I'm hoping to do the wishbones and lower balljoints at the weekend - got the bones and joints and new nuts and bolts - is there anything else I might need/look out for?

Did mine a couple of weeks ago, it's a pretty straight forward job. Did you get new bolts and locking plate for the ball joint to arm connection? Two bolts snapped when I removed mine. Don't forget to tighten the front bush bolt when the car is back on the floor, not when it's jacked up.

Yeah it's pretty straight forward spanner work really.

I used all new nuts and bolts etc. So I never removed the old balljoints from the wishbones, just left them in and removed the balljoints from the hub carriers.

Get some threadlock, torque wrench, narrow nose mole grips, 18mm socket and spanner, and a wire brush for cleaning up the top of the threads on the old ball joint and the surfaces on the hub carrier. A helper might be handy too, when it comes to getting the nut off the top of the old ball joints.

There's a few pics of mine done in this thread: http://briskoda.net/octavia-i/front-suspension-refresh-photos/149614/

I'm hoping to do the wishbones and lower balljoints at the weekend - got the bones and joints and new nuts and bolts - is there anything else I might need/look out for?

As stated I would get spare Ball joint bolts x 6 part number N10127706 as these are prone to snapping as they get seized. Also you may find the brackets that hold the bolts get damaged when undoing the bolts, as the nuts on the brackets end up just spinning around. Part number 1J0407175 QTY 2

Mark.

Don't know if you'll need to remove or if you're replacing them already but I managed to split a track rod end bolt when replacing the wheel bearings last week. Where the allen key slots into the threaded part to stop it spinning whilst undoing the nut split the thread and had to be replaced as the only way to get it undone was to cut the bolt off.

I've got 2 new wishbones and 2 new balljoints with bolts so hopefully thats everything then. Just need it dry now!

Did these this pm - between showers and hurricanes - one ball joint was a pain but otherwise ok. Possibly useful info - if you use Febi parts the ball joints don't have allen key holes in the top, they have some sort of "star" drive, causing a panic and some quick bodging

Well the car drives better, but the knocking noise at low speed is still there:confused: Thought it would've been the kn*ckered ball joint, but no. I can't see anything else loose apart from the radiator which is jammed with a piece of hose and seems fairly firm. Arb bushes look ok and so do the links. Any more ideas anyone?

For me it was the drop links, even though they looked fine. They only take minutes to swap over so maybe try them next. May aswell do the ARB bushes while your there just to rule it out too. There's not much else it could be apart from the rad!

Well the car drives better, but the knocking noise at low speed is still there:confused: Thought it would've been the kn*ckered ball joint, but no. I can't see anything else loose apart from the radiator which is jammed with a piece of hose and seems fairly firm. Arb bushes look ok and so do the links. Any more ideas anyone?

Woodpecker in your air intake?

Seriously though, (and this is probably WAY off mark) are your engine mountings all good? - My dogbone mount was really flappy a while back and that caused kocking under hard acceleration/low revs...:eek:

Woodpecker in your air intake?

We do get Green and Spotted ones here but the cat would sort that:)

Seriously though, (and this is probably WAY off mark) are your engine mountings all good? - My dogbone mount was really flappy a while back and that caused kocking under hard acceleration/low revs...:eek:

this only happens at lowish speeds - 20 - and it could even be from the back its really hard to locate:(

For me it was the drop links, even though they looked fine. They only take minutes to swap over so maybe try them next. May aswell do the ARB bushes while your there just to rule it out too. There's not much else it could be apart from the rad!

I think I'll try jamming the rad a bit more first, then I guess its the drop links. The arb bushes should be ok as they were done when the car was a couple of years old complete with new bar as well - they certainly look ok

it's not something as silly as a lose or worn exhaust mount is it?? the brackets under my centre silencer broke a while back and that made a knocking at low speed...

just grab the exhaust pipe (when it's cold obviously:eek:) and give a shake - you'll soon know if that's your problem!

Edited 21 July, 200916 yr by jonnycatbiscuit
forgot a bit

I redid the centre bracket jubilee clip bodge a few months back, I guess it could have come loose, but the noise was different. Still worth a look - if it stops raining today.