Suspension Knock

[Andy McCombe]

Right lads bit of advice, over the past week the car has developed a bad knocking noise.
It comes from the driver side. It most annoying and loud on chewed up or un level road but if you take a big hit you wont here it. it seems to be really small fast movements but its really loud knocking. also when it knocks i can feel it trhough the pedals and steerting wheel. The steering seems okay no obvious play but i decided to replace the drop link hoping this would cure it ut it didnt.

I have chacked sub frame bolts and the as many joints as i can but there is no play that i can feel, any advice before she goes to a garage ??

 

[towcester vag]

check the front wishbone rear bush for splitting/wear
also check the anti roll bar links
and i have had one with a loose bottom strut bolt

 

[Peter 87]

Sounds similar to mine is your car lowered?

 

[Adman77]

Check all bushes. Had same thing on my astra. Changed drop link first which got rid of the sound for a while. When it came back I changed all suspension bushes an it stopped

 

[lee3011]

i have this problem too

 

[calvR]

I'm not sure if this is a problem on Leon's but my brother had a similar problem on his s3 and it was the top mounts.
Hope you get to the bottom of it as I know how annoying it is

 

[Andy McCombe]

well took it to a local garage and they hear the knock to. they had a quick check but couldnt see anything obvious or giving play. the only thing i think it could be now is ARBB or top mounts but the arb look like a pig to get at.

The car is a completel standard K1, i want to lower it but id like to get this knocking sorted first. Its killing me cause the car did not do this a month ago!!! I have a second hand warranty but i dont think it would cover wearable parts.

 

[lee3011]

well took it to a local garage and they hear the knock to. they had a quick check but couldnt see anything obvious or giving play. the only thing i think it could be now is ARBB or top mounts but the arb look like a pig to get at.

The car is a completel standard K1, i want to lower it but id like to get this knocking sorted first. Its killing me cause the car did not do this a month ago!!! I have a second hand warranty but i dont think it would cover wearable parts.

Does yours knock when you turn sharply turn left to right when stationary?

 

[Andy McCombe]

no mate no problems with turning only over small bumps or damaged roads.

 

[Peter 87]

This sounds exactly like mine no one can find anything wrong I've changed ball joints, drop links & struts it's back to t place that fitted my springs tomorrow so al let you know if they find it.

 

[lee3011]

This sounds exactly like mine no one can find anything wrong I've changed ball joints, drop links & struts it's back to t place that fitted my springs tomorrow so al let you know if they find it.

Keep us informed mate

 

[lee3011]

Also ive noticed when driving at speed it feels like there is a very slight vibration coming through the front wheels then after a certain speed it dissapears

 

[Peter 87]

Right just had a look at mine there was no play in any bushes we could feel play in the right steering arm ( inner tie rod) which seat told me had play in it a while back so changed that which was a waste of time cos the original one was ok, so I said what about steering rack they said it was ok. Well today we could feel play in t arm so took the boot off to make sure it was tight then we saw the play in the steering rack. Been back to seat who say they'll have a look. So if u can't see anything and bushes are ok get it on the ramps take the boot off and get someone to wiggle the wheel and see if there's any play.

 

[lee3011]

Just had a word with a mechanic and he had a quick look at the steering knock and he thinks it could be the U J joint does this sound right?

 

[lee3011]

My mate thinks it could be the tie rod but would this knock?

 

[lee3011]

anyone?

 

[Peter 87]

Could be tie rod if you jack the car up try to wiggle the wheel you should see play in the joint .

 

[Gar3th]

Do a google search for 'ECS Subframe Spacer Plates Kit', I had an annoying knocking from the driver’s side and suspected this to be the issue, I needed some gearbox work (damaged synchromesh) and after this was fixed the knocking was gone, I suspect having my subframe bolts retightened was the fix, if the knocking comes back I'll buy the kit. I would post a link but I don't have enough posts, the search will likely bring up a Youtube video which is worth a watch, it sounds like the symptons are similar to your issue and it's not a costly fix.

 

[lee3011]

the slight knock i can live with but its the steering knock that bothers me... but it doesnt knock when the cars moving??? only when stationary & i turn left to right

 

[Peter 87]

Right lads bit of advice, over the past week the car has developed a bad knocking noise.
It comes from the driver side. It most annoying and loud on chewed up or un level road but if you take a big hit you wont here it. it seems to be really small fast movements but its really loud knocking. also when it knocks i can feel it trhough the pedals and steerting wheel. The steering seems okay no obvious play but i decided to replace the drop link hoping this would cure it ut it didnt.

I have chacked sub frame bolts and the as many joints as i can but there is no play that i can feel, any advice before she goes to a garage ??

Have you sorted this yet?