Suspension issue - garage can't find anything

Solus

Solus

Solus

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Joined
5 Oct 2006
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892
Location
Cardiff
Hi all, quite a frustrating problem but I guess it may be hard to find without completely disassembling the area in question.

I suspect it might be the top mounts, but garage is reluctant to do anything until it "gets worse".

The garage always wants the car in at 8am, there's normally moisture in the air at this point due to evaporation, the issue doesn't seem to be apparant when this is the case.

Come mid day on a dry day it's so bad that it's embarrassing to drive. It doesn't only happen when I turn, and it doesn't need to be a big dip on the road to happen. It is much more noticeable when going below 20mph.

There is a high pitched squeaking sound, combined with creaking and popping coming from the drivers side front suspension. The tyre on this corner also has uneven wear.

It's been in to the garage 3 times now, each time they say they can't find anything, I'm reluctant to keep driving it like this as I'm concerned for safety.

The car is a MK3 Renault Grand Scenic 1.6 DCi 12 plate.

Any ideas on how I can trace this or prove to the garage there's a problem? Or should I just change garage?

Thanks in advance
 
I would definitely take it to another garage. If the signs are that obvious when driving it in the middle of the day they should be able to spare 5 minutes to at least observe it.

It sounds like you're being fobbed off tbh.
 
Might be worth trying a mobile mechanic who offer a diagnostic service? I've found it increasingly a pain lately getting garages to do a proper diagnostic job - they just want to run through a generic checklist or have you tell them what work needs doing :(
 
Thanks all. I think I'll try another garage as obviously safety is the main thing. It passed the mot in September in the same garage as well.

I completely understand that the best jobs are the ones which are routine and you don't have to use your brain, like servicing. It seems this is the type of job they want as he's approaching retirement.
 
I had a similar issue recently where there was a knocking squeak over uneven surfaces. No outward sign and spraying WD40/Teflon spray over all bushes didn't alleviate it. Turned out it was a ball joint that had lost the grease over time and was begging to stick and only obvious when the upper suspension arm was partially undone.

So yeah it may need some closer inspection to identify the actual bush/ball/arm that's causing this.
 
With issues like this that might not be apparent to the mechanic when you bring it in, I've covered it by driving and having a passenger filming or someone outside filming as I drive past.
Could you do that to get the evidence of the problem and for the mechanic to narrow it down?
 
It sounds like a bush is drying out. When it's damp/wet it won't make noise. Probably inner anti roll bar bushes - that's where I'd be looking first.

But if the garage doesn't want to know, go elsewhere. We always try and go out with the customer to ID noises.
 
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When I bought my R8 a few years back I had a clonk from the rear. I called it out on email the day I collected it. It went in we all heard the clonk. It came back with “think we fixed it”. Drove away 3 miles in clonk.

We did this a couple of times then I lost my **** and escalated to the DP. It was obvious it was a big job they wanted to avoid. My annoyance worked and after disassembling the rear it was fixed. Waiting for it to get worse is a crap response. It shouldn’t do that so make them fix it.
 
bimbleuk said:
I had a similar issue recently where there was a knocking squeak over uneven surfaces. No outward sign and spraying WD40/Teflon spray over all bushes didn't alleviate it. Turned out it was a ball joint that had lost the grease over time and was begging to stick and only obvious when the upper suspension arm was partially undone.

So yeah it may need some closer inspection to identify the actual bush/ball/arm that's causing this.
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Same happened on my Mini. The rubber split on the wishbone ball joint and caused a knock/creak. Front passanger side.

I reckon it's that OP.
 
Solus said:
Hi all, quite a frustrating problem but I guess it may be hard to find without completely disassembling the area in question.

I suspect it might be the top mounts, but garage is reluctant to do anything until it "gets worse".

The garage always wants the car in at 8am, there's normally moisture in the air at this point due to evaporation, the issue doesn't seem to be apparant when this is the case.

Come mid day on a dry day it's so bad that it's embarrassing to drive. It doesn't only happen when I turn, and it doesn't need to be a big dip on the road to happen. It is much more noticeable when going below 20mph.

There is a high pitched squeaking sound, combined with creaking and popping coming from the drivers side front suspension. The tyre on this corner also has uneven wear.

It's been in to the garage 3 times now, each time they say they can't find anything, I'm reluctant to keep driving it like this as I'm concerned for safety.

The car is a MK3 Renault Grand Scenic 1.6 DCi 12 plate.

Any ideas on how I can trace this or prove to the garage there's a problem? Or should I just change garage?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

It'll likely be the lower control arm bush or the lower ball joint which has play in it. I'd hazard a guess that if it's causing that much of a noise and the tyre to be unevenly worn that it'll be obvious to any mechanic who bothers to have a proper look, even if they find *any* sort of play. If nothing is found, I think you could justify changing both sides lower ball joints, anti roll bar links and lower control arm bushes as a "have a go". Total price for this at a garage would probably be £200?

What kind of mileage does the car have? Also, is it from the front or back?
 
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Gaygle said:
It'll likely be the lower control arm bush or the lower ball joint which has play in it. I'd hazard a guess that if it's causing that much of a noise and the tyre to be unevenly worn that it'll be obvious to any mechanic who bothers to have a proper look, even if they find *any* sort of play. If nothing is found, I think you could justify changing both sides lower ball joints, anti roll bar links and lower control arm bushes as a "have a go". Total price for this at a garage would probably be £200?

What kind of mileage does the car have? Also, is it from the front or back?
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Thank you, it's done 89k. No suspension work done at all other than drop links last year. Sound is quite clearly from the front driver side and I can feel the feedback through the steering wheel.
 
Semple said:
I would definitely take it to another garage. If the signs are that obvious when driving it in the middle of the day they should be able to spare 5 minutes to at least observe it.

It sounds like you're being fobbed off tbh.
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Sometimes its worth getting a 2nd even a 3rd look it’s hard trying to replicate a sound within a timeframe. You can only allocate so much time to investigate a fault without charging the customer.

Alternative is to fire the parts cannon and replace, I’d be looking at bushes they love creaking.
 
The garage I used to take my car to had a Renault on ramp when I went in -The lad had wheels off and other bits so I asked him what problem was -Steering rack - Had to go back few days later and asked him if it fixed it - It wasn't the rack but lose sub frame bolt's.
Did you change new rack out and put old one back - No.

You just don't know do you.
 
Went in to the garage today. Got a call to say 2 wishbones needed.

Total cost £428. I collected the car as I'm sure that is extortionate
 
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