New, or at least Remaining, Noises

[olr159w]

For those of you with a long memory, a lot of patience and an above average ability to assimilate multiple message threads I’m happy to report that the Sprint is finally back on the road here in Western Australia. After some great help here on the forum and the attention of a local exhaust specialist it now has a custom downpipe that both doesn’t knock and will be more easily serviceable in the future should the need arise. I got to a classic car and coffee event last Sunday – here’s a link for general interest http://classiccarsandcoffee.com/

It’s a good event because its monthly and only lasts a couple of hours rather than tying up the whole day unable to leave a “show” for safety or other reasons. And I met up with another owner in the process of rebuilding which was good.

In terms of status overall the Sprint goes fairly well considering it hasn’t had a tune up since it was shipped here . The jury is still out on whether the rear axle seal replacement actually worked but it needs a few miles and some time to confirm that. It sits level and looks good even though I know one adjustable shock is cranked up a little higher than the other; that’s just something I have to live with at this point.

The two remaining issues are a significant lack of caster in the steering and a couple of noises. It stays in a straight line as well as any old car – it’s not bad really at all – but does need to be steered everywhere ie into corner and then out as well. That’s a subject for another day.

But there are two noises that I’d appreciate some feedback on. The first are various clunks that come from the front suspension. They tend to be noticeable when pulling off or cornering but not when driving along in primarily a straight line. Ignoring the AR bar most of the suspension has been re-bushed although sitting here right now I couldn’t state which locations are not new. That said even older stuff will mostly be poly with very few miles on it although the bushings will be getting on a bit since the rebuild was 2002. Again though I’ve refreshed much of it recently.

The AR bar has never had any attention to my knowledge. I can completely imagine that these noises might be a result of needing to replace all the bushes in the AR bar. But perhaps not. Thoughts?

The second noise is a kind of lightweight higher pitched gear-like rattle that is most noticeable at idle. Changing the engine speed can make it go away. It doesn’t sound like an engine bay noise and we sense it more from the dashboard area. I’m thinking the speedo drive shaft? Thoughts?

Thanks

[xvivalve]

If the second noise goes away when you dip the clutch it is likely the clutch release bearing and is fairly standard/harmless. No point changing it, because new ones can do it just as well...or better!

[olr159w]

Hi no its not that. The release bearing makes a tragic squeal when cold and clutch depressed but ok thereafter. This comes from in front of the driver and is rattly. A v slight engine speed increase can make it go but as it does it at stationary I'm sort of doubting the speedo cable. Almost sounds like a loose bolt but noticeable volume. I can't check any more as I'm elsewhere from the car again.
cheers

[series111]

I have the same light rattle as you, it appears on tick over 800-900 rpm then rev the engine a little it seems to disappear at first I thought it was the speedo but as you say it cant be that if you are at stand still. It is right in front of the driver and seems to come from behind the dash as you cannot hear it in the engine bay. I am removing the dash later in the year to varnish it so may find something.!!!

[Russetauto]

Got the same kind of noise on my 1850 . I reckon it's either the rev counter or the securing clamps and or nuts are slightly loose. Pick revs up to about 1100 rpm. Noise disappears ??

[olr159w]

It does sound like that. But the rev counter is electrical so I don't think its that !!

[Russetauto]

I do agree with that. But as probably most dolly's do the reverse counter is lazy on first start up. Noise kicks in when the rev counter does!!

[Russetauto]

Rev counter is should say stupid predictive text! Lol

[Ron1966]

I had an annoying rattle years ago on my sprint which turned out to be the clutch cross shaft through the bellhousing. You could only hear it on idle and any pressure on the clutch pedal or a slight rise in revs it had gone. New bushes and two anti rattle springs cured it, I put two bushes on either side as well, plenty of room for two and more support for the cross shaft.

[Richard the old one]

If it makes the noise when the car is stationary I suspect it could be the braking servo non return valve. I can't explain what is happening but you can prove if it is causing the noise by disconnecting the vacuum pipe from the servo and blanking the rubber vacuum hose so that the engine will continue to run.

I even changed a servo because I thought that it was a problem inside the servo to discover the problem was still there. The replacement servo came with another non return valve but it was only when I fitted a new non return valve that the noise went away.

Please let us all know if you do try this and what the result is.

[olr159w]

I'll investigate the harmlessish sounding rattle when I'm back home this weekend.

But the bigger issue would be the suspension clunks. Anyone have some thoughts one that>

thks

[Carledo]

It's easy to blame the antiroll bar bushing, but truthfully, i've never experienced the sort of noises you get from faults here on moderns with a Dolomite, even relatively knackered original rubber stays quiet. ARB noises are also predominantly heard when traversing bumps or potholes with one wheel, it's the difference between the 2 sides that produces the noise.

If I had to put a diagnosis on it from 12,000 miles away, i'd have to say my suspect would be the shock absorber pistons and their lower bushes, which some folk have had fail at very low miles. (knowing you have Gaz or similar)

Steve

[tony g]

Gaz you say? I had a Gaz make a rattle going over slightly uneven ground very slowly. The shocks had done less than 1000miles. I sent one back to Gaz and the chap was very helpful and it came back fixed but he said they didnt find anything wrong. I suspected the internal valve was bouncing on low damping settings.
Later on I got a similar noise on one of the rears and when I checked the damper settings the noisy one was set 5 clicks lighter than the quiet one (I never set them different i think they can move themselves on low settings (not enough pre load?)). Turn the settings up and noise went away.

Tony

[olr159w]

When you say lower bushes do you mean those where the shock connects to the suspension arms or something internal to the shock piston?

We are not talking about rattles here. We're talking about quite clunky noises that are definitely noticeable when pulling off or going around a bend esp at low speed. Not heard on the freeway in a straight line. Knowing the AR bushes looked pretty knackered I still suspect that esp. because of the tendency when cornering.

I replaced the bushes where the front shocks connect to the suspension arms,


thks

[olr159w]

When you say lower bushes do you mean those where the shock connects to the suspension arms or something internal to the shock piston?

We are not talking about rattles here. We're talking about quite clunky noises that are definitely noticeable when pulling off or going around a bend esp at low speed. Not heard on the freeway in a straight line. Knowing the AR bushes looked pretty knackered I still suspect that esp. because of the tendency when cornering.

I replaced the bushes where the front shocks connect to the suspension arms,


thks