Wheelie1

Many thanks for your replies, both of you are of same opinion then, i'll fit it dry after a mega-good clean.

That old chestnut again... stripped threads in drain hole. So, after getting fed up of Son's '54 Fabia vRS dribbling oil spots all over my hardstanding, we decided to buy a new sump. Got one off fleabay for 30 quid & it came complete with drain plug & gasket. What are your thoughts on the gasket? It seems to be made of an alloy, maybe aluminium with a integral rubber seal inset. The question is, would you use a liquid sealant as well. The rubber seal is hardly thicker than the metal gasket. Done some searching & it seems sump pans on this model didn't have a gasket but were sealed with liquid sealant from the factory. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Blinking ek! only just realised this thread is 4 yr old, oh well, time for bed said zebedee......

Hi Mate, if you look through my previous posts regarding this same problem, you should find out how to repair. It's not a hard job, but you will need hand power drill, pillar drill, tap, suitable replacement bolt & new pressure spring. Sounds daunting, but its not, pillar drill is a must though. If you find post on this then you'll understand why. All is done inside the car, no need to go underneath. Hope this helps.

Hi Mate, if you look through my previous posts regarding this same problem, you should find out how to repair. It's not a hard job, but you will need hand power drill, pillar drill, tap, suitable replacement bolt & new pressure spring. Sounds daunting, but its not, pillar drill is a must though. If you find post on this then you'll understand why. All is done inside the car, no need to go underneath. Hope this helps.

P.P.S. yes.....does it in both directions. If i try to smooth bends out it doesn't often knock, but if following bends it will, quite often.

Everyone who travels with me confers that it feels like it's from under front pass seat, it's quite pronounced. Parts bought/changed up to now. Top-mounts, front shocks, drop-links, arb bushes, steering rack + inner rods & ends, bottom balljoints (all both sides), nearside driveshaft (all new parts). No knocks/rattles/clunks when driving straight on good or rough roads, nothing when accelerating/decelerating or changing gears. It will knock on lock to lock when stationary (with engine running)??? P.S. Sorry for late reply.

Not a loose hub nut mate, i've got 5 new ones in toolbox. The amount of times i've had the suspension apart I ordered 10 hub nuts new, & I always use a new one (torqued up). I've learned one thing though... not to buy cheap pattern bottom ball joints! I renewed near-side 6 months ago & yesterday, whilst stripping down ready to fit new top-mount, I found the ball joint to be unbelievably loose & it was sticking & then snapping free, only cost £11.99 though, so lesson learned! P.S. as said before, knocks when stationary, so I doubt it's anything to do with engine/gearbox mounts.

Well, as I said. The guy I bought the rack from did suggest it could be the bearing/u/j in the column. I've ordered a top mount + bearing today, should be here Thurs. I've really gone through everything that moves when turning the steering wheel & i'm afraid if this latest purchase does not cure it, it only leaves the steering column & that will not get investigated until I save some more pennies up. I wouldn't feel competent enough, so it would be a garage job. Anyway, i'll let you know as soon as i've fitted new mount. Thank all for the input & keep an eye out in the classified ads, there maybe a yellow vrs up for sale lol.

Sorry..... forgot to say, I get the knock even when stationary & turning steering wheel, so I doubt it would be engine/gearbox mounts.

Hi DM, cv joint was one of the early diagnosis?? as the knock is definitely on left side & I bought the whole driveshaft (new). Can't be ars**d with messing with the black stuff lol it gets everywhere. As said, i'm going to have another look at top-mount bearing. If still not cured suspicions will fall on side mount as you suggest.

Thanks for the pic Lee, yeah..i've taken it off & bought a recon unit. Guess what, it's changed nowt apart from steering being slightly stiffer/heavier, but I don't mind that. The knock is still there on turning. J.R. Yes mate.. i'm going to have another look at l/h top bearing again, if i'm being truthful, I just cleaned the ball-bearings & repacked with cv grease, but I did put new mount + bearing on r/h. The guy where I bought the rack told me if the knock persisted, it could be the steering column bearing. At my wits end now! Can I please re-iterate, the car is as quiet as a new one over rough ground, a joy to drive, apart from turning. Sorry i'm a bit late replying, but many thanks for your suggestions.

Thanks a lot Nige, i've dabbled before on 7zap but got somewhat confused lol. I'll give it another go tonight though & i'll let you know if I get any joy.

Could anyone tell me the part number for my steering rack? It's off the car but I cannot see any vag number anywhere i.e. 6Q0 *** *** Car is '06 Fabia 1.9tdi vrs blt. TIA.

Yes, Myself & Son tried to rock around engine, it doesn't unduly rock on start-up & no shudder at all on shut-down. Knock happens at any speed only when turning, even when pulling out of drive at litterally a walking pace.

Well...... 2 new drive shafts & the bogger's still knocking bad as ever! I've exhausted all avenues now, the front end is practically new. Anything that could cause it has been renewed.....all except the rack. So today dropped sub frame & removed said offender. Now another question, does anyone know where the part number on the rack is? There are a couple of random numbers stamped, but not anything like a vag format. Reservoir cap says TRW on it, but no part # or brand on the rack. Can someone help please. P.S. @nige8021 dog-bone is fine, looks like it's not been on long.

Well, when it stops raining i'll have a look at the dog-bone. I'm assuming I will need a pry bar or something to check, or could I tell visually looking? Re CV joint... hoping it is the problem as much cheaper than rack. The money i've spent on this car is unbelievable, but it does drive nice now (apart from said knock).

can't feel any play anywhere. Just gone through MOT & made garage aware of problem. Car passed with no advisaries, but the knock is still there. Mechanic says carry on driving & if it gets worse, bring it back & we may get a better idea????

Hi Nige, God love those who stop up late lol. Thanks for input, was my thought, as no otherwise driving noises. I'm certain the knock is coming from the passenger side, maybe time to source a drive-shaft then, for what they cost (fleabay) maybe easier than messing about with the joints.

Sorry.... Fabia 1.9tdi vrs 2006

When setting off from junctions & turning (under load), I get a quite severe knock. I can feel it through the steering wheel & it's quite loud (inside). It's been ongoing since I bought the car. I've bought new front shocks + top mounts + bearings. New track rods (inner & outer) New bottom ball joints, new arb bushes + new drop links. There is no knock/rattles/noises whatsoever even over rough road/speed humps. It's a joy to drive except for the 'Knock' when settig off & turning. Please don't tell me it's the rack.

God love this site lol. Information with the touch of humor/banter. It's never been better.

Cheers jars, yup! familiar with that rhyme, but I keep looking at the nut from the inside & get the idea that it's opposite. So it's just a normal thread into the rack then. Will wait for the crow-foot. Thanks again.

I feel a little bit stupid just now, but, looking into the wheel-arch which way do I turn the tie rod knuckle to undo from the steering rack, clockwise or anti? I'm trying anti-clockwise like a normal nut, but it feels like I could be tightening further. I'm not using the best of tools (molegrips), but they're just biting into the joint. I've got a 32mm crow-foot spanner on order, just need to know if it unscrews anti-clockwise, as normal.

Many thanks for that info Pete, and the time you put in finding it. I've actually got EKTA site bookmarked BUT most of the time I can't get my head around it lol. Haven't dismantled pedal yet (crap weather), but car has not been run for around 9 months up until trip to garage re crank sensor. Lifting pedal back up dropped the revs promptly, so I wondered if it was sticking through lack of use. Last 2 days just sat in the car and constantly up-down on pedal, it does seem as though it's done the trick, tickover now a steady 900, and engine braking as it should. So thanks again, until the next crisis!