Xc60 (my19) - knocking noise when turning

[lalith16]

Apologies for the long-winded post, thought will give the whole picture: I have been hearing what sounds like a knocking noise when turning left or right, more pronounced noise when taking full circle at roundabouts and sharp turns. The noise appears to be coming from all fours corners (not at the same time) depending on the direction of turn; right turn - LHS corners, left turn - RHS corners, again not always but most of the time.

Took the car twice to my dealer to get this looked into. First time around they said they couldn’t replicate the problem after I left the car with them when they did a test drive. As the noise was getting more louder and more frequent I took the car again to them. This time I replicated the noise a number of times while doing test drive in the presence of lead technician. This time they kept the car for a day and performed a software upgrade for suspension to fix the issue as per Volvo’s TJ. Following this, for the first couple of weeks the issue appeared to have been fixed as I didn’t hear any noise as I did before but then the issue resurfaced and I can still hear the noise as described above a number of time every day.

I am thinking of taking the car again to the dealer but wondering if any one had experienced this issue and what could be causing this noise. Thanks as always for any insights, suggestions or advice.

[simonjedrake]

@lalith.
Same model/spec/age as yours and no noise like yours - strange that a software update can fix this......

[VOLVOL0VER]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

@lalith.
Same model/spec/age as yours and no noise like yours - strange that a software update can fix this......

bull**** from the dealership... they don't even know what the hell is and they say this nonsense crap so the client stops complaining

[lalith16]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

@lalith.
Same model/spec/age as yours and no noise like yours - strange that a software update can fix this......

That is exactly what I have been thinking; how could a software update fix a mechanical knocking noise? It didn’t make sense but I did not want to shout it loud what was going in my mind in my post; wanted to see what the readers of my post would be making out from my post.

[weemark]

I agree, if you and the technician agree there is a knocking noise then I struggle to see how this could be fixed with a s/w upgrade but ... you don't say whether you have the standard steel or air suspension. Not sure it would make much difference to a steel setup but perhaps more of an impact for air? Also what are the exact conditions where the noise occurs?

[mr rusty]

could this be tyre wind-up in cold weather as much reported on some merc AWDs? https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/mi...bbing-problem/

[Deman77]

Are those air suspension cars or steel?

[warwick]

Originally Posted by mr rusty

could this be tyre wind-up in cold weather as much reported on some merc AWDs? https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/mi...bbing-problem/

The Merc problem is not likely to be the same as the AWD is mechanically different. The Mercs suffer (or did) from a judder / skipping effect when on full lock, on a wet concrete surface such as a multi-storey carpark it was very noticeable and disconcerting.

[lalith16]

Originally Posted by weemark

I agree, if you and the technician agree there is a knocking noise then I struggle to see how this could be fixed with a s/w upgrade but ... you don't say whether you have the standard steel or air suspension. Not sure it would make much difference to a steel setup but perhaps more of an impact for air? Also what are the exact conditions where the noise occurs?

The car has air suspension. The noise occurs when I take right or left turns, take exits at the roundabouts, or even when I do a full circle at the roundabouts - all of the above irrespective of the speed. The more sharper the turn or bend is the more likely the noise is to occur. However, there is definitely no noise when I stop and then turn, for example when I stop to give way to other traffic and then turn. For the past few days the noise is occurring even when I drive straight onto my driveway. The entry to my driveway is not level with the level of the road, probably 1-2 inches higher than the road level and just as the rear wheels start to climb this 2-inch higher ground there is a knocking noise.

[mike95]

I had what sounds like the same noise on my car which started at about a year old. My dealer had been brilliant in trying to find the cause over several visits. After tightening up the sub-frame, lubricating all bushes and partially stripping the front suspension the noise persisted albeit intermittently. Eventually the senior technician, who always refuses to give in to challenges like this, diagnosed it as the brake calipers. They stripped the front brakes and put them back together using some special Volvo grease.
The noise disappeared immediately. I actually found the silence quite strange for a few days as I had almost got used to the clonking. TBH I have heard it a couple of times since but that's all.
Of course, this may not be the issue with your car but hope it may be helpful.