Oh bugger! What was that?

OO 1005 · Post by **OO 1005** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 08:06

Driving out of drive this morning I heard a very loud crack sounding like it came from under me - slightly to the rear - my drive is very step with a very sharp left hand turn onto the main road, so I'd imagine there are a lot of diaganol forces on the car making the turn.... Checked the boot welds straight away and they seem fine, had a quick look underneath but couldn't see anything... No noises whilst driving - except when driving very slowly over a speed bump, clunking noise as back wheels went over...

Going to try to get to a garage this evening to see if they can have a look but anyone got any ideas as to what it could have been...?

Cheers

Alfie · Post by **Alfie** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 09:27

With wide tyres, when you turn slowly and sharply, the inner edge of the tyre and the outer edge are travelling a different distance. Sometimes, on a sticky or glossy surface, this can result in the tyre stretching diagonally across the tread and then returning to shape with a bang. I often get this when turning in my road.

It'll give you a bit of an 'Oh Sh!T, what was that?' moment, but is actually completely harmless.

Possible?

A.

OO 1005 · Post by **OO 1005** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 09:32

I am runnning 245 40 17's on the back...

Got a garage having a look at lunch, fingers crossed thats it!

Cheers Alfie!

Phil

OO 1005 · Post by **OO 1005** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 13:55

Garage didn't have time to put it on a ramp but mechanic drove it and said it sounded fine... however driving back to work its still making a worrying clunk over speedbumps now...

Going to see how much BMW want to diagnose...

alanj4353 · Post by **alanj4353** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 15:23

Sound like Broken back sprigh to me If you look under the back and see if there both the same size still

OO 1005 · Post by **OO 1005** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 15:25

Hmmm.. hadn't considered that...

Will try and squeeze under it later and have a look..

OO 1005 · Post by **OO 1005** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 18:42

Had a look under and can't see anything broken... Is there anything anyone can think of?

Cheers

gelertd1 · Post by **gelertd1** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 19:05

I'm with alanj4353 - sounds like a coil spring

They usually snap on the very top or bottom of the coil and can be hard to see without removing the wheel and allowing the suspension to drop to full travel. Often ride height is unaffected or the difference is minimal.

If it does turn out to be a spring consider doing both sides - doing just the one may be ok on a 'shopping trolley' but if you use your Zed for what it was intended for you don't want mis-matched springs, however slight the difference may be.

rgf · Post by **rgf** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 19:05

Was it a titillating noise?

Courageous · Post by **Courageous** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 20:41

Stop it Roy you'll get us all arrested...... They're watching you know!