Hi there, I am feeling/hearing knocking from the front driver side, I think it's something to do with the wheel/axel. It sounds like fairly heavy pieces of metal shifting against one another. That's the best way I can describe it. So you feel a slight thud. The noise is low pitched thud, too.

- seems to happen after driving for a while
- I can only feel/hear it below ~20mph, it disappears at higher speeds
- noticeable most when coasting along in neutral
- isn't affected by braking, happens while braking or coasting
- it isn't a regular noise, will knock 2 or 3 times in succession, then there can be a break, etc
- might increase in frequency with speed, but it isn't a 1:1 increase, it feels like whatever shifts just shifts more quickly
- happens on a smooth surface
- happens when going straight on, turning doesn't seem to affect it greatly, though it still happens while turning

I had the drive/output shaft reinstalled a few months back on that side due to a leaking seal. Took them two tries, hasn't leaked since. But don't think I noticed this after they last touched it.

Any pointers to what I should be looking at?

 

Check to see if the lug nuts are tightened down.

 

Check the conditions of your sway barlinks.
I've had similar noises come from the front end. It seemed to have happened the most when turning tight, slow speeds on slightly uneven ground. Occasionally on the straights when, like u said, slowish speeds. Didn't hear it over engine and exhaust noise at faster speeds.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the pointers. Will check both, but need to buy a lugnut socket first :/ Been meaning to do that for a while anyway. Cheers!

 

Might be front wheel bearing assembly

 

+1. If it sounds like a whining noise, check the wheel bearings.

 

Checked lugnuts which were all on tight.

Raised the car and there is no play in side to side and up and down motion. The joints all look solid.

The noise seems to be coming from where the output shaft connects to the transaxle (?). If I turn the wheel back and forth a couple of inches along the wheel's normal rolling axis, I can hear the knocking sound, as if something was not fitting in completely into a socket or joint.

If I turn the wheel one or two revolutions around, I can then turn the wheel back and forth a few inches for a half dozen times without the noise, but then it gradually comes back.

I guess it's related to the installation of the drive/output shaft on this side. I'm just wondering if it's something I can live with. I don't see any transmission fluid leaking anywhere. The car had a small front crash when I bought it, so maybe something is out of alignment slightly.