Front wheel clonk (technical term)

[simonhirst]

Hi.

Just bought my first Jaguar after years and 184,000 miles in a BMW 5 Sport. Very impressed with the Jag (except that I got hit twice in the first week that I had it - first accidents in 20 years).

The new car is a 2006 Jaguar S-type Sport.

The problem that I have with the car is that when I start in the morning, and very occassionally during the day, and only when turn the steering wheel sharply to make a slow right-handed, 90 degree turn, I feel a clonk from the front near-side wheel, almost as though I have run over something in the road. Clonk always occurs twice. Had the car into the garage but they found nothing but did service the front brakes.

I'm convinced that it is something t do with the front brakes - perhaps sticking calipers. Any ideas please.

Cheers.

Simon.

[simonhirst]

Sorry. Should have said that the Jag is an S-type Sport, 2006.

[Steve]

it maybe just loose pads inside the calipers or the ball joint with very slight wear

[volor]

Check the wheel arch liner is fully in place and secured, and not snagging as you move the wheel onto full lock.

[David F]

Had the same problem with mine. The problem turned out to be worn anti roll bar bushes.

£20 a side and an hours labour to fit.

Might be worth checking it out.

David

[simonhirst]

Thanks all. I'll get the garage to check out your suggestions.

[jbb]

I own a late 2011 XF 2.2 PL and I have had the same problem since I bought it as a demonstrator with 7000 miles on the clock. I have been told by the dealer and by Jaguar main Customer Servises that it is "tyre skip" and that they can do nothing about it! I struggle to accept this on a £38,000 car. It happens in the cold weather pulling off my driveway and if parked all day in a car park same problem. In the warmer months last year the problem dissapeared! In fact the problem has been particularly bad in the last couple of months. Please let me know the response you get from a garage and if you can get it resolved how this was achieved!! Good luck! Many thanks John B-B

[volor]

Tyre skip, now that is a new one for me. I would say from the fact that it seems to be worse in the cold, that it is indeed suspension related, and could be as simple as bushes. I know from expierence how a knocking anti roll bar, can take u down the wrong path to diagnosis. With such low milage I would not accept what the dealer is saying. Have you had the tracking checked?

[mictop1961]

I think they mean by tyre skip is that when the car is on full lock the tyre/wheel is on to much of an angle to roll as the car is rear wheel drive it will tend to scrape the tyre against the surface of the road it will stop rolling, that would suggest that the steering is not centred and over travelling on left hand lock.

I think like volor states it is more likely a worn bush tyre skip would be more of a scrape than a knock.

[simonhirst]

I think that the notion of tyre skip may have some merit. When I got to work this morning after my 200 mile commute, the roof of the car park was slippery and slushy. The knocking happened several times as I turned into my parking space.

[simonhirst]

Volor,

Not certain from your post where you believe the problem is or isn't the anti-roll bushes. Could you confirm please.

Cheers.

Simon.

[mictop1961]

It could be the anti roll bar bushes but to be honest (personal opinion here) I would'nt bother at the moment if it has been checked out buy a garage and is only a intermittent fault then I would let it develop you could end up throwing £££££ at it and still not resolve the problem.I did this with a car many years ago that had a suspension knock I changed bushes and shock absorbers it cost me about £500 doing it myself, it turned out to be the gearbox mounting!

Of course you could always turn the music up - The good old fashioned cure to many a knocking noise!!

[volor]

As mictop has stated, identify suspension knocking sounds is difficult, and u can spend some serious money before getting to the real problem. To check the anti roll bushes you need to jack up the car so there is no weight on the bush to help see if there is indeed wear. The weight of the car can mask the wear in the bush.

[simonhirst]

Hi to all who kindly offered advice.

Car went into the garage today and sod's law, the clonk didn't materialise.

I gave the mechanic a copy of all your hints and he checked everything out. No wear in the anti-roll bushes, suspension all fine.

Thanks again for your support