Hey, I had a look through the forum but couldnt find a definitive answer - hope I am not repeating anything too much!

My 04 plate Octy VRS has developed a knocking that started on the front left and is now becoming more and more 'knocky' and obvious. Im guessing it will be FARB bushes or similar but want to take this opportunity to upgrade the bushes and/or shocks/droplinks etc so that the problem is banished for good (or near enough) and I can enjoy a pin sharp front end!

Ive a few hundred to spend on parts so am really keen to get some tips on what bushes people recommend and also is it worth going for coilovers at the same time? Ideally I would have the whole front rebushed at the same time with a geometry check afterward so its good as new - Im guessing this shouldnt be too troublesome?

Also - what on earth is a 'dogbone' mount? People seem to like them - and i can appreciate why they got thier name but still a little in the dark! Should I add this to my shopping list?

Last but not least can anyone suggest anywhere in Kent / Sussex / SE London that they would recommend for this kind of work?

Such a lot of questions!

Cheers, P

The knocking could be any of the bushes at the front, but as you say, more likely to be the FARB bushes or droplinks, or the lower wishbone bushes. These are a really common problem with the octy. Mine deteriorated, and I got a bad banging noise going over speedbumps and potholes.

As for the dogbone, it is an engine mount underneath the car. The standard mount has very soft rubber in it, which is great for reducing engine noise and vibrations in the cabin, but not much good for performance. Because it is so soft, the engine moves a lot, and you get problems such as wheel hop etc. Fitting a dogbone mount, along with audi tt solid (As opposed to skoda voided) wishbone bushes drastically improves this.

The only downside to the dogbine is the vibrations you will get from it at idle speeds. It will eventually settle down though.

Cheers for the tips - would it be best to go for for TT bushes for the lot? - FARB, wishbones the whole shebang? Dogbone sounds like a winner though! Ill have a look down the back of my sofa for some pennies.....

Edited 12 October, 201015 yr by paolow