Clicking/banging at low speed.

[Adam]

Noticed on the way home a clicking and banging noise coming from the front of the car. It is wheel speed related as can still be heard when rolling out of gear with the engine off. Noticed that the frequency increased whilst turning left as I coasted onto my drive.

Any ideas? I have raised the car and checked for any sign of anything catching but all seems ok.

Any help much appreciated.


Adam.

[GeoffSmith]

Could be CVJs or wheel bearings.

[MattDon]

i have a similar problem and while its not 100% confirmed yet i believe its my intermediate jackshaft bearing (the bearing nearest to the gearbox on the off side), if its jacked up (safely!!!) grab hold of the drive shaft and give it a good tug, a small amount of play is fine but if you can get it to "knock" then id suggest there is ecessive play. If it is the jackshaft bearing then there is a slight problem in that its no longer available, however all being well if i can get the bearing off my donor car then i'll be taking it to a bearing specialist and i should be able to get hold of specifications for anyone wishing to do the same. keep an eye on my thread (search for LOKI)

[Adam]

Thanks for the replies.

I had suspected the CV joints and they do appear to have a fair bit of play in them. Can't tell which side the noise is coming from so not sure which one to replace but I guess the other will soon be on its way out so should replace both. It is also strange that noise only occurs when the car has warmed up. Car has done 75k miles BTW.

Adam.

[Enright]

If you'd like to tell us where you are (I'd suggest updating your profile with your town) and you're nearby or going to Donington, then if it's outer CVJ's I can definitely help.

[GeoffSmith]

Nottingham rings a bell so maybe close at hand Neil!

[Adam]

Good memory Geoff!

The more often the noise occurs the more I'm thinking it's something catching but just can't see what it might be. The noise now seems to be more of a knock/grinding sound and is still intermittent and goes away under acceleration. I am thinking that if it is the cv joints it shouldn't be a problem to change over myself but just want to be sure before ordering.

Adam

[GeoffSmith]

(I'd suggest updating your profile with your street!)

[Exbury]

I had something that was similar with my driveshafts which then disappeared.

To test CV, find an open space, put on full lock and reverse, if the CV is going the clicking noise will be a lot worse as you reverse on lock as it puts a lot od pressure on the joints. Try both locks as it puts the pressure on either side. Also look at the CV boots on full lock when parked, are there splits in the rubber boots / grease in the wheel arch?? If it is the CV joints get them replaced asap - you dont want them exploding going down the motorway.

[DeeAitch]

Similar noise on mine turned out to be a wheel bearing - I jacked the car up - securely - and used the old "long screwdriver in ones lug" stethescope trick to find it.
Ran it for a few weeks before it eventually gave a big bang on a left turn. Turned out to be one or two of the ball bearings shearing in half!
Strangely it went all quiet on the trip home

[GeoffSmith]

Similar noise on mine turned out to be a wheel bearing

Me too - to Hethel and back.

Turned out to be one or two of the ball bearings shearing in half!

Me too! Did you hit a pothole too?

Started as a very quiet click once per wheel revolution when turning then gradually worsened and was there all the time by the time I got home. Looked like three of my balls were split in half.

[gmacz]

Any noise coming from the front of the Lotus is hard to diagnose.
It is usually the wheel bearings and that is the best place to start.
Usually there will be no play in the bearings.
When you remove the bearings, you will see that all the grease has gone hard and has no lubrication.
If you look for play in the drivetrain, you will probably find some.
It may even sound as though the noise is coming from the gearbox, jack shaft and the drive shafts.
It is just the vibration coming from the dodgy bearings.
Change the bearings and then start looking for other problems.
It is the cheapest and usually the correct way to go.

[Adam]

Thanks again all for your input.

Managed to recreate the problem this evening by jacking the car up and then raising the suspension to the correct ride height. (no noise at all when suspension is in full droop). There was a very slight grinding/vibration in the straight ahead position when I rotated the wheel. The noise got much louder on full lock. (as it does on the road).

It definitely sounds/feels like a typical worn bearing, but there is no play in the wheel and surely it would not make a diffrence if the wheel was pointing straight ahead or on full lock? - therefore most likely to be the CV joint?

Adam.

[GeoffSmith]

Mine was certainly worse on lock - probably the lateral forces at play. I finally diagnosed the wheel bearing (after buying a drive shaft of course!) by ruling out the CVJs - feel the CVJs as you rotate the wheel and (as Dave says above) a screwdriver between the hub and your ear.

