Creaking & Clonking

[kev131]

Top bearing can be parts numbered 2, 3 and 4 rolled up into one piece, or if seperate (depends on manufacturer), just item 3.

Thanks Graham - The plot thickens - Maybe I should just put a couple of bags of cement in the engine bay to hold it all down....!

[mirafiori76]

Hi Kevin,

It's NOT part 3 on this drawings. In fact it's not on the pictures at all.
From the head... Top to bottom: Bolt and ring,  mounting plate with the rubber with three nuts on the tower (2). Under the tower is another plate,with the three bolts, (not on the picture). On the top is a large ring (3).When dismounting this holds down the spring.Then there's another plate which holds part 4. It's on top of this one that there's a flat bearing. It makes the turning of the whole thing possible. This is broken for certain.

[Robert]

See the picture for identifying the ball joint. One of the weak parts of any front axle:

[mirafiori76]

It's not so weak after all. There needs to be space in the ones from the 131's. About 3 millimeters. Inside it's a ball on a plate. Works like a little spring. Don't be fooled by any room on the joint. Stick a tire iron between the ball joint arm and the bearing housing, pull it down and see how much it gives to BOTH sides. If it's more then 3 millimeters then it's broken.

[124 man]

Check trackrod ends while your at it kev and balljoints fiats like them , could be the road you picked 

[kev131]

Check trackrod ends while your at it kev and balljoints fiats like them , could be the road you picked 

Ha ha - I was thinking that ...but no-one can say we were driving quickly at this event - The scenery was too nice...

Looks like it will not be possible to diagnose this on the internet so a trip to the garage is the only answer.... Thanks for your willingness to help guys. 

[124 man]

No creaks from 125 replayed everything up front after balljoint broke

[curt]

Its difficult to predict from the photos you posted - the anti roll bar bushes look fine - the anti roll to tca bushes are definitely past there best - but i dont think they would cause a clonking unless under harsh braking or acceleration. Ball joints can be tested - Jack the car up and tyre lever the stub axle from the tca and look/feel for any movement. You also mentioned a wheel bearing - again jack it up grab the wheel at 12 and 6 o clock and push at 12 o clock and pull from 6 oclock  toward and away from you and check for movement-also do it for 3 and 9 oclock - whislt doing the 3 and 9 oclock look at the the track rod end and steering rack for loose joints excessive movement you will find it