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[valencia]

I've just seen a Hovis ad on TV, it goes through various decades and the 70's features the briefest of glimpses of a dark blue saloon, mk2, as it drives past a wedge type Austin Princess. Nice to know that someone out there thinks about our cars.
Also, I've just finished replacing the clutch and brake pedal bushes. A really awkward job to get the pedal assembly in and out if anyone is thinking of having a go. My pedals have had very loose feeling for a long time and I was suprised to see no trace at all of the old bushes, makes me wonder if someone in the factory forgot to fit any. Next job is to put new seals in the clutch hydraulics and hopefully this whole job will improve the release point of the clutch pedal.
On the mot earlier this year the tester commented on a knocking noise from the front suspension when it's bounced up and down. He could not see anything wrong or find any wear so another pass was issued. I'm going to take out the struts this winter but does anyone have an idea what it might be ?
Thanks,
Mike Hasleden

[Alan Chatterton]

I think I know what it is....... I had the same.

The screw thread bit which holds the shock down into the tube has come undone..... allowing the shock to rattle up and down a bit.

Have you changed the shocks recently? I did, and forgot to pinch the top of the tube in at the cutout to stop that happening.

Remove the front strut, take off the spring and do up the nut tight.

Careful though, if it is this, when you undo the bottom of the strut, if the nut has come out completely, it will separate under the force of the spring!

[Jonathan Lewis]

Hello Mike,

The knocking noise could also conceivably be the strut insert moving within the strut housing if the centralising/packing collar between the two has worn, broken-up or been omitted the last time the struts were overhauled, or excess wear within the top mount (though these normally rub or squeal rather than knock).

As Alan says, however, be careful with this - if the large nut securing the strut insert to the strut tube itself is coming loose, you have a potentially dangerous situation once the strut is unloaded...

Regards,

[owen1183]

My guess at the knocking would be the strut top mount.

there are some metal sleeves inside, which allow the strut to turn when the front wheels turn.

these can lock against each other and suddenly release as the suspension moves.

take the top mount apart, clean the sleeves with fine wet n dry, smear copper grease and reassemble..

mine needs doing.

[Addiston]

I got a similar noise after partial dismanting and re-assembly of the stuts to replace the perished gaiters.

All was fine on reassembly, but shortly thereafter I got a noise like you described. Turned out that the grease applied (a little too liberally by my 5-year old assistant) to the strut top bearings and washers hads squeezed out a bit, allowing a bit of movement.

This was solved by removing the split pin, re-tightening the top castellated nut to the required torque and fitting (another) new split pin.

Prior to this there was a degree of groaning from the front suspension when manoeuvring, solved by cleaning, regreasing and selective replacement of the thrust washers.

[valencia]

Thanks for all your answers, I'll get the struts out and see. They have not been moved since 1993 so they must be due a look.