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[Dan Hope]

Hi All

Now we have nice weather I can drive around with the windows down. Unfortunately, ive now noticed a new noise. Like a clattering coming from the front left hand side wheel area. I can't find anything loose on inspection, and when i jack the wheel up, nothing seems wobbly. However, when its on the floor and if i kick the wheel (i don't always do it) i can replicate the clattering noise.

Im wondering if it could be the wishbones on their way out. On my previous Omega the wishbones went and it was more of a definite clunking noise.

I think whatever it is is possibly put under pressure when the car is lifted which is why it doesn't make the noise when in the air but does when it's resting in the normal position allowing movement in whatever part it is thats wobbly

any clues? is wishbones a novice job or definitely one best left for a mechanic (last time i didn't know about you guys so just got a mechanic to do it)

[gary nash]

mine is prone to drop link on the left side mate hope this helps

[Andy B]

Hi All

Now we have nice weather I can drive around with the windows down. Unfortunately, ive now noticed a new noise.  .....

Wind the window back up!   

[Dan Hope]

haha, thats exactly what my missus said

[neilr]

brake pad anti rattle spring broken or a stone or something trapped underneath perhaps

[henryd]

bottom coil of spring broken and rattling in the bottom cup of the strut ??

[guncharmer]

Clattering on mine was the brake pad anti-rattle spring bust.

does the noise disappear if you brake?

[dbug]

Hi All

Now we have nice weather I can drive around with the windows down. Unfortunately, ive now noticed a new noise.  .....

Wind the window back up!   

AND turn the radio up!!

Bet its drop links - try first - cheap and easy/quick to swap 

[guncharmer]

It was after i bought droplinks and was about to fit them that i discovered the rattling brake pad due to most of the spring no longer being there.Changed the droplinks anyway and they were a complete sod to get off.Each turn of the nut with the spanner needed big big effort right until the nut came off and as soon as it gets slack its a 'dangle berries' trying to hold the inner part of the stud when you are applying serious pressure. There appeared no less movement in the ones i took off than the new ones! The noise i had set out to cure was definitely the loose brake pad.
Fitting new droplinks is a total doddle but taking off old ones was hard work in my case.

[Dan Hope]

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies. Im just off to hve new tyres fitted on the front, so gonna ask them to have a quick look and see if that spring has come off. will check all your other suggestions over the weekend. hope the weather stays nice!

[Dan Hope]

well, it looks like it's the spring on the brake pads. The tyre came off and there it was, the spring flapping around. Do i have to buy new pads to get a spring or is there such thing as a fixing fit?

[Andy H]

Isn't the spring attached to the pad?

If it has come off then you need some new pads. If it is still attached then it probably wasn't fitted correctly in the first place and you might be able to remove the caliper and refit it correctly.

[Andy B]

Are you sure it's not the sliding part of the caliper that's rattling? My Senator had a caliper that was worn on the sliding pin which caused a rattle.

[Andy H]

Are you sure it's not the sliding part of the caliper that's rattling? My Senator had a caliper that was worn on the sliding pin which caused a rattle.

Remotely diagnosing a brake problem could have nasty consequences if you are unfamiliar with what is 'normal'.

The best thing you can do is securely support the front of the vehicle, take both front wheels off and compare the good and bad sides.

The other part that could be loose is the caliper frame that is fixed to the front strut with two bolts (19mm heads).

The sliding pins that Andy B referred to are fixed by bolts with 13mm heads.

[Andy B]

Are you sure it's not the sliding part of the caliper that's rattling? My Senator had a caliper that was worn on the sliding pin which caused a rattle.

Remotely diagnosing a brake problem could have nasty consequences if you are unfamiliar with what is 'normal'. .....

I wasn't dagnosing  :-?, just offeringa suggestion based on personal experience.