Much of the diagnostic work that takes place here at A1 Diagnostics is routine vehicle maintenance, particularly services and MOTs. A recent case investigation was requested by a Fiat Panda owner, who brought in their car for a service and mentioned a ‘knocking’ sound from the front suspension. Cue our vehicle detectives! Here is the car pictured below.

The routine service is straightforward enough: we monitor the car’s electrics to check for headlight operations, battery issues and interior display functionality; check tyre health and tread; brake pads suspension, exhaust, etc.; and make sure all fluids in the car are at the correct levels, e.g. brake fluids, power steering fluids, coolants and engine oil.

Once the standard checks are done, the detective work begins. Common causes of knocking noises on a car like the Panda typically focus around drop links. These are connections between the anti-roll bar and the struts. Also known as the ‘sway bar’, the anti-roll bar sits between the wheels and supports the suspension of the vehicle. If this section develops any looseness or wear, it can start to wriggle around, especially when going over uneven surfaces or those pesky potholes! When it does, you’ll hear a knocking sound within the car.

Another culprit can be wishbone bushes, which are rubber bushes set on the rear suspension arms that can wear and split, causing metal to hit metal and make a tell-tale knocking sound. However, in the case of our Fiat Panda, the noise was coming from the front rather than the rear, so we could rule this one out quickly.

Strut top mounts are the other front-placed cause of knocking noises. These are again rubber connectors that can wear out and lead to knocks when going over bumps in the road. They are made of rubber to absorb vibrations – a good plan – but unfortunately they can wear out more easily because of rubber’s perishability.

Fortunately for our Fiat Panda owner, our skilled team were able to diagnose and fix the knocking issues, and a nice, quiet ride drove happily out of the garage!
If you’ve got any concerns about knocking noises or similar issues, come on down to A1 Diagnostics and we’ll get to work.

Contact us

A1-Diagnostics and ECU Repairs
64 Sloper Road
Leckwith,
Cardiff
CF11 8AB

Tel: (029 20) 220380
Fax: (029 20) 223172

Opening Times

Mon – Fri: 8:00am – 6:00pm

Email: info@a1-diagnostics.com