Ever since I've had my Mk1 Octy VRS Estate when I've hit a pothole or similar bump I've had what can be best described as a hollow thud as if the exhaust was hitting the bodywork.

I took the car to National Tyres for a free safety check (alongside oil change - they can do whole lot cheaper than I can buy the oil) and check of the exhaust and they said that all was well with the suspension and exhaust hangers.

Clearly something is wrong and I'll take her into somewhere for a 2nd opinion, but I have my reservations over the honesty of the advice I'll get. I'll also jack her up and look myself (I think it'll be pretty easy to check for exhaust mountings. Then I thought of you knowledgeable people (flatter, flatter).

I see there's a new thread that I can look up for what people recommend for suspension so I'll look to that for suspension recommendations, but my question is different - any advice on what banging might be if it's not the exhaust? Please don't just say it's the suspension.......

2006 (really) Mk1 Octavia VRS Estate done approx 160,000 miles with no service history (long story of ex-Police car sold by eBay trader clocked back to 60k with forged service history, resulting in trading standards prosecution but leaving me out of pocket :( ).

Cheers,

Ian

Could be the rear beam bushes on that milage, look abit lower down for how to fit them etc

FARB Bushes my guess.

Would help saying where the noise is coming from lol, front or back?? any pertictular side?

front wishbone bushes, snapped front spring, but as said could really do with knowing where abouts the noise comes from in relation on the car?

As other's have said explain where approx the sound is coming from,

You could try to shake exhaust from back box to see if you can replicate the sound or knocking.

Then also get in the boot or rock the boot to check for knocking, perhaps stand in it or the rear door foot plinth and rock up and down.

If you trust the exhaust place to have given it a good check then I'd say it's more likely to be suspension, especially at that mileage.

Guys, thanks.

The noise is really hard to track down - it seems to be coming from behind on both sides of the car, but sometimes seems to be coming from the front.

The exhaust tail is pretty stiff and a good shake of the tail pipe produces nothing but a lot of resistance.

I'll ask someone to sit in the back and listen next time I drive.

I may not get chance to have a crawl underneath for a few days yet (I've had to go away for a few days), but fingers crossed.

Cheers,

Ian