Been trying to track this one down for a few weeks now, steadily getting worse.

When I go over pot holes or bumps, it sounds like I have some luggage bumping around but coming from the front

So far i have had new wishbone rear bushes and ARB drop links, getting reluctant to keep changing parts until I solve it as its getting expensive!

Any ideas?

The lower radiator mounts are known to fail..... I realise it is not quite suspension, but when worn they can make a noise when going over bumps, etc.

mine used to do this - ended up being the ARB bushes

mine used to do this - ended up being the ARB bushes

+1

Been trying to track this one down for a few weeks now, steadily getting worse.

When I go over pot holes or bumps, it sounds like I have some luggage bumping around but coming from the front

So far i have had new wishbone rear bushes and ARB drop links, getting reluctant to keep changing parts until I solve it as its getting expensive!

Any ideas?

Shot in the dark maybe, if not your ARB bushes. I would imagine with an IHI , you are also runnning a FMIC. I had a similiar noise and found my lower intercooler pipe had worked its way loose and was knocking on the driveshaft. Cable tied it up for now but knock has gone away....

i had the same top mounts and bearings

Quite a range of possibilities there, I guess I'll have to have a good look myself and just systematically change parts until its done. My rear top bearings were shot and new ones fitted so that could very well be a problem.

Few more questions.....

• Also I get a grinding noise on full Left Lock that could be related to the lower intercooler "pancake" being loose?
  
• Are the ARB bushes an easy job? I remember they were on my old A3.
  
• What are the signs of the radiator mounts having failed?
  

Cheers

Ron

The ARB bushes are the same as the A3.

As for the rad mounts, I'm sure someone said you could slam the door and see if they rattle. Can't see how the door is related though :S

[*]Also I get a grinding noise on full Left Lock that could be related to the lower intercooler "pancake" being loose?

Now sounds very much like your lower intercooler pipe is loose or in free fall....

The ARB bushes are the same as the A3.

As for the rad mounts, I'm sure someone said you could slam the door and see if they rattle. Can't see how the door is related though :S

My old mk1 vrs had worn rad mounts & if you shut the drivers door you could hear the rad rattle on its mounts! i packed some spare roll cage padding i had lying around under the rad & the noise went!

Mine develloped a knock a few days ago. It was drivers side Anti roll bar bush. Cheap as chips.

Thanks for all your input folks, plenty of options there.

I think the for money and ease of DIY, I'll do the ARB bushes anyway and see what happens first. I checked my lower boost pipe and that is fine, I think the rubbing noise is actually the arch liner that has a few clips missing.

I also reached down and gave the radiator a put and it moves quite a bit and would explain the feeling that there is something sizeable moving about when I go over bumps.......at the rate I'm going I'll have built a brand new car by the end of the year!

Ron

did you get to the bottom of your noise? I have been having same issues and have cablet tied the rad and packed a microfibre cloth under it to shut it up. I have had the drivers side trackrod end replaced as that was loose (and it needed to be done to get the tracking done on the W/E) but I still have a reasonably loud knocking from the D/S/F I think? Droplinks are good, ARB bushes look OK so beging to think minw may be top mounts and bearings?

I haven't done anything yet, it seems to be less clunky is wet weather which is odd. I'll hopefully take a look at it this week.

Will let you know what I find!

ROn

The lower radiator mounts are known to fail..... I realise it is not quite suspension, but when worn they can make a noise when going over bumps, etc.

are those easy to change?

from what I read NO thats why people stuff bits of paddinginto them

All sorted, turned out my front ARB was corroded under the bushes and so was moving about. Got a nice new R32 one on there and its silent.

I was getting a creaking noise from the front right but its stopped for the moment only did it on breaking also have a grinding sound from the front brake on the same side, pads are fine so think its some grit

are those easy to change?

Nope, changing the rad bushes is somewhat of a b!tch from what I have read on here..... a lot of ppl pack them out with stuff..... (guess the best bet is to have a search and see what you can come up with)