Knocking noise when coasting

Father Ted · Aug 28th, 2015, 22:58

I've just got back from holiday. During the trip I noticed a slight knocking noise, but the car handled fine so I decided it would wait until we got home.
On the way up from Dover today (11 bleeding hours!!!) the knock got noticeably worse. It only occurs when the drive train is not under strain. So whilst coasting or low speed. Anything above 40, or when accelerating or braking the knocking is quite loud and is related to rotational speed of the wheels. Other than that, the car handles fine.

I think this is a CV joint, so a couple of questions:
How do I determine this for certain and how do I tell which side?
How easy is it to replace a CV joint on a 2003 V70 Auto?

My thinking is that I get front up in the air with wheels still on and grab a drive shaft and turn it back and forth to see if it clunks or has much movement. Whichever one does is likely to be the culprit.

xco · Aug 28th, 2015, 23:11

Drive train......you mean drive shafts surely......is frontbwheel drive?

I had similar symptom on a 2003 s60 se.

It turned out to be the drive shaft splines were bone dry.

Up, off and greased cured it.

No more knocking and rattling.

Father Ted · Aug 28th, 2015, 23:27

Thanks.

Yep front wheel drive.
I use "drivetrain" as shorthand for transmission, drive shafts, CV joints, hubs etc...

Hopefully it will just be a grease issue, but I don't think so...call it gut instinct. I'll get under and have a look tomorrow.

D5meister · Aug 29th, 2015, 08:46

This could be the cantilever mount to the front xmember ~£35
Or the top mount

IF CV
Could be easy to spot of there is grease all inside the roadwheel from a failed cv boot. See if one boot has lost its band or slid off the wide end.

Often if u hold the shaft and vigourous yank for and back and rotationally you can assess which is the joker. A better trick is hold the shaft with a big mole grip so you get a visual clue as to the play.

A trick is the full lock test where tight donout circles are done this can make the sound off.

Could be the centralising/stabilising Bearing on the longer shaft. I think these have one.

Father Ted · Aug 29th, 2015, 11:10

Thanks.
I'm going to get it in the air today and have a good look around.

ShadeTek · Aug 29th, 2015, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by xco

Drive train......you mean drive shafts surely......

Drive shafts? You mean half-shafts surely! ;0)

Father Ted · Aug 29th, 2015, 19:01

And I thought I was pedantic!!
Yep, the bits of metal which join the big grey box to the rusty metal things with the wheels on

Father Ted · Aug 29th, 2015, 19:28

Well, after a morning of getting to know the undercarriage on the car better, I have finally got to the bottom of the knocking noise.
It can best be described as one of those moments when one can only say

On taking the front wheels off, I noticed that the bolts weren't as tight as I normally have them. ie. I didn't have to use my right foot to break the bolt first. But, they weren't loose either! I had to use the wheel brace to remove them. I got the entire front end in the air and all seemed good.
I decided that, for the first time in 25 years, I would ask for a second opinion and take it to a garage next weekend.
On putting it back together, I though, "mmm, I wonder if there was enough movement in those wheel bolts?" Then I discounted it as they weren't actually "loose".

So, having put it back together, I took it for a drive and : "Hey Presto" no knocking!
So, the bolts which were the teensy tiniest bit loose were loose enough that there was some movement causing the knocking. And I drove back from Dover to Merseyside like that!! Gulp!!!!

I have never, in 30 years, used a torque wrench for fitting wheel bolts, nor my dad, nor his dad before him. I might just start doing it now!

I can only put it down to slackening them as they'd been over tightened by the tyre place before we went away. I was probably too careful when re-tightening. Having said that, they'd done 1200 miles before they started rattling.

Still, it was an easy fix.

xco · Aug 29th, 2015, 20:49

Glad you got it sorted eventually and it didn't cost you money always a nice feeling

cheshired5 · Aug 29th, 2015, 22:05

Having had a brain fade previously with wheel bolt tightening, I wouldn't worry about the distance you travelled as you weren't in danger.
If they'd loosened, I guarantee you'd have pulled over before they failed because the car becomes undriveable.

Aug 28th, 2015, 22:58	#1
Father Ted Master Member Last Online: Feb 28th, 2023 20:25 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wirral	Knocking noise when coasting I've just got back from holiday. During the trip I noticed a slight knocking noise, but the car handled fine so I decided it would wait until we got home. On the way up from Dover today (11 bleeding hours!!!) the knock got noticeably worse. It only occurs when the drive train is not under strain. So whilst coasting or low speed. Anything above 40, or when accelerating or braking the knocking is quite loud and is related to rotational speed of the wheels. Other than that, the car handles fine. I think this is a CV joint, so a couple of questions: How do I determine this for certain and how do I tell which side? How easy is it to replace a CV joint on a 2003 V70 Auto? My thinking is that I get front up in the air with wheels still on and grab a drive shaft and turn it back and forth to see if it clunks or has much movement. Whichever one does is likely to be the culprit. __________________ 2003 V70 2.4SE Auto. Gone now. 2003 XC90 D5. Auto.

