Knocking sound when driving

Hey, my latest problem is a knocking sound when driving, that progressively gets louder as a journey goes on.

It only happens when I'm moving, so it doesn't appear to have anything to do with the engine itself, and when I apply the brakes lightly, it dissappears completely, making me suspect it could be a loose calliper or something similar. However I also noticed when I start driving when the vehicle is 'cold' and hasn't been moving for 2-3 hours, it isn't there, but as the journey goes on, it reappears and gets louder, so could it be wheel bearings loosening when the grease around them melts?

Either way, I'd like to either fix it before I head back to Wales next week, or find out if I can get back to Wales and sort it out then.

Wheel bearings tend to drone, squeal, hum when knackered. No guarantee mind! Still could be! Check for play in the wheels is a good tell tale sign of knackered bearings.

I'd look at suspension bushes, worn break calipers, track rod ends/steering assembly, shock absorber, loose exhaust, etc.

Just guessing

When does it make this knocking noise? In a straight line? Over bumps? When leaning over?

Is it rhythmical? or random/sporadic?

All gears? Certain speeds?

It's a rhythmical noise, a kind of 'tick tick tick' and it gets faster the faster I drive. It happens on all gears and any driving conditions, regardless of bends, bumps, flat roads etc.

Maybe the pads are loose, missing anti rattle shims? Also ceck the linings on the rear brakes, its not unknown for a bit to come off. Esp if the van has sat for a long time.

Little Black Van wrote:It's a rhythmical noise, a kind of 'tick tick tick' and it gets faster the faster I drive. It happens on all gears and any driving conditions, regardless of bends, bumps, flat roads etc.

+

and when I apply the brakes lightly, it dissappears completely

Must be brakes really. Next test, does it go away if you pull the handbrake lever? If so its the back brakes. If the handbrake has no effect it must be the front brakes.

Front brake pads and disks are super cheap on ebay, but most likely it may be the little float/slide pin things that just need a wire brushing/WD40/repack with grease.

sounds like a drive shaft joint to me the mark 2 escort did the same thing if it is ring a main dealer to see if you can get it done under warranty as there was a recall on 1.3 drive shafts.

Not a hope of getting it done under warranty, the van is second hand (well, 7th hand by now, according to its V5 its had 5 previous owners, and that was before I was added to the list, so I'm seventh in line now ) it's the 1.0 litre version and it's 16 years old. The sound also appears to be coming from the front of the van, I'm pretty sure it's brakes, I'll find out which ones tomorrow when I take it out.

Little Black Van wrote:Not a hope of getting it done under warranty, the van is second hand (well, 7th hand by now, according to its V5 its had 5 previous owners, and that was before I was added to the list, so I'm seventh in line now ) it's the 1.0 litre version and it's 16 years old. The sound also appears to be coming from the front of the van, I'm pretty sure it's brakes, I'll find out which ones tomorrow when I take it out.

Recalls last for years if it is that so it is possible they'll do it still. Check the hub hasn't come loose either when you check the brakes. Mine was super loose when I checked one of mine. If its pads Rapid parts were about £12 for a set of apec ones.

You could test to see if it is the prop shaft by jacking it up and putting axle stands under the rear axle, then get the engine on with it in gear etc. Before I went to that trouble I'd check to see if pulling the handbrake gently makes it go quiet, or just the foot brake.

Yeah, I'm going to test that after the handbrake test. Heading up to North Devon today for the weekend though, so it will probably have to wait until I get back from there, but as long as I take it gently, it should be OK.

Recalls are not warranty. Once on the government recall list the car company has to fix it although you can choose not to bother.

If you think it is hubs or bearings go to a dealer because there was a recall for one or other of those. The dealer will be able to check whether the recall work has been done. (I was offered a new petrol tank on that basis but there was nothing actually wrong with mine).

PS
I think you can access the recall list through the DVLA or DIRECTGOV website.

bushwhacker wrote:
I think you can access the recall list through the DVLA or DIRECTGOV website.

Never knew that...

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/searches/search.asp

Just looked at my collection of documents, and found an invoice from the previous owner's mechanic that includes a nearside front wheel bearing. The invoice is dated 23/9/11 so unless the bearing was shoddy in the first place, it's unlikely to be on the way out already.

Just got the wheel off and looked, nearside front brake pad is pretty loose, most likely the cause of the knocking. I've also noticed when turning the disc that it catches at a certain point on the disc then loosens again. Is this a sign of a warped disc?

Ok, so I've now smeared copper grease over the back of the loose pad (getting the calliper off was a pain) and it appears to have sorted it for now. I feel though that this is only a temporary bodge, and I'll need something more permanent later. The pad did have a shim, but it was pretty thin.

Ok, the copper grease seems to have half fixed it, The knocking now only really happens when I do hard left turns. When I do those, it knocks pretty loudly. Is it still likely to be brakes? Or is this more likely to be a bearing?

I reckon it's probably still the brakes. It's worth jacking up the nearside, but under the lower swivel to take up suspension travel, and trying to rock the wheel top and bottom, then side to side, to eliminate bearing play. If the bearing's wearing, it'll just rumble. If there's play, tightening the nut (to the proper torque, of course) may eliminate it.

If that doesn't prove it, then I'd probably run with it for a while, unless it gets worse, might even get better. I've known things like that just go away in the past.

You could always try the loud stereo approach to getting rid of disturbing mechanical noises.

I REALLY want a radio now. Drove up to Doncaster at the weekend so spent about 7 hours (there and back) with just the narrative in my head. NOT GOOD! Might treat myself for my birthday

The art is distinguishing non-essential noises which can be covered by music from the genuinely problem-related ones that should be attended to ASAP.

I've only got a loud Kenwood in my van cos it was free. Honest.