Hi Scotty & team,
I have a 2008 Ford Fiesta mk6 (1.6 petrol) and just a week ago the front end of the car has been making a rattle like sound sound when driving over the smaller corrugated bumps on the road. Mind you it does not produce this sound when driving over the speed humps or entering drive ways. Only on the smaller corrugated bumps on the road.
I have watched many of your videos to diagnose the issue. I have jacked the car up on to stands and given each wheel a nudge upwards with a bar beneath the tyres and no clunk is being produced there. I have also inspected all bushes, and tie rod ends, ball joints and they look pretty good to me and do not appear to have any significant wear and tear. Mounting link beneath car connecting engine & transmission to chassis is good.
I have also given the ball joints, control arms a hit with a rubber hammer and no sound.
However, the passenger side steering arm (inner tie rod) connecting the steering rack to the tie rod end does produce a very minor knock when hit with a rubber hammer but nothing significant. The driver side does not produce the same noise.
I can't pinpoint the issue. Can you advise where to from here?
A bit more history on the car - I just had the front brake pads replaced, brand new front and rear tyres and wheel alignment and balance done 2 weeks ago all at the same time. Any relation to this service?
Thanks again in advance.
Moe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NL0B4ZWQEY
The problem has now been resolved!! This was a very funny problem and it will no doubt occur with many other vehicles!
As stated I had done my brake pads a couple of weeks ago and this problem only occurred not long after. I Thought of taking the pads out and having a good look at them as they were cheaper brake pads. Yep not as tight in the retainer wall of the piston! I stretched out the retainer clips so it sits nice and snug in the piston, bled the whole brake system free from any air to be safe and topped up fluid during the process.
No problems! It was something that simple lucky I didn't go and buy a CV axle drive shaft since mine had very minor play in it but I wasn't quite convinced as mine never clunks during full lock turns!!
Keep in mind for future!! Next time you buy brake pads, whether they're cheap pads or not and they have retainer clips that sit in the piston retainer wall make sure are nice and tight and stretch the clips out if they aren't!
Thanks again to all for your assistance!! Thanks Scotty!
Often it's the struts at Randall but if you really want to figure out the noise watch my video finding the source of car noises Scotty
G'day Scotty. Thanks for responding mate! Well I've made some further progress today - I went for another drive and got a test drive video recording done as requested by MountainManJoe.
I think I have sort of narrowed it down somewhat but I still need expert advice.
Here's the video - https://youtu.be/4NL0B4ZWQEY
From some of the driving I've now ascertained that the noise doesn't occur at all when the brakes are applied while going over the bumps. Only occurs when the brakes are depressed.
After driving it around I got under the car and investigated the front end again and then seeing that the CV axles are directly connected to my rotors & brakes I thought of giving them a further inspection. Visually they look in great condition but then I proceeded to give them a nudge and to my surprise it seems that the drivers side has a very small slack and is producing some knock noises when nudged. You will see in the video towards the end.
It's only a very small amount of slack in the CV axle, but enough to make that rattle when I nudge it.
Could it really be the CV axle? It doesn't click or clunk when turning? How to be sure it's definitely that CV axle? Also, if it doesn't occur while the brakes are on, shouldn't it be the same while under load as well though?
Thanks very much I hope to hear..... 😊
Also, I totally forgot to mention that before I got my new tyres, wheel alignment and balancing a few weeks ago, my balanacing was pretty bad and the front end was vibrating quite a lot. I had driven like that for at least 10,000 kms occasionally on high speeds if that could have caused this CV axle to wear fast and rattle like so?
yes vibration definitely accelerates wear
What do you think mate have you seen the video I've attached?