NA8 Knock from Left Rear

kazman · Postby **kazman** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:01 pm

Hey guys,

Over the last month or so my '96 NA8 LE has developed a knocking sound, from what seems to be the left rear. As far as I can tell it only happens under hard right cornering, and mainly when oversteering. The sound is a rapid repeated knock, and is fairly loud (I can always hear it over music). I had a look under the car a couple of weeks ago but couldn't see anything wrong (bushes seemed ok to me), but I wouldn't know unless something was extremely obvious :oops:

I was told by the chaps at Spinning Wheel that I'm still running the stock, 170k km old shocks, could they be the problem? I haven't noticed the ride becoming any different, but if it was a gradual change then I doubt I would have (I owned an NA6 for about a year and this feels no different to how I remember it, comfier if anything).

The car is my daily (racking up ~900km per week), with regular thrashings when it takes my fancy. I've owned the car for about 2 months now, and suspension wise it's stock (new RE001's and an alignment at Spinning Wheel).

Any input would be much appreciated, as I'll probably end up booking it in at Mania in the next couple of weekends for them to sort it out if I can't. Any suggestions on where else to take it, if not there?

Cheers, Kieren

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:11 pm

Exhaust.

Dann

Bizi · Postby **Bizi** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:02 pm

The NA8 exhaust ends up at the right rear, so would it still potentially have a loose part near the left rear?

Possibly it might be related to the left rear damper, but if you push the left side of the car down repeatedly, can you replicate the sound? Our NA8 has tons of squeaks and Stu at Spinning Wheel suggested I look at the shocks in case they were the source, rather than the bushings or swaybars.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:09 pm

It runs closest to any other part of the car at the left rear.

Dann

kazman · Postby **kazman** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:16 pm

I can't replicate the knock by any amount of pushing down on the left rear, which is what has me thinking it may not be the shock.

Cheers Dann, I'll take a look at the exhaust next weekend then and see if there could be a broken mount. It wouldn't surprise me as the exhaust has an odd noise around 2500-3000rpm, sort of like a leak or rattle, but I assumed it was unrelated.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:20 pm

Under hard right cornering the exhaust system will head left while the left control arms and driveshaft compress (i.e come up further into the body). Get underneath and try pulling the exhaust hard left to see if you can get it to touch a driveshaft. Look for any rub marks on the driveshaft.