This Ford came into us at Platinum Vehicle Services in Walsall for a full service alongside something the owner had been putting up with for a while, a knocking noise coming from the suspension. They had noticed it most when going over speed bumps and pulling out of junctions, which told us straight away the noise was load dependent. That is a useful clue. Random noises that appear and disappear with no pattern are harder to pin down, but a knock that shows up under suspension movement narrows the search considerably.
The Car Went Straight on the Ramp to Find the Source of the Knock
You cannot properly diagnose a suspension knock from a test drive alone. A road test tells you roughly where in the car the noise is coming from and under what conditions, but to find the actual cause you need the wheels off the ground so the components can be moved by hand. We put the Ford up on the ramp and worked through the front suspension and steering components methodically, checking each joint and bush for play. Play means unwanted movement, the kind that should not be there when a joint is in good condition. When we got to the front lower wishbone, the ball joint at the end of it had visible movement when pushed and pulled. A ball joint connects the wheel hub to the suspension arm and allows the wheel to pivot when you steer while still moving up and down with the road surface. When the rubber boot splits or the joint wears internally, it develops slack, and that slack is what causes the knock every time the suspension compresses or extends.
A Worn Ball Joint Is a Braking and Steering Risk, Not Just a Noise
Leaving a worn ball joint is not simply a matter of tolerating an annoying knock. As the joint continues to wear, the amount of play increases. At a certain point the joint can no longer locate the wheel accurately, which affects both steering precision and braking. In a worst case scenario a severely deteriorated ball joint can separate, which means the wheel loses its connection to the suspension entirely. That is a situation that causes an immediate loss of control. We always tell customers this because the noise on its own sounds like a minor irritation, but the component itself is load bearing and safety critical. Catching it at the stage this Ford was at, with measurable play but still intact, is the right time to deal with it. Leaving it until the knock gets louder means the joint has worn further and may by that stage have started to affect the wishbone bush as well, adding to the repair cost.
New Ball Joint Fitted and the Full Service Completed Alongside
We replaced the worn front lower ball joint and retorqued everything to the manufacturer specification before lowering the car. With the suspension knock resolved we completed the full service, which covered the engine oil and filter, air filter, pollen filter and a check of all fluid levels, brake condition, tyre pressures and tread depths. Doing the service and the suspension work together in one visit meant the car was with us for a single session rather than two separate trips, which saves the owner time.
If you have been hearing a knock or clunk from your car, particularly over bumps, on corners or when braking, it is worth getting it checked before it develops further. Suspension wear is progressive and the longer a worn component is left, the more stress it places on the parts around it. We carry out suspension inspections, servicing and mechanical repairs at our workshop in Walsall, and we will tell you exactly what we find before any work is carried out. Book your car in with us at platinumvehicleservices.co.uk.
