MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Maintenance, Problems & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: normanh on March 13, 2019, 17:28

Title: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: normanh on March 13, 2019, 17:28
The front hsa knock when reversing the car offside I think. Not sure when I'll have time to jack it up and check it out, is there any common fault areas I need to look at. The car passed the MOT at the end of Jan this year no issues.

Norman
Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: Call the midlife! on March 13, 2019, 17:39
Strut top mount or broken spring would be my first port of call.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: Ardent on March 13, 2019, 18:39
Lets hope the spring
Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: Carolyn on March 13, 2019, 18:41
Something in the frunk??  Eliminate the simple first!
Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: normanh on March 13, 2019, 19:36
Its not the frunk this knock only occurs at lock when reversing, my thoughts were ball joint or top mount - never thought about a spring. Will run my hand around the spring in the morning.

Norman
Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: Call the midlife! on March 13, 2019, 19:58
When you say knock do you mean a single knock as you first move backwards or does it repeat as you travel?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: spit on March 13, 2019, 20:33
Reversing with full lock can reveal some odd noises at the front that are nothing to worry about. We've seen this before where springs wind up and ping, tyres skip, and strange knocks appear. More common in cold weather on cold tyres when they skip a bit.

If its only appearing in reverse on full lock on certain occasions you could well be chasing little more than nothing. Before getting on your knees, maybe experiment with less lock, warmed tyres, different gradients etc to see if its something that is easily replicated. If its a persistent problem in all circumstances then it may be a sign of play creeping in somewhere. Perhaps then its worth getting your head in for a peace of mind poke.

Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: SteveJ on March 14, 2019, 10:41
As Ste says, it's perfectly normal due to the suspension geometry - my Elise does exactly the same during cold weather as the tyres are less pliable so they skip when reversing on full lock.
Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: normanh on March 14, 2019, 12:33
Thanks guys could be the cold its more like a knock then a bit of a judder as the car moves. Like moving over large gravel.

Norman
Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: james_ly on March 14, 2019, 13:07
Quote from: SteveJ on March 14, 2019, 10:41
As Ste says, it's perfectly normal due to the suspension geometry - my Elise does exactly the same during cold weather as the tyres are less pliable so they skip when reversing on full lock.

Yep, Ackermann effect. Really really bad on a Porsche, on a cold morning it feels like the car will fall apart.
Title: Re: The front has knock when reversing
Post by: normanh on March 15, 2019, 19:58
Warm morning and no issues today and I tried hard. Fitter son is due to check it out the weekend as I cant get down low these days joints are knackered in knees back and a hand - old age. Lets hope its simply that.

Norman