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Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - Alan 1962

I've had my Corolla Estate about a year. 87,000 miles now. In the year of having this car I've replaced the Drop Links 8 time's, due to a knocking on the front end. Each time the car is quiet for some miles, then it starts knocking again. An MOT inspector said he'd have to pass it as he can see nothing wrong with it, even though a test drive showed there was definitely a knocking. Any ideas, it's really got me down and at a loss. Thanks for reading

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - skidpan

8 times in a year. Find a propper garage.

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - Andrew-T

Could something else be knocking ? If the noise returns after 'some miles', that seems far too soon to me ?

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - bathtub tom

Do the ball joints of the drop links show wear?

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - Andrew-T

Not the CV joints ? That wouldn't show on inspection, and wear at 87K would be usual. Hoisting the car to work on drop links could rearrange the CVs, which would settle themselves back into running position after 'some miles' ?

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - Oli rag

Not the CV joints ? That wouldn't show on inspection, and wear at 87K would be usual. Hoisting the car to work on drop links could rearrange the CVs, which would settle themselves back into running position after 'some miles' ?

I was always under the impression that CV joints only knocked on full lock?

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - gordonbennet

Genuine parts?

The roads must be horrendous, are you going repeatedly over hard road calming ramps?

edit, just wondering if its top mount issues rather than drop links.

Edited by gordonbennet on 05/09/2024 at 14:28

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - galileo

Genuine parts?

The roads must be horrendous, are you going repeatedly over hard road calming ramps?

edit, just wondering if its top mount issues rather than drop links.

The roads in my part of West Yorkshire would take the Gold Medal in any contest for most potholes, badly reinstated roadworks trenches and speed bumps, but in 82000 miles and 15 years my i30 on 15" wheels never needed any attention to its suspension components.

Not driven at snail's pace either, nor did any of my three Corollas need suspension repairs.

Edited by galileo on 05/09/2024 at 15:45

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - gordonbennet

The roads in my part of West Yorkshire would take the Gold Medal in any contest for most potholes, badly reinstated roadworks trenches and speed bumps, but in 82000 miles and 15 years my i30 on 15" wheels never needed any attention to its suspension components.

Not driven at snail's pace either, nor did any of my three Corollas need suspension repairs.

Some Corollas appear to be fitted with some (horrible looking) large alloy wheels and low profile tyres, dare say they'll be more likely to offer a crashing ride and more expensive tyre renewals to boot, wonder if the OPs Corolla is so shod.

I've had to swap out one front and one rear drop link on our Forester, both a couple of years ago @ age 14 years, i'd wager Northants could give West Yorks a run for its money for rough roads, got to the stage now the unclassified country roads have better surfaces than almost all single carriageway county A roads, hence why i now use such routes for my commutes.

Remember back in the late 70s early 80s when they wanted to up truck weights from 32 tons to 38 and later on 44 tons, experts told us how much kinder heavier trucks would be to the roads on more axles, they've continued to lie and laugh at us ever since about, er, everything.

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - Andrew-T

Not the CV joints ? That wouldn't show on inspection, and wear at 87K would be usual. Hoisting the car to work on drop links could rearrange the CVs, which would settle themselves back into running position after 'some miles' ?

I was always under the impression that CV joints only knocked on full lock?

Well, almost. Roundabouts are a common place to hear knocking CV joints. We don't know how many miles the OP needs to reach a small roundabout.

Edited by Andrew-T on 05/09/2024 at 17:57

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - bazza

Clearly not the drop links! Check the strut top mounts and inserts (shock absorber), top mounts first as a cheap fix. Also check your anti roll bar bushes for wear. Likely one of these two. As above consider a garage that can help you rather than fleece you!

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - Big John

I've had something similar on a totally different car (Fiat Panda) Strange click/knock noise for years where nothing could be found. Each time car was investigated / jacked up noise went away for a while, after a while I just ignored. This year it failed it's MOT on a leaking front shock absorber which was replaced, noise has gone and hasn't returned.

Edited by Big John on 20/09/2024 at 23:40

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - Drop links - JonestHon

Assuming a similar arrangement to my Avensis, I'd say check the front struts top mount. For some reason, the nut on top gets loose with all the potholes; easy to tighten and apply some locktight as well, so it's stays shut.