The Safrane.Info Forum!

Hi folks, just found the site. lots of interesting stuff on here. Could anyone shed some light on this for me...
I have a 97 2.5 20v and have a knocking coming from the rear offside around the rear suspension area. I think the exhaust is hitting the heat shield over the offside swing arm. I have fitted a new shock and all the bushes have been checked on a shaker plate. When under the car I pulled down on the exhaust and it has to move approx 1.3 cm to hit the heat shield, and it won't make a sound when the car is stationary only on the move... Help

Hi and welcome!

It's possible you might have a knackered engine mount OR your catalytic converter is reaching the end of its happy life. I've had both of these happen. On the car that the mount had gone though the engine used to shake around like crazy when accelerating but I vaguely remember the exhaust rattling about too. There are only 3 mounts on the 2.5 and only really one that can actually fail which is at the bottom. You'd need to jack up the car to look at it however when it fails, the rubber just rips and the engine can actually swing around inside the mount which would allow it to shake your exhaust. The cat convertor is probably not the real issue as I'd expect it to be noisy when slow. I have a failing one thats noisy as hell when starting the car but gets quieter with more revs and heat so I doubt its that but its a possibility. Reason I say that is sometimes mine blocks the back part of the convertor and causes back pressure and makes the entire engine / exhaust shake a bit (along with the car lol). Only happens when stationary though as its can't rev up instantly when on the move.

It's possible you might have another failed shock too - on the opposite side. I had one on another safrane and it rattled like crazy for months before I realised what it was (actually it was the same one with the broken mount - I remember now getting confused about the noises before realising it had a few hidden sins that needed £painful spent on it). I also found the exhaust had rotted badly over the arm too and ended up raplacing that but that was just bellowing a bit.

Good luck with sorting it!

Saffles

PS you're out of the newly registered group so you have access to sale / wanted forums now :)

Hi,
Thanks for the info on the knocking noise. I will get the car up on the ramps at work and investigate the engine mount. Be back for more info if i dont find anything.. CHeers