Dear All,
Recently bought a 1989 Lite Ace 2.0TD Auto. Great motor, we really love it , bags of character. I have a problem that I would like to pick your brains and experience on. Have looked around the site but with no matching symptoms yet. When travelling forward between 0 and 50 KPH there is a regular thud or knock from the near side wheels. Probably the front N/S wheel. The thud gets more pronounced if a right turn is made and the weight of the vehicle is shifted to the N/S wheels. I have removed, checked and refitted the F/N/S wheel bearing with no change in the problem. I did notice a bit of play in the stub shaft in the center of the wheel and wondered if this was anything to do with it. The plastic wheel stop also seem to be in order. What about the CV joint? Is this a regular problem? Perhaps it's just the tyre, but it looks OK!!! Any ideas?

- (#3649) Pete Longman, 4 Jul 02

If rythmic ie. occurs more as you go faster, suspect something to do the wheel eg. bearing or something catching, loose wheel nuts.
Irregular - suspect ball joint(s) and/or steering bushes. Jack it up on stands and check for play in bjs using a wrecking bar.
CV joint? Isn't the liteace RWD like the Townace?

- (#3650) Ian Dunse, 4 Jul 02

If it's a 4x4 and the front hubs are locked, then it could be the CV...

- (#3651) david miller, 4 Jul 02

Yes, it occurs more as I go fasterin proportion, and also quietens down. It's only at low speed that it's a problem. It is a 4x4 and both of the hubs are free. From your comments I think I should take a closer look at the wheels and tyres.

- (#3672) Pete Longman, 5 Jul 02