The 'E' Type Forum

Setting off from standstill with the steering pointing straight ahead or to the right, I could hear a distinct crack crack noise sounding like it was coming from the front suspension.

I could not replicate it on the ramp.

New wheels, hubs and tyres. No difference.

New ball joints x4. No difference.

New steering arms. No difference.

Tighten steering rack, new wavy washer in steering column base. No difference.

New anti roll bar bushes x6. No difference.

New muggaurd rubbers, check wheel clearances. NO.

New engine mounts and engine stabalizer bushes. No difference.

Crack Crack Crack when the clutch was released, just like before.

New shock absorbers, bushes and bottom mount. No difference.

New front suspension bushes and fucrums. No difference. Getting worried.

New calipers, disc, pads. NO Difference.

New wheel bearings. Same

4 wheel laser alignment. No difference.

Steering rack bellows off. New rack. one side was completely dry. Eureka - No difference.

Although it must be said, I now have a lovely driving car.

Now getting worried, thinking cracks in the frame rails, weak bulkhead, clutch going south, crack in bell-housing, seizing diff, prop u'js going south. What could it be?

Then this morning I had an idea. I acted on it and 10 minutes later the problem was fixed.

Anyone got any ideas before I post the solution?

gearbox mounts ?

No

loose starter motor?

No.

A clue.

It got worse when I changed the engine mounts.

Exhaust or your wallet

No.

Right. Game over.

It was the air filter.

The top half (glass fibre) was moving up and down with the engine and catching the main filter body housing (steel support) which is attached to the body. The whole thing being sealed by the do-nut rubber.

Can you believe it.

And my wallet.

Oh, and my clue.

The renewed engine mounts raised the engine 5mm or so.

The angle between the engine and the frame altered a degree or two.

This in turn increased the contact between the two air filter halves. One connected to the engine, the other to the body.

This in turn made the car sound like an exploding volcano every time it wizzed off at the lights.

I am glad I am not the only one who has had annoying squeeks and creeks , Lucky for me I didn't have to spend a small fortune
and after a lot of head scratching it turned out to be the bonnet catch rubbing on the bracket on the bulkhead , a quick smear of
grease and problem solved , I only discovered this when cleaning the car after light pressure polishing the bonnet which then made it creek , laugh , I could have cried .

Ahhh squeaks and rattles....I have a few to trace in the e type but none are annoying. I did have a really annoying Buzz at certain rpm in my mg a few years back. Long search. Many a grease, wire tie and so on....turned out it was a pen in the glove compartment!

Just had an annoying squeak for the last 8 months. The post inspired me (and the passenger) to finally sort it out. Seemed to be from the centre bulkhead area whilst driving. Squirted WD40 on all the throttle linkage, pedal housings, bonnet latches etc. Started to close the bonnet, and it squeeked again. Arrrghhhh. Turns out to have been on the bonnet itself - the RH Mudshield rubbing against the RH wing. Quick squirt of the WD40 along the join and a 350km squeak free trip back to Zurich.

A true story I heard from a time served mechanic who used to work for me, new Audi customer delivers car to garage and complains of rattle. Goes off to work in a 'loaner' car. Returns, mechanics found nothing, despite extensive searching and test drives. This repeats itself. Finally the foreman spots the Audi owner getting out of the Audi to get into the 'loaner', and sees him reaching behind driver seat to get his breifcase out of the car...... Yepp, squeaky briefcase. Laughs all around apparently, no hard feelings.

Things that have rattled or squeaked on my car - not in any particular order.
1. Exhaust down pipes against the TB.
2. Gearbox locating spigot against the gearbox mounting plate after the rubber bush had perished.
3. Gear lever against its pivot when the bush worked up the gear lever.
4. Chrome trim on the drivers door coming loose.
5. Poorly adjusted engine stabiliser, a result of the engine mounts compressing.
6. Drivers seat runner loose on the floor.
7. Drivers seat runner broken.
8. FNS brake calliper locating pins loose in the calliper.
9. Loose half shaft UJ covers.

Your turn.