'69 Tipo rattle

[DIYspanner]

I've been asked by my niece to investigate a rattle on her 1.4 Tipo.

She's been back to the dealership (no older cars) twice with whom the car has warranty. Thus far, they've replaced a drop link under warranty.

Are there any suspension weak points on these Fiats?

 

[Mottie]

I've been asked by my niece to investigate a rattle on her 1.4 Tipo.

Oh dear…

 

[Burnerman]

Investigate the spring top bearing......give the strut a good shake when the wheels are at full dangle.
John

 

[carmanmemoranda]

More info needed.

Car age, any mot history?

When does the rattle happen? Bumps, straight line, turning, braking, accelerating etc. Front or rear? Can you tell which side,?

 

[DIYspanner]

When I got the car to drive, a slight knocking seemed to be on the o/s front.

I looked at both sides suspension and all bushings and ball joints were good.

When turning the wheel, I could feel a slight clunk on the o/s spring at the top. I removed the strut and dismantled it but the strut mount bearing seemed healthy enough. Good smooth rotation albeit, no weight on it.

Put it all back together and went for a drive and all seemed well. Perhaps just a badly mounted strut?

 

[Old Salt]

I had a strut on a Stag that moved when fully extended and would clunk going around roundabouts. It took 2 mot testers to identify the cause.

 

[DIYspanner]

I returned the car this morning and I had a ride out in the car with its owner, she heard the slight knocking and pointed it out to me. It actually happened on a nice straight smooth stretch of road rather than a bumpy stretch.

Seemed to be on the n/s under the bulkhead. No loose heat shields or split exhaust rubbers so I am intrigued.

 

[cdbe]

Got one on mine, seriously annoying. Went through MOT with no comment last year, I've waggled and tugged but couldn't identify anything so I'm hoping they'll pick something up this time.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

I returned the car this morning and I had a ride out in the car with its owner, she heard the slight knocking and pointed it out to me. It actually happened on a nice straight smooth stretch of road rather than a bumpy stretch.

Seemed to be on the n/s under the bulkhead. No loose heat shields or split exhaust rubbers so I am intrigued.

Checked in the glovebox ?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Is it a rattle, or a deep twang? Strut top bearings will cause a deep twang, and regularly, at the same spot in turning the wheel. If you can get the front wheels on a slippy surface, and turn the wheel end to end, whilst feeling the spring, you will feel the twang.

 

[Burnerman]

Drop links examination required......front and rear if there any back there. Including the one that was replaced.
John

 

[DIYspanner]

Will investigate further!

 

[DIYspanner]

Belated feedback on this one. The culprit was the n/s sway bar link.

The fault was not evident until driven some miles and the suspension warmed up. When I parked up and twisted the link, I could feel the 'snatch' in both ball joints.

I replaced both sides with Moog brand from a local factor and the noise has disappeared.

When cold, both balls in the faulty link I took off are perfectly fine.

 

[johnny2007]

I know it's an old thread but...

I've been asked by my niece to investigate a rattle on her 1.4 Tipo.

Everything rattles in a Fiat.
They come out of the factory like that.

Are there any suspension weak points on these Fiats?

All of it...

 

[DIYspanner]

Who's making the best aftermarket suspension these days?

I know Apec now supply suspension parts but that stream is coming from NAPA who now own Apec so likely, at a guess, supplied by KYB.