MajorVery commonSuspension

Alfa Romeo 156: Front double-wishbone arm, bush and drop-link wear (knocking)

Front double-wishbone arm, bush and drop-link wear (knocking) is a very common suspension fault on the Alfa Romeo 156 on the 1997–2005 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $500 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 5 documented faults on the Alfa Romeo 156.

Vehicle: Alfa Romeo 156
Years: 1997–2005
System: Suspension

This page covers the Alfa Romeo 156 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Alfa Romeo 156 faults5 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Ball joint yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 156's double-wishbone front suspension gives sharp handling but wears quickly. The upper and lower wishbone ball joints, the bushes the arms pivot on, and the anti-roll-bar drop links all wear out, commonly noticeable from around 80,000-120,000 km and a near-certainty on high-km cars. Owners report knocking, creaking and squeaking from the front over bumps and vague steering. Parts are relatively cheap but a full front rebuild adds up, and worn joints are a warrant-of-fitness (WOF) failure.

What you would notice

Knocking or clunking from the front over bumps and potholes
Creaking or squeaking from the front suspension, worse when dry
Vague or wandering steering that won't hold alignment
Uneven or accelerated front tyre wear
Play felt when the wheel is rocked

How to check it

Where to look. Front suspension, upper and lower wishbones, arm bushes, ball joints and anti-roll-bar drop links, both sides

On a test drive over rough ground listen for knocks, creaks and squeaks from the front. With the front wheels raised, grab each wheel and rock it top-to-bottom and side-to-side feeling for ball-joint or bush play, and inspect the upper and lower wishbone bushes and ball-joint boots for splits and the anti-roll-bar drop links for looseness. Check for recent alignment and whether arms, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Any knocking on a car over about 100,000 km should be assumed to need front suspension work.

Parts involved: Ball joint.

What it costs to put right

$500 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Are there any knocks, creaks or squeaks from the front over bumps?”
“Have the wishbones, bushes, ball joints or drop links been replaced, and when?”
“Does it hold a wheel alignment and have a current WOF with no suspension advisories?”

Now check the Alfa Romeo 156 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Alfa Romeo 156 buyer questions

Is front double-wishbone arm, bush and drop-link wear (knocking) serious on a Alfa Romeo 156?

We rate it major and very common on the Alfa Romeo 156. The 156's double-wishbone front suspension gives sharp handling but wears quickly. The upper and lower wishbone ball joints, the bushes the arms pivot on, and the anti-roll-bar drop links all wear out, commonly noticeable from around 80,000-120,000 km and a near-certainty on high-km cars. Owners report knocking, creaking and squeaking from the front over bumps and vague steering. Parts are relatively cheap but a full front rebuild adds up, and worn joints are a warrant-of-fitness (WOF) failure.

How much does it cost to fix on a Alfa Romeo 156?

$500 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Alfa Romeo 156 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1997–2005 Alfa Romeo 156. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.