Hyundai Solaris (Accent) 1.6 G4FC (2013): Diagnosing a Suspension Knock

Part numbers are from the manufacturer's original catalogue. Check them against your VIN before ordering.

• Inspection pit or lift
• pry bar
• flashlight
• 12/14/17/19 mm wrenches

1. Drive the car onto a pit or lift and raise the front wheels so the suspension hangs fully extended (fully unloaded).
2. Inspect the lower control arm ball joint boots (at the front, underneath, on each side) for tears, dirt, or leaked grease. A torn boot means play in the ball joint is imminent.
3. Check the ball joint for play: place a pry bar between the lower control arm and the steering knuckle and slowly pry up and down. More than 2-3 mm of play means the ball joint is worn out.
4. Check the sway bar link (the thin rod connecting the sway bar to the lower control arm): move it by hand in different directions. A knock means the bushing is worn or the joint has fallen apart.
5. Check the lower control arm bushings (where the arm mounts to the subframe): press lightly on the arm with a pry bar. It should feel springy, with no hard knocking.
6. Lower the car and bounce the body by hand at each corner. It should rebound firmly, without repeated oscillations (a sign of a worn-out shock absorber).
7. On the road (in a safe place), drive slowly over a wavy surface or a speed bump and listen for where the knock comes from and under what conditions (only on compression, only on rebound, or always). Locating the knock: — A knock heard under the driver's pedals or at the front over bumps = front suspension, lower control arms, ball joints. — A knock heard from the side when entering a turn = sway bar link or outer ball joint (in a turn the body rolls and loads the outer side). — A knock heard at the rear, under the rear seats = rear suspension (the Solaris 1 has a semi-independent torsion beam, with frequent problems with mounts and shock absorbers). — A sharp, clearly localized metallic knock = usually a ball joint or a sway bar link bushing. — A dull, muffled knock = a control arm bushing or a shock absorber.

• Do not ignore play in the suspension
• It affects handling and progresses quickly
• If you replace a ball joint or sway bar link yourself, use a puller (universal, M16-M20)
• Knocking it out with a pry bar is risky and can damage the arm
• Noisy rear shock absorbers are fairly common on the Solaris 1, so if the knock is at the rear, first check their rebound from the wheel well