XSeries-forum

Hi all. Hope someone can help with this issue.
The car is a 2002 3.0i petrol with rear air suspension only. It’s done 163k
I’m getting a knocking/clonking noise when I go over bumps in the road.
It sound like is coming from the front both sides and has periodically got worse
The front lower arms inc bushes and ball joints have been replaced and no change. 
One tie rod was changed at the same time. 4 wheel alignment done at a hunter centre.
The anti-roll bar links and control arm are tight with no play (passed mot) not sure where to look next!
Any ideas thought will be most welcome.
Thanks.

Update.
The same noise is there when driving 20-30 mph along a flat road
Swaying the car sharply from left to right.
Any ideas.

look at the bearings on the strut top, does it make any odd/unusual noises when turning the steering, as I've just had a similar problem check the caliper mounting bolts are tight. put your foot on the brake and see if you can replicate the noise as you go from drive to reverse, if you can get someone to watch your front wheels in turn as you do this to see if there is any unusual wheel movement. Did you check for play in the suspension or are you trusting someone's word. Check the top mount nuts on the strut under the bonnet. Good luck.

My mechanic who I trust checked main bushes and balll joints and changed what was needed for mot.
Am away from car for a week now so will follow your advise when I get back and post update.

Thanks for your input.

You mention replacing front lower arms but there are other arms too. There is whole series of bushes on the front

Smee

When i had a similar problem my friend of 40 years and garage owner tested the front end on his one man mot test ramp the electric plates that shake the car sort of.
Well nothing no play in any joint very strange so i said to do it the old way.
We lifted the front and used a big pry bar and found the n/s bottom joint was nearly falling apart.
Just shows the old ways where the best but how many cars have passed the mot useing this new(ish)  system ????????.
 

Yep a BFO pry bar is definitely the best way to test particularly if you can get the car's weight supported to take all the load off

At long last found the problem. It was near side anti roll bar drop link.
And yes a BFO bar was the finder of said problem. Thanks all who replied.