Allegro Club International

[martincaldow]

Wonder if anyone can help...

I've had a mystery clunk/bang from the underside of my Allegro for about a year and it's getting worse. Neither me, my local mechanic or a local dealer can pin it down.

It has been totally random - turning on a rough surface - nothing; going straight ahead on a smooth surface "bang". Then the next day, the total opposite.

This year, there have been very few bangs - until yesterday when it was back with a vengeance.

I tried bouncing the car when it was back in the garage and managed to get the bangs from the o/s front - the first time I've been able to produce the noise by bouncing the car.

Having got the bang, the o/s front suspension firmed up and it was much harder to bounce the car on that side. After a few bounces, the firmness seemed to clear and the o/s returned to feeling the same as the n/s.

The ride height is fine (actually about 1cm lower on the o/s) and there is no Hydragas fluid leak. My mechanic tells me there is no play in the steering - which I take to mean ball joints and track rods. I'm thinking a worn Hydragas knuckle joint. Does this sound likely???

Many thanks.

Martin

[Graham]

Hi Martin, sorry for the late reply, I lost the forum password amongst other things!
Possibly the knuckle but I think the clue is the stiffening of the suspension and it may be a seized front upper arm or a seized (or seizing up) rear radius arm. If you can depressurise the system and check they are both smooth and free it would eliminate them at least.
All the best,
Graham

[martincaldow]

Thank you Graham. Much appreciated. I'll let you know how I get on. Martin

[martincaldow]

Pleased to report mystery clunk has gone. Ian and Dawn Kennedy visited last week and replaced all 4 Hydragas units with reconditioned ones. Not only are the ride & handling transformed, but the clunk that had been bugging me for ages has gone. Worth every penny!!