it.

Now, when you have your wheel off, check your brake pads for wear. If they are ok, check that there is nothing alien like a stone or something caught in the caliper. Check that all the bolts etc are tight.

I am assuming that you have checked that your tyres arent catching off a mudflap or the arch liner at a particular point?

alanmc

Avns1s wrote: »

I wouldn't worry about it.

Now, when you have your wheel off, check your brake pads for wear. If they are ok, check that there is nothing alien like a stone or something caught in the caliper. Check that all the bolts etc are tight.

I am assuming that you have checked that your tyres arent catching off a mudflap or the arch liner at a particular point?

I replaced the discs and pads a few months back. I had everything off again doing the wheel studs, so again I had a good look at them. Discs are still pristine. No scores in them. No pulsing in the pedal when breaking either. Pads have plenty of meat left on them still.

I didn't check to see if anything was rubbing when the wheel was turned to the right. I'll try this tomorrow morning. The brake lines are all secured correctly thought. The only thing I can think of is the plastic sump cover or the inner wheel arch. If it's one of these, then happy days. I'll post back here tomorrow with results.

Tea drinker

if a tyre was starting to delaminate it might make some scrunchy noises. Get someone you trust :-) to drive it around you in a deserted car park

alanmc

I haven't had a chance to have a good look at the car since. Weekend was hectic. I'll have to wait til next week. Damn you work for getting in the way of my DIY frivolities.