Knocking noise at the front when moving

T

Tommy H

Member
Hi

I was driving home last night to discover a knocking noise. Rotational meaning only happens when im moving. I jacked the car up there was no play in any joints bushes etc but one of the wheels were slightly binding and seems to stop making the noise when I use the breakes. I'm no mechanic but is this a common issue. Is it worth me changing the discs and pads? They don't look in bad condition.

Tom
 
could be one of several things, stone stuck between the pads and disk, pads not moving ie not floating so would need freeing up maybe even a wheel bearing
 
I've also noticed a very small knock when at very slow speeds turning left - seems to be coming from the passenger side wheel. Drives flawlessly though, so i'm not overly worried. Will service it in a month or two and have it checked.
 
I have a noise similar to yours

I have identified that it is coming from the NS front and so far have checked everthing for any play, completely stripped the brakes, cleaned any rust off the disc, ground off a small lip on the edge of the disc, made sure everything is free, copper greased the back of the pads , and had the wheel and tyre checked and still can't find the cause of it :cry:
 
I have taken it down the garage and he has said that potentially something is sticking in the calliper. My knocking noise seems to stop when I use the breaks so I suppose I have to eliminate that first. I'm changing discs and pads tomorrow so I will update you
 
i would put £10 on it is not your brakes, and its your strut braces. If you open the bonnet, there are two long thin black strut braces in a V -pattern, that are above the engine. Just tighten up the bolts on them, takes 2 seconds. They may feel tight at first, but do them up as hard as you can.

I think its a 13mm socket you need
Common thing you have to do on the z4, they work themselves loose.
 
I wouldn't tighten them up as " tight as you can" as the strut tower bolts can break off then the strut will have to be removed to replace the part, just give them a check to see if they're loose. Can you make any sort of video. Can you hear it loud enough in the car to record it with your phone for YouTube.
 
wowser said:
If you open the bonnet, there are two long thin black strut braces in a V -pattern, that are above the engine. Just tighten up the bolts on them, takes 2 seconds. They may feel tight at first, but do them up as hard as you can.
Click to expand...
By all means check these, but as with all bolts etc., there will be a recommended torque setting. Tightening them up "as hard as you can" runs the risk of snapping a bolt. Not good...
 
I changed the break Pads and discs and backing plate. One of the pistons in the calliper had seized so worked that loose. The knocking noise has now gone. The discs looked fine from the outside but the inside they were terrible. I'm not sure what exactly it was to do with the breaks it might have been a combination of things but changing discs and pads has sorted it. The backing plate had also broke and I hear this is a common problem with bmws not sure if this is true? I just checked the struts at the top of the engine and were slightly loose but not sure how tight to tighten them do just nipped them up. Thanks for all the advice you all certainly know your stuff:)
 
wowser said:
i would put £10 on it is not your brakes, and its your strut braces. If you open the bonnet, there are two long thin black strut braces in a V -pattern, that are above the engine. Just tighten up the bolts on them, takes 2 seconds. They may feel tight at first, but do them up as hard as you can.

I think its a 13mm socket you need
Common thing you have to do on the z4, they work themselves loose.
Click to expand...

I really hate comments like a 'do them up as hard as you can'. To one person using a standard spanner this may be vastly different to someone who levers with a decent socket set, T bar or even extension/breaker bar. Different people read things differently and have different 'feel' for what's right.
There are specs. for every bolt and stud, so why risk stripped threads, sheared studs, etc.

As an aside I agree these being loose causes knocking noises.
 
I too have developed a knock that sounds like it's coming from the engine bay bulkhead.
Will try to tighten the strut brace bolts.
Anyone know the torque settings?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
jimbo1958 said:
I too have developed a knock that sounds like it's coming from the engine bay bulkhead.
Will try to tighten the strut brace bolts.
Anyone know the torque settings?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...


35nm / 28f/lb

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32506&start=15
 
45ft lbs for the larger nuts on the brace it's self. I can't recall exactly what the suspension tower ones were but it was low, around 25 -30 I think.
 
Hi all you z4 owners. I have just bought my wife a 2004 3.0 z4 from a independent garage.My wife drove the car on a test drive and she loved it. so we went a head and purchased the car. and also we got a good deal because i payed cash its bright red with red leather.We picked the car up last friday and my wife drove it home.On the saturday morning i said let me drive it.Soon as i set off there was a knocking noise i said to my wife this is not right at all it feels like there are some bushes worn ect ect.Then i looked on this site and found out what was said about the problem.And to my surprise i read what was said about the struts coming slack.So this morning i went out and there was one slack nut on the strut on the drivers side bulk head.I nipped it up and presto perfect no noise and drives alot smoother thank you very much for that fantastic info
 
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