I have recntly replaced my shock absorbers on the 99 e46 318i, the strange thing is when driving on gravel car is knocking badly at the back. The front makes no noise but the car often escapes to the right. I suspect sometihng on suspension needs replacement, a mech couldn't tell what's wrong. I need a place in joburg where they can check and repair the suspension.
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E46 Suspension problem
- Thread starter Leparagp
- Start date
Hellas
///Member
Front has got the lower control arm bushes. At the back is the Rear Trailing arm bushes. But I doubt it would have the major effect on the gravel road that you described. Gravel road is not kind to ANY suspension, so if the car jumps too high on the gravel road (from corrugation eg.) and the shock extends fully, you will get this knocking noise. It is the shock reaching the end of it's open capacity. Same goes for the 'up' cycle of the shock where the shock/coil combination gets pushed up right against the chassis/body.
I have a dropped Polo and have the same symptoms on the gravel road. On tarmac she's as good as new. Only advice here would be to either stay off the gravel road/get a 4x4 or take it a bit slower. :thumbsup:
I have a dropped Polo and have the same symptoms on the gravel road. On tarmac she's as good as new. Only advice here would be to either stay off the gravel road/get a 4x4 or take it a bit slower. :thumbsup:
Raybimmer
New member
If you jack the car up and the wheel stays on the ground have a look at the shock absorber - is it fixed to the suspension arm at the bottom and is it fixed to the mounting at the top .
The top shock mounting may have broken and the mounting now does not hold the shock allowing the wheel to stay on the ground when the car is jacked up .IMHO rear trailing arm bushes would cause handling to be funny due to the rear wheel alignment changing under braking,accelleration and cornering , but not cause wheel to stay on ground when jacked up .Top shock mounting should be bolted to body and easy to replace yourself.
Goooooood luck.
The top shock mounting may have broken and the mounting now does not hold the shock allowing the wheel to stay on the ground when the car is jacked up .IMHO rear trailing arm bushes would cause handling to be funny due to the rear wheel alignment changing under braking,accelleration and cornering , but not cause wheel to stay on ground when jacked up .Top shock mounting should be bolted to body and easy to replace yourself.
Goooooood luck.
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