[ItsThaMonsta]

Now that my stereo has officially kicked the bucket (eventually ill go to tampa to get it warrantied) I get to hear all the joys of the Lotus lol. Of course I have driven without the radio on before and I know the sounds of the Lotus but I dont know if this is normal. There is kind of a deep "knocking" sound coming from up front. I can slightly feel it through the steering wheel as well. I dont have to be turning for it to happen and speed doesnt appear to matter even though I notice it more when going slow. Also, above the clutch I sometimes feel what appears to feel and sound like a loose spring. Any ideas what these are?

 

[andykeck]

For me, that was the first symptom of a bad rack. Twice.

 

[MikeG911]

Believe it or not, mine was a loose lug bolt that caused a thump

 

[apk919]

Is your cupholder wearing proper upper body restraints (cupholder's cupholders)? -poke-
















EDIT:
+1 on check lugnuts.
Also, try turning the steering lock to lock while stationary... do you hear/feel anything?

 

[def]

The clutch thing, if the squeek sound is behind you, may just be a fork that needs greasing, mine did that, easy fix

 

[dasmoofler]

Did it sound like this?
I guess it doesn't matter since I never figured it out.
<embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-6590369393495944228&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed>

 

[ItsThaMonsta]

Did it sound like this?
I guess it doesn't matter since I never figured it out.
<embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-6590369393495944228&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed>

YES! Its the exact same sound. Damn... too bad you havent figured it out. I think I gave a bad explanation on the other problem. It appears to be a loose spring or something above the clutch pedal. I feel it with the tip of my shoe often.

 

[ItsThaMonsta]

Yup! I hear it when I turn the wheel by itself when the car is off.

P.S.. my cupholders always wear proper restraints..... until I purposely shift into 6th which leads to things

Is your cupholder wearing proper upper body restraints (cupholder's cupholders)? -poke-
















EDIT:
+1 on check lugnuts.
Also, try turning the steering lock to lock while stationary... do you hear/feel anything?

 

[andykeck]

YES! Its the exact same sound. Damn... too bad you havent figured it out. I think I gave a bad explanation on the other problem. It appears to be a loose spring or something above the clutch pedal. I feel it with the tip of my shoe often.

There is a spring that attaches to the clutch pedal for I don't know why. I can feel it with my big toe.

 

[apk919]

Yup! I hear it when I turn the wheel by itself when the car is off...

Have someone else turn the wheel, and move around the car to try and locate the source. If you can get a stethoscope (or similar... there are actually automotive stethoscopes), it might be even easier to locate the source.

Of course it could be more than one thing (on a Lotus? who woulda thunk it)...

 

[ItsThaMonsta]

There is a spring that attaches to the clutch pedal for I don't know why. I can feel it with my big toe.

I see.... So is the lug bolt theory the consensus for the knock up front? It can be heard in the video post a few posts up.

 

[andykeck]

I see.... So is the lug bolt theory the consensus for the knock up front? It can be heard in the video post a few posts up.

It's worth a try, but I thought you mentioned that it wasn't speed dependent?

 

[dasmoofler]

FWIW - my noise only happened when it was real hot, like 90. Also, I got rid of one noise by wrapping tape around the pins that go into the center part of the clam on the slotted radiator covers. The hole was about .050" larger than the pins and they would rattle around in there.

 

[ItsThaMonsta]

It's worth a try, but I thought you mentioned that it wasn't speed dependent?

I dont think it is... but maybe so. I can hear it when now just turning the wheel when the car is off.

 

[MikeG911]

I was skeptical as well about the lugs, and it was only one but as soon as I torqued them all was well. I check them every few weeks now.

 

[ItsThaMonsta]

I was skeptical as well about the lugs, and it was only one but as soon as I torqued them all was well. I check them every few weeks now.

Which lugs are being referring to?

 

[MikeG911]

Mine happend to be the right front wheel lugs

 

[apk919]

Which lugs are being referring to?

The ones you were going to use this on:

Remember? http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f101/what-size-torque-wrench-lotus-tool-68827/

Seriously, I had my lugs come loose on a track day... but it wasn't really knocking, it was more like a bad vibration...

 

[ItsThaMonsta]

The ones you were going to use this on:

Remember? http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f101/what-size-torque-wrench-lotus-tool-68827/

Seriously, I had my lugs come loose on a track day... but it wasn't really knocking, it was more like a bad vibration...

Really? Interesting. It didnt appear to be coming from as far from the side as the wheels. But im not questioning it. Im sure the knock can travel through some stuff. Ill give it a try.

 

[ItsThaMonsta]

Ok its officially not from the lug bolts. Damn, it just might be the steering rack.