2000 Modena F1 front end knocking.

The right front suspention is noisy, feels like loose ball joint, car has about 5,000 miles on it. (I hope Rifledriver is listening). I checked out the followings:
Remove sway bar end bolts and drove without the tension on sway bar link and bushings, noise still there.
Sterring rack no play sideways.
Brake pads and caliper seem to be all tight, noise does not change if you step on brake pedal, so I am assuming can not be in the brake system.
Ball joints no play with the wheel lifted up.
I can see the strut bushings to be all in one piece and I do not hear the knocking if I push down on the fender.
Any help/ideas?
Thanks.

 

Bought a 9,000 mile 1999 Modena last year (now upgraded to a spider), whilst it had little mileage, as soon as i started driving the car in anger, I got that common rattle indicating that the ball joints were shot. All caused by the car not doing the miles is should for its age!!

Now have a 2002 Spider - bought it in the summer with 5,800 miles on the clock, have added 3,400 miles in 4 months - not rattles yet!

 

to test for it, you need to use a large pry bar between the tyre and ground and force the wheel up and down slightly... you can't really tell just by wiggling the wheel with it raised... the ball joint itself might not be slack, but it may be moving between the circlip that holds it in and the housing.

Also, the lower shock absorber ball joint could be the source

 

I have a similar problem in my left front. I hear a knocking there at times, and frequently I sense the wheel is not correctly tracking.

Rifledriver says it may be ball joints.

So, I am making arrangements to bring it to him for that and a few other issues.

I'll let you know if it's ball joints.

 

Thanks guys for you responds, I also though the ball joint, it must have a minute play non viseable on the lift. I will double check it differently this weekend on the floor jack, let you know the results.

 

I have no explination why but I have found 3 360's with the RF sway bar mount bolts loose.

Dave

 

That Guido.

I told him to watch that.

 

The only way I have been able to test them consistantly is to pull the attaching bolt and feel for play in the ball. It is easy to do and a small amount of play is enough to make a knock.

 

Don't know if you already fixed your noise concern, but try removing the lower shock bolts and lube them with some moly grease. I would try this first before going after the ball joint especially if there is no play in it. Sometimes the ball joint is thought to be the cause because when the tech reassembles the vehicle they lube the bolt and the noise is gone. If you have a lift this can be done without even taking off the wheels. Lube both sides since you're there. Sounds carzy but I've seen several cars with this issue. Good luck.