confusing knocking sound

[smithy84]

right then... where do i start. ive had this knocking sound when i go over bumps, drain covers etc. it sounded like the front wishbone bushes were knackered to me so i got it up on a ramp at a mates work to have a look & they were about fooked so i went ahead & got them changed. the noise shut up after that but today its back. bearing in mind it was only 2 days ago the bushes were changed. i now dont know what else could be causing it so, any ideas would be much appreciated. the car is a 54 plate 1.2 if it matters.

 

[Proff_86]

Top Mount Bearings mate, sounds like their shot; which is common to be honest on the Mk4.

 

[rf860]

engine mount causes a kind of popping clunk sound.

 

[smithy84]

right then. ill go for top mounts next then. never thought of that to be honest. easy enough to do on the drive at home as well. just for piece of mind though... is it safe to drive as it is for a couple of weeks as its the missus's car & she worries too much. just were about to move house so id rather wait till ive moved till i do it.

 

[rf860]

right then. ill go for top mounts next then. never thought of that to be honest. easy enough to do on the drive at home as well. just for piece of mind though... is it safe to drive as it is for a couple of weeks as its the missus's car & she worries too much. just were about to move house so id rather wait till ive moved till i do it.

before you go and spend money on top mounts, i would check the engine mount on the left side of the engine bay (near the coolant), this failed on mine and caused a knocking sound. To check this, simply give the mount a good wiggle side to side, up and down. If a slight knock can be heard, chances are it needs to be replaced.

 

[smithy84]

ill have a gander at it tomorrow then dude. but to be honest it does sound more suspension related. still. it never ceases to amaze me so like you say its worth a check just to make sure. thanks for that

 

[bald_eagle]

dont forget to check the drop links while your on,mine made a knocking noise when they went,real cheap and easy to fit though.

 

[JB-199]

right then... where do i start. ive had this knocking sound when i go over bumps, drain covers etc. it sounded like the front wishbone bushes were knackered to me so i got it up on a ramp at a mates work to have a look & they were about fooked so i went ahead & got them changed. the noise shut up after that but today its back. bearing in mind it was only 2 days ago the bushes were changed. i now dont know what else could be causing it so, any ideas would be much appreciated. the car is a 54 plate 1.2 if it matters.

Just wondering whether you got this sorted? It sounds exactly what mine's doing at the moment after i hit a pothole!

 

[Crow555]

Hi, I've got this exact problem on my DAB Ibiza. I left it in for Service today and asked the mechanic to take a look so I'll report back if he's found anything.

 

[Crow555]

Hi again. I picked my Ibiza up this morning and so far I've not heard the noise again. The mechanic said the anti-roll bar was a bit loose so he tightened that up but to come see him again if the problem comes back.

 

[xpa]

I had a really odd one where it turned out to be a loose bolt on the subframe. The car went through a few garages before it was found. But that knocked over bumps and made a massive knock when i accellerated hard!

 

[Tilly_Jack]

i think ive got the same problem, ive had the bearings change and the mechanic said that the wishbones are fine. when i drive on the motorway and hit 70 it sound like grinding metal, any suggestions would help cos i aint got a clue.

 

[James_R]

Top Mount Bearings mate, sounds like their shot; which is common to be honest on the Mk4.

really? never seen a top mount go on a polo, fabia or ibiza unless the springs collapsed.

more than likely:

the roll bar
roll bar bushes
roll bar drop links
broken spring
mis-aligned subframe causing the track rod arm the catch the anti roll bar

the mk4s are littered with poorly designed components that cause knocking on the front suspension.

 

[Crow555]

Hi again. I picked my Ibiza up this morning and so far I've not heard the noise again. The mechanic said the anti-roll bar was a bit loose so he tightened that up but to come see him again if the problem comes back.

Scratch that, the noise it back. If I'm driving over a bumpy bit of tarmac at speed (e.g.30-40mph), I can here a popping or soft knocking sound. Has anyone here polybushed their engine mounts at all?

 

[rf860]

popping or soft knocking sound

this sound is exactly the sound my old car made.Turned out the engine mount (the one near the coolant bottle) was faulty. Does it make the noise over uneven roads as well?

 

[Crow555]

this sound is exactly the sound my old car made.Turned out the engine mount (the one near the coolant bottle) was faulty. Does it make the noise over uneven roads as well?

You could be right. I came home from a long journey yesterday and tried to be more observant. It seems to be there also when I lift off from high revs and when the engine was turned off. In other words, when the engine shakes more than normal. I opened the bonnet and gave the engine and couple of shoves and it kinda sounds like it is the left side mount (I can't see the right one) by the coolant bottle.

Any ideas how easy this is to fix? Would poly bushes help?

Cheers for responding btw.

 

[Bondiblu]

really? never seen a top mount go on a polo, fabia or ibiza unless the springs collapsed.

more than likely:

the roll bar
roll bar bushes
roll bar drop links
broken spring
mis-aligned subframe causing the track rod arm the catch the anti roll bar

the mk4s are littered with poorly designed components that cause knocking on the front suspension.

Agree!!! after changing my ARB bushes, my knocking went away. I did change the droplinks while I was there too.

 

[smithy84]

hi guys ive still not done owt about this yet but will be doing over the next couple of weeks as its really iritating me now. its got brand new front wishbone rear bushes & droplinks on already & im going for top mount bearings next to see if that shuts it up. gonna lower it some more at the same time as well. however when i cure the noise i will let you all know what it was. it sounds like someone dropping a bag of spanners when i drive over drain covers, bumps in the road ect ive had it up in the air & theres no worn bushes or loose components that i can see so its gotta be the strut bearing or something up there i rekon

 

[smithy84]

this noise is really getting irritating now. its constant now as well not just over bumps. its had new droplinks. new front bottom arm rear bushes & ive inspected every other bush on the front end & none seem to be worn/perished. theres no play what so ever in anything on the front suspension anywhere. its just really doing my head in that i cant find where its coming from. i know its nothing to do with the engine/gearbox side of things as it still does it if i put it in neutral & turn the engine off whilst going down the street.

 

[pete_266]

i had the same problem really bad knocking nosies and developed a squeaking nosie which was constantly there.
I replaced,
the front wishbone rear bushes for the cupra ones and powerflex ones on the front
drop links
top mounts with new bearings.

Since i got all that changed i'v had now knocking or any other nosies.