Hi,

over the past week my mk2 has developed a loud worrying knocking sound from the front end. The noise isn’t all the time but has happened in the follow incidents:- 

1. Emergency stopping - Braking heavly while pressing the clutch down to stop stalling. Obviously I don’t do this very often but the other day had to stop quite abruptly and this was the first time I heard the knocking (3or 4 knocks) while braking. 

2. Changing gear, if I want to make a bit of process and am speeding up faster than normal Changing from 3rd to 4th gear caused just 1 loud clunk.

 

3. Pulling off quickly, pulled of fairly quickly the other day from some traffic lights and while release the clutch it clunked loudly and carried on doing so for about 100yards! 

 

I would like like to point out that I don’t normally drive like once described above hence why the noises are only happening every so often! 

Could anyone shed some light as to what it might be please? 

 

Thanks for for taking the time to read 

I look forward to the replies :)

Is is definitely the front ? I would get somebody else in the car with you to be sure as noise can travel and make you think it's the front. When my rear upper arm bushes went I thought it was the front as they are so close to the body. If it is the front I would start checking swaybar links> end links for play if not then move on to ball joints> control arm bushes then upto the engine mounts check for any deteriation of the rubber. Also check underneath and inspect the exhaust mounts give parts of it a shake to see it anything is loose. It's all possible for brake parts to become loose so would check them out too.

Knocking/Banging/Whirring can mean activation of ABS/ESP if fitted - you should see flashing lights on your dashboard if this is the case. A loud click/clunk can be heard when you release the brake pedal for about 10-30 seconds after activation of these systems. In 1 and 3 of these scenarios you've said, if you're giving it some beans, you might activate the safety systems causing this clicking/clunking - especially the past two weeks as it's suddenly gone cold and slippery out there. It's a possibility, especially if you've never activated or heard the ABS pump before.

ESP can lower engine power and brake individual wheels, it's a bizarre feeling - foot flat to the floor but revs not increasing (Yes I had a play! :P). Find this more so when pulling out of tight junctions in wet weather and wheels are turned away from straight ahead.

Check your tyres for correct pressure too, and bear in mind that if you're running summer tyres below 7 degrees celsius you may have less grip available.

Athough it might sound a bit odd, the wife's 1.8 Duratec was doing this and it turned out to be a broken exhaust hanger (I was amazed when the garage diagnosed it and was sure it was suspension/drivetrain related).

43 minutes ago, 1979Damian said:

Athough it might sound a bit odd, the wife's 1.8 Duratec was doing this and it turned out to be a broken exhaust hanger (I was amazed when the garage diagnosed it and was sure it was suspension/drivetrain related).

Yep had similar on oneof my mondeos convinced it was suspension, easy one to check too