Aug 28th, 2015, 23:11	#2
xco Premier Member Last Online: Today 04:32 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Near Plymouth	Drive train......you mean drive shafts surely......is frontbwheel drive? I had similar symptom on a 2003 s60 se. It turned out to be the drive shaft splines were bone dry. Up, off and greased cured it. No more knocking and rattling. __________________ MY14 XF S V6 3.0 Sportbrake Portfolio in Ultimate Black Metallic and black 20"alloys MY08 Xc90 D5 185 Se Lux Satnav Geartronic. Much loved gone now but not forgotten. Wherever you go............There you are!!! Last edited by xco; Aug 28th, 2015 at 23:14.

Aug 28th, 2015, 23:27	#3
Father Ted Master Member Last Online: Feb 28th, 2023 20:25 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wirral	Thanks. Yep front wheel drive. I use "drivetrain" as shorthand for transmission, drive shafts, CV joints, hubs etc... Hopefully it will just be a grease issue, but I don't think so...call it gut instinct. I'll get under and have a look tomorrow. __________________ 2003 V70 2.4SE Auto. Gone now. 2003 XC90 D5. Auto.

Aug 29th, 2015, 11:10	#5
Father Ted Master Member Last Online: Feb 28th, 2023 20:25 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wirral	Thanks. I'm going to get it in the air today and have a good look around. __________________ 2003 V70 2.4SE Auto. Gone now. 2003 XC90 D5. Auto.

Aug 29th, 2015, 19:01	#7
Father Ted Master Member Last Online: Feb 28th, 2023 20:25 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wirral	And I thought I was pedantic!! Yep, the bits of metal which join the big grey box to the rusty metal things with the wheels on __________________ 2003 V70 2.4SE Auto. Gone now. 2003 XC90 D5. Auto.

Aug 29th, 2015, 08:46	#4
D5meister Premier Member Last Online: Feb 10th, 2024 19:13 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Huntingdon	This could be the cantilever mount to the front xmember ~£35 Or the top mount IF CV Could be easy to spot of there is grease all inside the roadwheel from a failed cv boot. See if one boot has lost its band or slid off the wide end. Often if u hold the shaft and vigourous yank for and back and rotationally you can assess which is the joker. A better trick is hold the shaft with a big mole grip so you get a visual clue as to the play. A trick is the full lock test where tight donout circles are done this can make the sound off. Could be the centralising/stabilising Bearing on the longer shaft. I think these have one.

Aug 29th, 2015, 19:28	#8
Father Ted Master Member Last Online: Feb 28th, 2023 20:25 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wirral	Well, after a morning of getting to know the undercarriage on the car better, I have finally got to the bottom of the knocking noise. It can best be described as one of those moments when one can only say On taking the front wheels off, I noticed that the bolts weren't as tight as I normally have them. ie. I didn't have to use my right foot to break the bolt first. But, they weren't loose either! I had to use the wheel brace to remove them. I got the entire front end in the air and all seemed good. I decided that, for the first time in 25 years, I would ask for a second opinion and take it to a garage next weekend. On putting it back together, I though, "mmm, I wonder if there was enough movement in those wheel bolts?" Then I discounted it as they weren't actually "loose". So, having put it back together, I took it for a drive and : "Hey Presto" no knocking! So, the bolts which were the teensy tiniest bit loose were loose enough that there was some movement causing the knocking. And I drove back from Dover to Merseyside like that!! Gulp!!!! I have never, in 30 years, used a torque wrench for fitting wheel bolts, nor my dad, nor his dad before him. I might just start doing it now! I can only put it down to slackening them as they'd been over tightened by the tyre place before we went away. I was probably too careful when re-tightening. Having said that, they'd done 1200 miles before they started rattling. Still, it was an easy fix. __________________ 2003 V70 2.4SE Auto. Gone now. 2003 XC90 D5. Auto.

Aug 29th, 2015, 20:49	#9
xco Premier Member Last Online: Today 04:32 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Near Plymouth	Glad you got it sorted eventually and it didn't cost you money always a nice feeling __________________ MY14 XF S V6 3.0 Sportbrake Portfolio in Ultimate Black Metallic and black 20"alloys MY08 Xc90 D5 185 Se Lux Satnav Geartronic. Much loved gone now but not forgotten. Wherever you go............There you are!!!

Aug 29th, 2015, 22:05	#10
cheshired5 Premier Member Last Online: Dec 26th, 2021 13:42 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Crewe	Having had a brain fade previously with wheel bolt tightening, I wouldn't worry about the distance you travelled as you weren't in danger. If they'd loosened, I guarantee you'd have pulled over before they failed because the car becomes undriveable. __________________ 2002 S60 SE D5 Manual 209000 miles

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