I started to hear a knocking noise from the front going over bumbs on our lovely dirt road. It seems it is coming from the passenger side. I know I should take it to have someone look at it. But what do you guys think it is? ball joint, knuckle, lower control arm...

thanks.

 

Could be anything in the suspension, really. But ball joints are known to go out often on our cars. Lower control arm should be alright -- it's one tough mother.

By the way, where in Michigan are you located? We're having a Canada/Michigan meet on May 21st in Windsor. Come hang out!

 

Brighton area...where is this meet at?...

Also, on the original topic, how can diagnose the issue with this noise? Anything visual to look at? Could this be a DIY?

Thanks.

 

Well, took the car to the dealer. Foreman looked at it and couldn't find the noise in the suspension. Said everything is very tight. I had to leave to stop by again next week, but I was thinking maybe it is the engine mounts. Do any of you guys have experiences with that?

Thanks.

 

Front engine mount can produce a knock sound. Its most noticable when you step on it from a dead stop. It will hit the back of the firewall and make a knocking noise. How many miles on the engine?

 

about 98k. I don't hear it on normal pavement bumbs but when going slow on the dirt road which has a lot of crater like potholes.
I remember hearing something of sorts regarding the engine mounts going bad due to the jerk from putting the car in reverse. Is that even a fact?

 

Is it still under warranty?

If you don't mind climbing under the car, check the end links on the front sway bar. It's the bolt that has the allen hole on the end. Make sure they are good and tight. One on either side. Also check the end link brackets that attach the sway bar to the frame.

 

it can also be the upper rubber mounts of the shocks.

 

It is under warranty but the problem is that we were not able to dublicate the noise around the dealrship roads. And my house (the rough road) is too far to drive with the foreman. It's one of those things where you know there is an issue but the car won't act up in front of the mechanic.

 

I had the engine mounts diagnosed as bad when I had the car in for the tranny swap. I didn't even know there was a problem, but I can see where on a rough dirt road it would show up more. The dealership found them as they were checking the tranny, not when they actually did the swap, so if you ask them to check them specifically they should be able to do that. May not be the problem, but it would at least rule out on option. I know on the Jags I deal with daily the upper shock bushings go out causing a similar-sounding problem (as fsttyms1 said), so that's definitely worth a look too.

 

i highly doubt its engine mounts making the noises, moore likely suspension related