Should there be this much play? *pics*

[Daffron]

This has been annoying me for a while! Ive been having a knocking sound from what I think is the front drivers side area.

I had it a while ago but it seemed to dissapear after the front had been lowerd, it also happens over bumps more than corners which made me think its more the suspension than a 'shaft.


It came back yesterday Its the same as before, sounds more like something is loose. Had a look round and couldnt find anything, but jacking it up and back down again seems to have made it go away

The only thing I did notice was the amount of play in the whole driveshaft down to the gearbox;


(in the middle of the pic )

Its like if you jack a front wheel up and put it in gear, it has a fair bit of travel before it locks, if that makes sense to you. Maybe 3 quarters of an inch travel in total. It seems the same on both sides, should there be much play there?

rep for help!

[raunchz]

Just thinking out loud, but if you jacking it up and then back down makes the noise go away, then is it something to do with the strut, maybe the spring isn't sitting correct in the bottom pan. Maybe top mount? Top mount bearing? Damper loose?

Maybe worth having the strut off and stripping it down to see if any parts are worn/have movement in them? Maybe removing the spring will take some of the pressure off parts so you can actually see if they are worn (if that makes sense)

Just my initial thoughts from reading it.

[Daffron]

That'd make sense, i'll strip it tomorrow. Hopefully its just something loose becuase it was there then went away after changing the springs, now its back again.

Cheers

[Toad]

I think the amount of play you are refering to is quite normal. I park my car on a slope, and recall when parking the car and putting the handbrake on, if I put it in gear so it won't roll down the slope, if I then release the handbrake, it will roll a wee bit before the gear stops the car, so that's the same play that you are refering to I believe.