My Clio has only just gone through the MOT before christmas and had extensive work done fixing the brakes and suspension, but just the other day I started it up fine as normal, but on reversing off the driveway heard what can only be described as a sound like a large spring being stretched and then snapping. On moving off forwards, the car is making a grinding noise from a position I cant pinpoint, with an intermittent loud CLUNK that becomes more rapid the faster I go until it turns into a drone/fades out.
This is obviously not normal and the snapping spring noise seems to happen every time I reverse the car, so it was obviously not the cause of the problems. Im very concerned though, especially having spent Ã,£300 on the MOT. Anyone got any ideas what it could be and what it could cost me? :(
$$$$
:drama:
Could possibly just be some very simple gearbox linkage issues if youre lucky, though. Time to shine the Knighty beacon upon the night clouds. :lol:
(http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9974/knightyxc9.jpg)
Quote from: Clockd 0Ne(Image removed from quote.)
:rofl: :mrgreen: :lol:
surely the garage that did the work give some warrenty, take it back
Suspension Id be looking at seeing as theyve just been fixed.
Sit the car on a flat bit of road and have a look at the camber & wheel alignment and height of each wheel. If theres nowt obviously wonky then jack up both sides and take a look, box in neutral, chock the wheels on the ground, take the handbrake off and do the basic wheel checks - wobble & spin em. They shouldnt wobble much at all and they should spin freely. Look at things like tie bars and suspension mounts. If there are dust shields over the backs of the discs check to see if theres anything stuck in them.
Check the wheel nuts are done up properly, should do this everytime a car comes back from a garage.
If theres nowt obvious than drive back n forwards along a road and get a mate to walk alongside n check where the noise is coming from. Id bet it aint engine related tho.
edit: lmao God speed, Knighty.
driveshafts possibly? sounds vaguely similar to what i heard before xmas before my driveshaft popped out.
jaimz :rock:
Sounds like brakes to me, but as said before, take it back to the garage.
could be the rear drums sticking, but as above take it to the place that did the work.
Thanks for your help guys. I thought about taking it back to the garage but I didnt really think it would be a problem with the work they had done. I guess its the best solution. I dont really feel safe driving it as is; thats uncommon for me behind the wheel.
Is the exhaust dragging along the ground?
Quote from: funkychicken9000Is the exhaust dragging along the ground?
No, I did think to check that one :lol:
it sounds to me like the rear breaks are stuck on...
Mr.Rolls car did almost the exact same thing due to a sticking hand break cable :)
but.... no doubt if you take it back theyll blame it on something else to get some money out of you :(
...does the car lift up at all when you reverse ? (might need to get someone else to watch it/reverse for you)
plus... try just leaving it in gear instead of using the hand break and see if that stops it ;)
Tbh if you have a problem with a car develop and youve just been to a garage, Id have a word with them.
Sorry to hear about the repair. The words Renault, suspension & brakes hardly shocks me anymore.
The garage is a pretty professional outfit so I dont think theyve done a shoddy job or would try to fleece me tbh, but then Im not a mechanic...
Ill try those things tomorrow Alan :) Hopefully it will be something as simple as a sticking handbrake cable.
Something is prolly struck. Without hearing it myself it may be the rear brakes or the handbrake (common on Astras). Does make the noise as soon as you pull off?
When the vehicle is stationary there is no noise, as soon as the car moves, it starts.
Quote from: knightyit sounds to me like the rear breaks are stuck on...
Bingo!
Had the same thing myself on 2 different cars, both times it was the rear shoes catching because the return springs had gone on one, and on the other the hadbreak cable had snaped (Some cars require the handbreak cable to be used as a return mechanism). If you want a quick test then jack the back wheels up with the handbreak on and see if you can make them spin. ALso stick the car in reverse before trying this, dont want the car rolling forward off the jack :)
Right, I jacked it up a few moments ago while its still light. The rear wheel is fine on the passenger side, but drivers side there is definitely something sticking at a certain point of rotation. The handbrake is working fine as they wouldnt budge with that on.
Brakes sticking then? Is this likely to be the garages fault when the shoes/pads were replaced? Is it servicable by ignorant idiot (i.e me)?
Oh and if I dont sort it out ASAP is my car likely to fly off the road?
If the garage serviced the rear brakes, bring it back to them. Be nice, as its not their fault that an old spring didnt make it through the operation. They shouldnt charge you a copper for it, or if they do, cry uncle and leave.
Otherwise, its easy enough to deal with yourself if you know where all the badgers attach.
Im incompetent, so Ill take it back to the garage :lol:
It should be fine to drive in the meantime, the brakes might overheat a little but thats no bother.
Strangely enough after a good 40 mile round trip earlier it appears to have gone away :? Whats the likelihood of it returning?
How many new badgers did you get installed? The sound could just have been them "getting to know each other", a common enough noise after some brake jobs. Id still get it checked out.
I had both rear shoes replaced, but Id already driven around 300 miles before the problem surfaced.
Theres a good number of parts in a drum brake. Im guessing broken return spring.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/drum-brake.htm
Looking at that, if the return spring was broken surely the brakes would be locked on/off or constantly rubbing? As it stands, it all seems to be working fine again.
Surely you value your life enough to have it checked? :shrug: :lol:
Quote from: Clockd 0NeLooking at that, if the return spring was broken surely the brakes would be locked on/off or constantly rubbing? As it stands, it all seems to be working fine again.
depends on the design. Some will back of _just_ enough, or as in your case its possible the edges have worn off the leading edge of the shoes.
Yes I suppose I should get it checked really. :lol: At least it isnt going to cost me an arm and a leg. Ill phone the garage in the morning.
They fixed it no charge, said there wasnt any major problem, just a few adjustments needed. Quality garage. :D
Used to happen on a mates astra, particularly after wet weather (no idea why as a drum brake is a sealed unit as far as im aware).
Would stick... hed drive anyway, and few miles down the road wed hear a clunk and itd be free.
Quote from: Clockd 0NeThey fixed it no charge, said there wasnt any major problem, just a few adjustments needed. Quality garage. :D
Usually the case, and as they had been working on it then they have to guarantee its going to work for more than a few days.