Thudding and Steering Off, following Fr Spring Replacement.

[M80]

The o/s front spring popped on the driveway, April 127,500 miles.
Both replaced. Struts reinstalled to painted marks on the camber bolts. Not tracked.

The steering was off by just a few degrees anticlockwise and a slight pull toward n/s.
I tried to compensate by camber adjustment, and had limited success as it's trial and error.

By 128,000 miles it had developed an annoying, rattle, thudding. A bit like a loose piece of wood knocking over gentle bumps.
Removing the diff I found the o/s rear spring in 2, so thought that might explain the steering being off. All springs now new and camber reset to paint marks and the steering is off as it was.

I have attempted to find the loose component and no joy.
Jacked up, then with some jacking to the wishbone to emulate road attitude, pry bar round joints, remove drop link, nowt found.
I've stripped wheel arch liner, door skin, half the dash, nowt.
I even took the pound coin out of the ashtray but the flippin' noise is still there.

It's difficult to see how the steering being off and the noise are associated but if anyone can suggest were I'm being a numpty I would appreciate it.

My next stop is to ask the MOT centre to put it on their vibrating ramp.

 

[LostKiwi]

Bottom ball joint would be my first guess. Can be very difficult to see as the cars weight/spring pressure is on it.

 

[M80]

Very possible, and not very expensive.

In the air I have been whacking a piece of 3x2 at it with a lump hammer.
The neighbours think I don't like my motor anymore.

 

[M80]

Update.
The price for a replacement wishbone was less than £40 so I decided rather than ask favours or pay for the ramp time I would replace it.
As it came off I could see it wasn't the cause, but it was destroyed removing it.

So on to the rattle ramp and quickly diagnosed as the drop link, the n/s also showing play.
5.5k miles use and fitted last Sept at £16 I have been taught the greedy man pays twice, so I've paid again.

In the vice I could emulate play, but not on the motor.

Hoping Delphi will last longer, although so far I haven't classed them as overly superior.

I wonder how long the wishbone will last now.

 

[mioba]

How long did the originals last.
Pay once pay right...

 

[M80]

How long did the originals last.
Pay once pay right...

How to know, it's 3rd hand?
Longer than 5k miles though I would imagine.