[Steering & Suspension] Rebuilt the suspension - clunks and groans!

[GraemeT]

Hi

Just replaced a number of bits on the left hand front of the trusty Berlingo - chiefly the steering knuckle. New bearings mean car is now much quieter so I can here a 'groan' from the upper suspension mounting/shock/spring area going over speed humps. You can also replicate this by jacking the car up and down. May always have been there since the new mountings were fitted in January just never heard it before - any ideas???

The clunk is the lower ball joint. There is a fraction of movement there and having taken the pinch bolt out and refitted it I'm certain that the actual ball joint has had its chips - is this just age or was it me removing the thing with gusto? This Berlingo appears to have the balljoint pressed into the wishbone (no securing bolts other than the one locking the top of the joint to the hub carrier) - is best to just replace the whole wishbone as a unit? (I know all the securing nuts to the subframe are easy to shift as they were all off a few weeks back)

Keen to hear suggestions about the groan

Thanks

Graeme

[GraemeT]

Update - due to my living an hour from the nearest town and the fact that (1) it has a Eurocarparts store and (2) they had a complete wishbone in stock I went in and bought one.

Got the old one off and, after pulling the (good condtion & intact) rubber off the bottom ball joint it was patently b*ggered.

Fitted new one, bolted all up and now no clunks.

Another lesson learned - I've had that suspension off twice this year, renewed the drop links & track rod ends but never thought to check the lower ball joint. Could have saved myself some time and money a few weeks ago when I was replacing the steering rack.

As to the groan, that seems to have diminished down to a mild squeak if I bounce the car on the suspension - no way could you hear that over engine noise - will trundle over the same speed humps tomorrow to be sure.