Forum:
Hi guys I have just acquired my first Daihatsu and must say that I love it lol. It's a 97 Charade GLXI SE in Peacock Blue but I must say I am having quite a few problems with it and finding it difficult to get parts.
Firstly there is a knocking noise coming from the front drivers side area. Very sporadic and seems to happen more when cold. I have had someone look at it and he says it could be the front top suspension mount as you can twist the coil spring by hand. Could this be the case?
Also there is a creaking/grinding noise when turning to the right, could the two noises be linked?
Also there is no locking wheel nut key with the car. I think they are the original alloys and have a 3 pin affair going on. Does anyone know where I could perhaps locate one or is it just a case of animalising the locking nuts and replacing them?
Other than that she seems quite sweet mechanically and drives well.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have my MOT in 3 weeks lol.
First off welcome. From what
First off welcome.
From what you describe it sounds like the front drivers suspension, and it will need replacing. Technically if you push down on the side of this car how many times will the car bounce? If more than twice then the suspension needs replacing, certainly the spring should be under preasure and not moveable. Which makes me beileve the shocker is knackered
Or the spring has snapped 
Looking on E-bay there is a 1998 GLXI being broken, so if stuck for parts then worth giving the seller a shout out and get both front shockers and springs. Pointless only doing 1 unless you just need it to get the car through it's MOT.
Failling that, then there is always a Daihatsu Service and Parts place that maybe able to get you a new suspension shocker and spring, but this maybe expensive.
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'12' Plate Mazda MX-5 2.0 litre NC 3.5 Venture Roadster 160BHP
'15' Plate SEAT LEON 184 FR TDI. 240BHP/500nm Torque.
Past: '53' Plate Yellow YRV Turbo Approx. 150BHP
Thanks for the reply.
First of all thankyou for the replies guys. Yeah having looked today it seems like my drivers side suspension is shot as when you push down or lift up on the drivers side suspension it just stays put lol. I've seen a complete front strut assembly including shocker, spring and top mount on Ebay for £30 so not too bad. Could this be linked to my steering creaking as well or is it just a case of replace that and see what happens? And yeah I got the Charade page on Facebook so I'll ask on there as well. Think I'll hang around here to as the more Daihatsu's the better eh! Again thanks a lot for the replies
Happy Driver Now
Well it turned out that it was my O/S front suspension leg was completetly shot. So I ordered a used one off the good old Ebay and changed it myself. Easy fix only took me an hour and now she drives like a brand new un. MOT today so fingers and everything else crossed and once again cheers guys.
Good stuff Fingers crossed
Good stuff
Fingers crossed on the MOT.
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'12' Plate Mazda MX-5 2.0 litre NC 3.5 Venture Roadster 160BHP
'15' Plate SEAT LEON 184 FR TDI. 240BHP/500nm Torque.
Past: '53' Plate Yellow YRV Turbo Approx. 150BHP