suspension rattle

I have had what sounds like a suspension rattle on my Mk1 for a while now

It's on the passenger side and seems to happen most when going round and corner when the surface of the road is rough

I have replaced the top mounts (with VW ones), fitted brand new struts and bilstein inserts, and a set of eibach springs, but its still there

I have tried jacking it up and rattling everything around but can't trace it

It sounds like something is loose, but I have had it through 2 MOT's like this, and when it's jacked up nothing seems to rattle

any ideas  :dontknow:

Mine has similar symptoms. I'm pretty sure it's the insert rattling around in the strut. The other one I've had is lose clamping bolts on the balljoint.

try checking for the exhaust bumping against the heat shield for the gear change  boot - only happens on certain uneven road sufaces. you may be able to see a minute rubbing mark on the exhaust - look for a mark -probably about the size of a match head

MP

I had this trouble and it turned out to be the steering rack. You can adjust them but GSF used to do a new one for about ?45 and my advice would be to get one of these. I adjusted mine when the engine was out so it was easy to get off and I adjusted it in the straight ahead position, I didn't think to check that it was OK in the left or right turn position and when I drove the car it was tight both ways. I assume that as most of the time the steering is in the straight ahead position that thats where it wears so if you adjust it in that position it will bind when it is turned. I then had the hassle of getting the rack out with the engine in and its a pain in the —-.
With the new GSF rack there was no more rattles and I used the old track rods. Mini's used to suffer from this aswell, you could replace all the bushes etc and the swine would still rattle.