What's this noise (with sample)?

[Chri5B]

What's this noise (with sample)? Now with answer!

I can often hear it when coming on / off the throttle at town speeds, so say 10 to 40 mph.

The section between about 15 seconds and 29 seconds, then 32 through to 36 seconds is just the noise of me lifting on / off the pedal

Sample

Any thoughts?

 

[stoneyfordNI]

cant make out the clip

 

[Chri5B]

Is it too quiet?

In person, it's a grate/graunch/rub from the other side of the bulkhead or underneath the car.

 

[Smithy]

sounds like someone opening a pack of crisps behind you at the cinema lol

Sorry, can't make out the sound clip either

 

[stoneyfordNI]

yea , too quiet , when does it do it , bumpy roads , going straight, on bends etc

 

[jamesmckelvie]

sounds ike the indicator is on, and then someone striking a match, and then fumbling about cos they have dropped their fag, and finally snorting coke.

 

[Neo_VR]

Any mods? strutbrace etc?
if you take the engine cover off and rock the engine back and forth does it move alot?

 

[Chri5B]

Will try again guys - was recorded on my phone, so never going to be great. Doesn't help that I know what I'm listening for.

Colin - only mod is a front strutbrace.

Will have a swing on the engine this weekend - is getting the cover off easy?

 

[Neo_VR]

Will try again guys - was recorded on my phone, so never going to be great. Doesn't help that I know what I'm listening for.

Colin - only mod is a front strutbrace.

Will have a swing on the engine this weekend - is getting the cover off easy?

check the airbox is not rubbing on the strutbrace.. i had a problem where the mount had come loose behind the battery, so the suction when the engine was lifting the airbox up slightly to rub on the strutbrace... also check if the engine cover has been rubbing or not (some do, some dont)

 

[muddyboots]

First guess would be the airbox as I've heard a lot of people have noises where it rubs against the strut brace - and if it was, why has it only just started...but why this would happen only during throttle on/off at town speeds I'm not sure - the engine will be rocking but the airbox is mounted separately.

Engine cover just lifts off, give the front edge a sharp tug upwards and it'll pop off it's rubbery mounts.

If the engine's started moving a little more than usual, it could well be a mount giving up the ghost, perhaps the lower rear one which controls the front-rear rocking motion that you'd get from throttle on/off. About £35 each from the dealer, was trying to get one myself from Darren at Willoughby until his mysterious disappearance...

 

[Chri5B]

I've had padding (pipe insulation) on my strut brace for the airbox for ages and it's still cable tied in place.

MOT is Monday, so will ask the dealer to look.

 

[Chri5B]

Car is in for 70k service today and dealer has just rung me.

The answer (apparently) is...

The the bushes in the front O/S lower arm are almost finished and the N/S bushes are going the same way.

They've quoted me £62.25+VAT each and then reckon another £150 to fit

Is it a nasty job to fit them? I'm wondering if it's worth shopping around at all...

 

[EdButler]

lol thats your dealer spouting a load of crap mate, you can get the powerflex ones for £40 for both of the rear wishbone bushes... You can even get all the fronts for £90!

The OE ones are crap as they have huge holes which allow too much flex and perish very quickly. My advice is go for powerflex and get them done at a specialist. Seat dealers charge around £80/hr labour whereas JBS nearer £45.

Im pretty sure JBS quoted me around 80 for the wishbone bushes.

Powerflex Linky:
http://www.powerflex.co.uk/products.asp?cat=0029&catalog=0729&submit1.x=27&submit1.y=16

 

[Chri5B]

Cheers Ed.

I was just looking at that Powerflex page but wasn't sure which of the three choices of front bushes it would be? Any ideas which it is?

I've asked from a price from JBS. Downside it's a 120 mile round trip. Will try a couple of local places though.

 

[EdButler]

If they say its the "lower arm" i would assume its the Rear Wishbone Bush. These are the lowest mounted bushes on the Front wishbones and they have similarities to arms!

This is my best guess, as when i had mine on the ramps at JBS, they were looking very worn and cracked at 45000miles (2 years old). You could always give your dealer who spotted it a ring to ask (make it sound like your going to book it in, then theyll be very helpful, but dont!)

Hope it helps... 120Miles isnt *too* far so long as the job gets gone properly, you can even see it being done. If it boils down to it, we'll organise a meet around your visit

 

[Chri5B]

Clank free motoring - bliss

Cost me £215 at ABP Motorsport (near Crewe) who I would certainly use again. I had both sets of bushes on the front wishbone done as the labour was the same (£135), so it made sense to get the others done whilst they were at it.

So about £85 less than the dealer wanted and I got more for my money.

They have left a couple of the old parts in the car - I'll take a picture if anyone is interested to see the state of them after 73k miles.

 

[muddyboots]

Yes it would be interesting to see the old ones...

Does it feel much different to drive - and did you go for Powerflex or OE ?

 

[Chri5B]

Powerflex MB. Didn't consider the OE ones once I wasn't going to pay dealer rates.

It could well be placebo but the front does feel a little bit more solid. That said, even if there was no improvement, I'm just happy to get rink of the clanking.

Will take a snap later. ABP said they had to give the existing ones some grief to get the feckers out though some of the state can be attributed to BF&I.