Calling Xsara owners...

[xsaravtr]

Help...

I've got an annoying rattle at the front of the car, could be drivers side.

I've had it in the garage about 4 times now and while they can hear the noise, they can't pinpoint the problem.

It happens at any speed when driving over small bumps in the road. It sounds like something is loose or vibrating. It can be made to happen when driving at 25-30 mph in 4th or 5th gear.

So far I've replaced the drop links and the track rod ends myself and it's still doing it. The garage said that it's a vibration type noise and could be something rubbing. They thought it was the air-con pipes as parts of them were shiny, they tightened them up, but this wasn't the issue.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar or their Xsara? Mine is a 2000 1.8 VTR with only 61K.

I'm just trying to fix this problem so I can sell it...

[megamaniac]

Call colin whiteley on 07956240394,he's been a citroen specialist for over 20 years to my knowledge and does mobile as well as having a place in hitchin,tell him paul robertson gave you his number .I would have said link bar everytime as they are cheap rubbish and some only last 6 months .Have you checked the springs? they are also prone, i must change 1 a week.

[xsaravtr]

megamaniac said:

Call colin whiteley on 07956240394,he's been a citroen specialist for over 20 years to my knowledge and does mobile as well as having a place in hitchin,tell him paul robertson gave you his number .I would have said link bar everytime as they are cheap rubbish and some only last 6 months .Have you checked the springs? they are also prone, i must change 1 a week.

Thanks!!

Do you know the name of the garage?

[Kitchski]

I've had shock absorbers make this noise, in two ways.

They can knock lightly if they're knackered, much like a droplink does. Or in the case I had last week, if it's recently been changed it's worth checking to see if the securing nut is fully tightened. Mine was loose and the shock was rattling around inside the strut! Must have worked it's way loose.
If you getit up in the air, and find no play in anything and everything as it should be....definately check that out!

[xsaravtr]

Kitchski said:

I've had shock absorbers make this noise, in two ways.

They can knock lightly if they're knackered, much like a droplink does. Or in the case I had last week, if it's recently been changed it's worth checking to see if the securing nut is fully tightened. Mine was loose and the shock was rattling around inside the strut! Must have worked it's way loose.
If you getit up in the air, and find no play in anything and everything as it should be....definately check that out!

I guess the securing nut is at the top of the strut under the bonnet???

[Kitchski]

No, its the large round cap nut on the tip of the strut. The shock is an insert and sits inside it. It's behind the spring under the gaiter on the shocker.

[porscheuro]

what usually happens with the shox's is the nut that holds the insert in comes loose, if you are going to remove the strut at all add a bit of oil to the strut where the insert drops into so the shock insert has a little cushion of oil to stop it doing it anymore