Aha!

[Don Pamponi]

I found out what the disturbing clanging noises comming from the front suspension are.

The shocks need to be topped up with oil or the rods clang about and sound like every bush on the car has fallen off!

 There\'s a filler plug inside the springs. I beleive a dose of gear oil solves the problem.

I love it when a plan comes together...

[MikeLMR]

are you sure I\'ve just replaced my front shocks with gas ones and the old struts had no filling plugs, just the big fack off nut that holds the strut insert in. (they were full of oil though ... as they are oil filled shocks)

[Don Pamponi]

Yes, my mistake.  I misunderstood what Clive was saying.

They are gas shocks, but there should be\'shock absorber fluid\' what ever the heck that is, in the gap between the strut and the rod thingee.  So say\'s the manual.

The nut you undo is the big fack off one on the top of the strut in between the coils, not a filler plug.

What do you think this mystery fluid is?  Power steering fuid?

[MikeLMR]

I filled the gap around the strut insert on my car with oil as it aids heat transfer to stop the insert from overheating. I\'ll let you know if it knocks or not when its back on the road (been too busy to drive it!)  

I don\'t think it will as the nut should hold the strut at the top and it was a snug fit at the bottom too. we also had to use the shims provided to make sure the nut had a clearance to the strut tube when it was tight. That ensures that the nut is holding the insert in place and not just tightening down onto the strut tube.