Lude Generation

Hi Guys

Just noticed it today when driving the lude to work

Theres a slight knocking sound when accelerating or moving off. The knocking isnt really a knocking more of a faint one and more of a sound like brakes being unstuck when moving off (so the sound of brakes siezed toa brake disc and then you moving off) that kind of sound.

The sound never occurs when going over bumps or driving normally and only seems to occur when accelerating and sometimes braking hard

The car seems to drive fine. Ive had a quick check under the bonnet and all suspension bolts are ok and all nuts and bolts seem to be tight when i turned the steering wheel on full lock on both directions. The dampers themselves seem ok nothing obvious

I shall have a proper look at the weekend but was wondering if you guys had any ideas as to where i should start looking

My brother tells me it could be the drop links or ARB bushes but they both look fine after having a brief look. The drop link bushes does seem to have a crack in its bush but not sure if this is it or will have an effect

If the drop links are the issue can i get away with non genuine items? Where would be the best place to buy and are they easy to change?

If i wanted to replace all the important bushes on the lude how much roughly would it set me back?

Thanks again guys for your help

If it sounds like the brakes, it's most likely the pads.

You may have a cracked pad, or something, or a broken anti-chatter spring.

Maybe whipping them out, a sand & some copper-ease will fix it.

dont use handbrake after drive and see if that happen again, most of time its rear brakes

I think it's about time you let that poor girl out of the boot.

cheers guys. Will try dis-assembling the front brakes and see what i can find. Cant do the rears as i dont have a wind up tool. I do hope its something easy and simple although not keen on the front pads being cracked as i have DS2500 pads and they arent cheap.

The brakes have all been refurbed around a year ago including new rear calipers, new pads all round, new discs all round and new fluid.

I think it's about time you let that poor girl out of the boot

LOL - yeah hopefully let her out in the morning

I have same problem, when i pull away you get a knock noise although mines quite loud and sounds like two pieces of metal pulling away from each other. Check the brakes and don't think its those could there be something else?

I have same problem when im start to drive, like i feel when there is grip with 1st gear and that noise is coming from front, same sound is when i put in 1st gear and just push the car.

HI Guys

I had a good look around the car today.

I have dis-assembled both front brakes. Cleaned and Re-greased them including caliper pins - All seem ok
Drivers side DS2500 brake pad has a small chunk missing but probably due to the track day i had earlier last year

Check and rocked all wheels. No movement so assume bearings seem ok. Rocked side to side and no movement so steering rack seems ok

The rear wheels move freely with hand brake off and lock when handbrake is up so rear calipers seem ok

All suspension bolts are tight including the forks and top mounts

ARB bushes look ok - see pics

Passenger droplink seems ok

Drivers drop link has a crack in its bush - I have a feeling this could be the issue but not sure

Are droplinks easy to change?

Any thoughts guys on my findings

My only other theory that it could be is the axles or gearbox? Posssible?

Car runs perfectly so find it hard to believe it could be the axles or gearbox

see pics below:

Passenger side DS2500 brake pads


Passenger side ARB bush


Drivers ARB bush


passneger side droplink


Drivers side droplink



Other pics









Thanks guys

from those pics i cant see anything wrong with the suspension

from those pics i cant see anything wrong with the suspension

Would you say the drop link on the drivers side is still ok?