Have a 96 900s 2.0 70,000 mile.
On taking up drive and initial braking I get a single knock from the front n/s.
I have checked all that I can and it has just had an MOT - they could not see anything wrong with bushes etc.
Is this a common problem?
Could it be anti roll bar or engine mount?
Appreciate any thoughts.

My first instinct would be to forget about why it does it on drive and braking; think about what it could be when you select 'Drive'. AFAIK, this would suggest one of the following: -

pick up of slack in drive link in gearbox
pick up of slack in CV joint.
loose engine mount(as you suggest)
loose anti-roll bar or bushings.

If it then also does in on first application of the brakes, for me this might narrow it down to one fo the first two. Additionally, if it were an engine mount , you would like to think that the MOT guys would see it!? Likewise for an anti roll bar bushing.

If your brake pads are loose or ill-fitting, it could be them on first braking but I am not sure that they would rattle on drive selection.

What do the rest of you think?

Hope this helps

bambo

My first instinct would be to forget about why it does it on drive and braking; think about what it could be when you select 'Drive'. AFAIK, this would suggest one of the following: -

pick up of slack in drive link in gearbox
pick up of slack in CV joint.
loose engine mount(as you suggest)
loose anti-roll bar or bushings.

If it then also does in on first application of the brakes, for me this might narrow it down to one fo the first two. Additionally, if it were an engine mount , you would like to think that the MOT guys would see it!? Likewise for an anti roll bar bushing.

If your brake pads are loose or ill-fitting, it could be them on first braking but I am not sure that they would rattle on drive selection.

What do the rest of you think?

Hope this helps

bambo

oops sorry. Not used to forward and reverse in Netscape. I'll stick to msie.

Thanks for your message.

I thought C/V joint and replaced it before MOT - no difference.

For clarification, this is a manual car.

Backlash in gearbox seems normal.