rear suspension knocking

[stepheng]

hello all,

this is my first post - thanks for welcome messages.
1997 406 1.8lx saloon - lpg conversion.
120,000miles

Hope you can pinpoint a problem I am having.
It sounds like I need to replace some bushes on rear suspension. Rear offside knocks like mad when cornering at slow speed - only really noticable at slow speeds, there is some play when I pull the forward side of the rear wheel (@2 o'clock position) and release it. Springs look fine and shocks look ok too. It isn't easy to get the thing to move and feel around the back of the wheel at the same time to feel what's loose.
Any help appreciated.

[neildavies]

I had a bad thudding noise on a 306 we used to own. It turned out to be axel bushes. Could be worth getting them checked, but I know on the 306, the mechanic told me he could only see then by removing the exhaust.

[jameslxdt]

its the anti-roll bar link rods, cheap and easy to fix

[stepheng]

ok thanks for replies,

will investigate tomorrow.

cheers

[RyanO]

its the anti-roll bar link rods, cheap and easy to fix

Anti-roll bar links can make a noise if worn, but won't cause play on the wheel.

I had the same symtoms on my car. I replaced the stabilizer links and the play and noise is gone. Stabilizer links sit under the anti roll bar forward of the main track control arm. They control the rear toe in settings so although they are easy enough to replace, the wheel alignment needs setting afterwards.

The wheel end of the link has a plastic bush in the ball joint which seems to be a bit of a weak point, particularly if you have bigger wheels. The inner joint is completely steel.
I replaced the outer joint with rose joints as the only new replacements I could find were from Peugeot at their usual rip off prices.