C30 General : Front left rattling (replaced parts already)

[Clan]

Originally Posted by RPhoboS

Right, definitely not the anti roll bar, I just removed the drop links and drove down the same road...same awful noise.
I'm fairly certain it's the shock, especially as I can feel it. I probably didn't get the orientation of the top mount correct or something broke within the shock itself.
As always, I'll report back (how annoying are those threads that don't!).

see if the noise goes when you press the brake gently

[Kev0607]

Sounds like a rattling shock to me. Check the top mounts and the shock absorbers. Don't rule out the springs though... they can make a right racket if there's a crack or piece broken.

Although, you said you've already replaced the shocks and various other parts. What brand did you use?

[RPhoboS]

Problem resolved !


It turned out to be the front left top mount.
It's genuinely what I thought it was just from sound/feel alone but until Mon I didn't realise why until I put my hand up and past the coil to feel where the tabs were located from the top spring perch/bearing and top mount itself.

Obviously it was my own installation error that caused this part to fail. Essentially it wasn't lined up to the fin at the bottom of the shock (ie towards the body of the car), and I hadn't torqued the nut correctly when the springs were compressed.
So the metal washer parts at the top of the mount ripped out of their plastic housing (I'll try and upload a photo).

I ended up replacing the shock, bump stop, top mount/bearing.
The not so old shock is fine but just kept as a spare now.