[DeeAitch]

Looked like three of my balls were split in half.

Forgot to say that I ran the car in 3rd gear whilst sticking the screwdriver in my lug - very dodgy so as they say, don't try this at home - and if you have a LSD make sure both wheels are off the ground

[Enright]

Flippin' 'eck that's close, what are the chances of that?!?
Hang on, I think I know who you are - didn't you used to have a Pacific Blue Elan which you then sold in favour of a grey Elise, before returning to the fold?

Anyway to your issue:
I bought a couple of outer CVJ's from SW Lotus at Donington last year. I fitted them but then found that the inner CVJ's were on their last legs, so replaced both driveshaft assemblies complete. I only paid £35 for the pair and they've done less than 5000 miles. You can have them at cost if you want.
I also have a complete hub carrier assembly for each side. I'm not looking to sell those but you are welcome to borrow them if you like so that you have something to use while you get the bearings pressed out of your old ones and new ones pressed in.
The removal/refitting of the hub carrier is pretty easy (once you've got the big centre nut off) but I wouldn't recommend attempting the actual bearing replacement yourself. With the forces required it's just way too easy to spend ages getting the old ones out and/or damaging the new ones. Best to lob them at a friendly garage with the right tools (a big fly-press) and let them sort it out.
The bearings are Vauxhaul Cavalier ones and I think you can get them off eBay for less than a tenner (inc P&P if you're lucky).
In your situation for the slight extra hassle once you've got access I would change both CVJ's as well as the wheel bearings.
It's going to mean a bit of project creep because you invariably damage the LH gearbox oil-seal when removing/replacing the driveshaft, so you might as well get a new one to fit (again less than a tenner from SJ's) and replace your gearbox oil at the same time.
Let me know if you need any help.

[Adam]

Yes thats right Neil. Went back to the Elan as I just didn't trust that K-series engine in the Elise!

I think I will change the bearing first as I think that it is the cause (and would make senses as the other side had to be replaced about 9 months ago - albeit for play rather than being noisy).

If still okay Neil I would like to take up your offer to borrow the hub carrier whilst I get the old one replaced?

Do you know if the drive shaft simply come out of the hub carrier with minimal effort (once the hub nut is of course removed)?

Cheers,

Adam.

[Enright]

Yes thats right Neil. Went back to the Elan as I just didn't trust that K-series engine in the Elise!

Wise move!

I think I will change the bearing first as I think that it is the cause (and would make senses as the other side had to be replaced about 9 months ago - albeit for play rather than being noisy).

Oh right, that should almost certainly sort it then - one wouldn't be far behind the other.

If still okay Neil I would like to take up your offer to borrow the hub carrier whilst I get the old one replaced?

No problem. Drop me a PM with your number and we can arrange either for me to drop it round or for you to pick it up.

Do you know if the drive shaft simply come out of the hub carrier with minimal effort (once the hub nut is of course removed)?

My first thought when I saw "hub carrier" and "minimal effort" was... but then I saw that you were just talking about the driveshaft sliding out of the hub carrier. In which case the answer is yes, it's not really a problem. You're best off starting by removing the wheel, un-peining the nut, putting the wheel back on, lowering the car and chocking the wheel, then using a 32mm socket with a big long extension on it.
After that you need the caliper and disc off, then anti-roll bar and track-rod end disconnected, and finally upper and lower ball joints. Splitting them can be a pain - you may need a wedge driving between the CVJ and the loosened nut.
Once all those are done the hub carrier just slides off the splined shaft of the CVJ.

[Adam]

Problem sorted!

First off all thanks to Neil for lending me a spare hub - however it wasn't needed in the end.

Picked up the spare hub from Neil on Friday and decided to make a start stripping the car down for the swap over. I soon realised where the problem was when I removed the wheel nuts using my fingers! Not one of them was even finger tight!

Highly embarrassing schoolboy error to make but was quite relieved to still be alive and have my weekend back.

In my defence, when I was trying to diagnose the problem there was absolutely no play in any direction to make me suspect loose wheel nuts. (I can't even remember the last time that particular wheel was removed).

Anyway, all seems well now so thanks again all for your input.

Neil, When is the best time to return your hub?


Adam.

[rip]

I soon realised where the problem was when I removed the wheel nuts using my fingers! Not one of them was even finger tight!

We've all made silly errors.
On this occasion, you're lucky your car did not end up like G UK's.