Knocking coming from the front

[Dave86]

There's been a heavy clonk coming from the front of the car since i got it (about 2 months ago) and it seems to be getting worse. it only makes the noise if i go over small dents in the road or cats eyes etc and if i come off the throttle and dip the clutch and when pulling away from juctions. when i go over a speed bump it doesn't make a sound. the front end also feels very unsteady at motorway speeds and the steering wheel shakes and always pulls to one side or the other.
Had a bit of a look round and can't see anything untoward except the hard rubber / plastic sleeve at the top of the front drivers side shock absorber is all screwed and folded up also if i shake the car from side to side theres a squeak coming from the top of the same corner.
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers
Dave.

[Al115]

Could be top mounts. Also worth checking the gearbox and engine mountings. T4s do eat them.

[smithson007]

Could be drop links.

[Dave86]

Could be top mounts. Also worth checking the gearbox and engine mountings. T4s do eat them.

Ill have another look later although im not entirely sure what im looking for

Could be drop links.

Checked those they seem fine got no movement or noise when i pulled them about.

[leeboy]

check the front springs cos it sounds like my s40 did. check the gap of the wheel to the arch liner on each side.

[Haizum74]

Mine did that and turned out to be drop links. You say you have checked them. Have you taken em off and had a looksey?

[Al115]

Park up. Open the bonnet. Get a mate to look at the engine while you dip and raise the clutch in gear to the biting point (WITH THE HANDBRAKE WELL ON) and see if the engine boogies around a lot? If so... engine mounts are shot

[Dave86]

Ok had another look...
[IMG][/IMG]
when i bounce the front of the car the bolt pictured above inside the black plastic bit goes up and down. The one on the passenger side doesn't move.

[IMG][/IMG]
The sleeve circled above is squashed and seems to be too short as there is about 2.5 inches of the shock exposed.

[IMG][/IMG]
checked the engine mounts
The red circled one has a split in it.
The green one looks in good nick
And the blue ones i couldn't see to check

[Dave86]

So am i right in assuming that the drivers side top mount in knackered ( that's the one in the 1st picture that moves up and down when i bounce the car) if so does anyone have a guide to replacing it? also do i just need to replace the top mount or do i need other bits aswell?
Im going to change the droplinks at the same time although they seem fine but while im taking stuff apart might aswell do them too.
Im also going to get a new front engine mount soon but ill check the two i couldn't see before first incase another one needs doing aswell

[Haizum74]

So am i right in assuming that the drivers side top mount in knackered ( that's the one in the 1st picture that moves up and down when i bounce the car) if so does anyone have a guide to replacing it? also do i just need to replace the top mount or do i need other bits aswell?
Im going to change the droplinks at the same time although they seem fine but while im taking stuff apart might aswell do them too.
Im also going to get a new front engine mount soon but ill check the two i couldn't see before first incase another one needs doing aswell

Take a look at Post #4 that should help in removing top mounts. Mine is slightly off kilter too but I got other bits and pieces to sort first.

[Dave86]

Bit of an update:
So far I've changed the front and rear engine mounts they were both knackered not that its stopped any of the knocking. I've got the new top mount here but haven't got round to changing it as it looks like its going to be a pain.
Also while i was doing the mounts i had to take off the support that the engine mounts bolt on to and found that the 2 rear rubber bushes that the bolts for go through on the support are shot to pieces the 2 at the front are fine. Would i have to get these from volvo?