Hi there.

really fed up with this now.

I've replaced the front console bush's for ibiza cupra ones, which are ROCK solid which sorted the knocking for a bit, but it's come back tonight on the way home.

my car seems to eat front anti roll bar saddle bush's for breakfast. So I think this might be the problem again, but with this rain, I cba to look right now...

it's a 2002 PD100 polo and I've been told I should replace the farb for a later one because the later ones are better? is this a straight fit etc, and will it actually do any good? or does someone do a upgrade farb?

sick to death of getting new bush's every other month, seriously considering selling the car because of this fault!

running standard sport suspension on standard 16" wheels 205 45 16 toyo tyres.

Someone help me for the sake of my sanity!!!!

Cheers.

Before you have a knee jerk reaction and waste your money on some other shiney inferior car, wait out. Someone will help you

If the knocking comes back that quick, I would suspect a problem from somewhere elsewhere...

Edited 14 November, 201015 yr by skoda norm

I had my LCR bushes done at 60,000 miles and the original ones weren't knocking then. That was a little over 2 and a half years and 60,000 miles ago and they are still as tight now as they were then. If you're wearing out bushes that fast then I can only think that there is either an installation problem or a driver problem.

One reason the Fabia suspension is set up the way it is is that the roads in the Czech Republic are fairly carp and the Skoda engineers set the suspension up soft to accommodate that fact, so the cars will take a great deal of punishment, but if you're hitting speed tables or sleeping policement at 25-30mph on a regular basis nothing will withstand that.

I would get the car looked at by a proper specialist eg. Unit 18 and let them do the next installation of the bushes as, to be be blunt; no-one else is using bushes at the rate you are, which would suggest that it's not the bushes per se.

Does the knocking come from one side? Are you able to make it knock by driving over bumps? For example, if it knocks on the nearside, but you can make it knock by going over a bump on the offside. I've just managed to get rid of all the knocking on mine by replacing both drop links. They are pretty cheap and easy to change over.

The knocking is most likey going to be either your console bushes (which you've changed already), your ARB bushes which is sounds like you have your eye on or the droplinks. Unless the ARB is knackered, i wouldn't mess around with changing it - its a huge pain (involves dropping steering rack and front subframe). Check that the ARB wont move from side to side, there should be a collar on the bar right next to each of the bushes stopping this. Thats a usual failure point for them if they are going to die.

.

Edited 14 November, 201015 yr by Simonbt

I'd second drop links, also, are you sure that the replacement bushes were the correct size? Measure yourself and don't trust the book. Our two Fabias had all bushes done at 97K (SDI) and 132K (1.4TDI). We live up a really rough farm track and often tow and take the seats out to get heavy stuff in (+SWMBO is always late for work ) so they'd not had an easy life. Only the console bushes could actually be seen to be worn, but as it was a 'take it all apart job' I did the lot. Each time the result was amazing; a new car for under £100.

The SDI is W reg and the TDI is 04, so I don't think that there is any advantage in getting a later model for impovements in this area.

Hope you get sorted.

The bush's were fitted by a VW specialist. I NEVER drive over speed bumps quickly because of the fact I know the bush's are Sh**e and because I'm not a idiot. & I'd defiantly say the suspension in my car is not soft lol. it's really quite harsh on the road. and yes I live in the country lots of pot holes etc but I am aware of them and I drive carefully over them.. yes it does it over speed bumps and any bumps on the road. when I changed the console bush's it was lovely! perfect, transformed the car, made me fall back in love with it. make me want to spend some serious money on it, but now, I'm back to the, just flog it, buy a golf mk5 and not have these problems lol.

I'll check the drop links and the bush's

replace them then after that if it does it again, she's going!

thanks for your help.

Motoract

but now, I'm back to the, just flog it, buy a real Fabia vRS and not have these problems lol.

Corrected.

The bush's were fitted by a VW specialist. I NEVER drive over speed bumps quickly because of the fact I know the bush's are Sh**e and because I'm not a idiot. & I'd defiantly say the suspension in my car is not soft lol. it's really quite harsh on the road. and yes I live in the country lots of pot holes etc but I am aware of them and I drive carefully over them.. yes it does it over speed bumps and any bumps on the road. when I changed the console bush's it was lovely! perfect, transformed the car, made me fall back in love with it. make me want to spend some serious money on it, but now, I'm back to the, just flog it, buy a golf mk5 and not have these problems lol.

I'll check the drop links and the bush's replace them then after that if it does it again, she's going! thanks for your help. Motoract

One thing, as the car is a 2002 reg and probably a 2002MY build, it will have been built with the old style "plastic end stops" ARB - so if the drop links are still okay, and the ARB is still original, then I'd expect that that ARB will fail soon due to rusting under the plastic end-stops - remember to check for side to side movement as advised already. Out of interest, the ARB saddle clamp bushes are a smaller size for the newer ARB for any given bar diameter - so if your ARB has already been replaced and it is getting fitted with original sized mounting bushes, then they will start off being not so tight, and ifits the other way round then the bushes will get worn quicker as they start off being too tight.

Same problem on my octavia vrs but found out that the actual arb size was 19mm not the standard 19.6mm ones that every other octavia has

3 sets later and now a set of powerflex 19mm arb bushes and it's sorted

I only found out as mine stopped doing it when it was cold and the rubber shrunk a bit

are you 100% its front suspension? could be a mount?

engine mount?

I did consider it being the dog bone bush... but then why would it cure itself after changing the console bush's or the saddle bush's?

This sounds exactly like the problam I had, see below.

It turned out the mechanic had bent the metal plate where the front wishbone bush fits and even though the big bolt was as tight as possible the front wishbone bush was moving back and forward.

I made up two spacers out of thick washers and fitted them behind the head of the big bolt and then tightened them up. Now no knocking, no squeeks and no creeks, lovely.

I think this could be the answer to a lot of the "knocking coming from front" threads that are found on here. Since I tightened mine up there's not been a squeek, creek or rattle since.

Just my three penneth worth.

so I got it up in the air the other day and it turns out it was the farb saddle bush at fault.... AGAIN!

I spoke to VW and they say it's a 20mm bar with a 21mm bush... but powerflex dont sell any bigger than 19mm bush's

again! another problem more headaches, arrrrrgh!

so I got it up in the air the other day and it turns out it was the farb saddle bush at fault.... AGAIN!

I spoke to VW and they say it's a 20mm bar with a 21mm bush... but powerflex dont sell any bigger than 19mm bush's

again! another problem more headaches, arrrrrgh!

Try Superpro, they had the 21mm bushes I needed for my Octy.

Edited 17 December, 201015 yr by tdimad

so I got it up in the air the other day and it turns out it was the farb saddle bush at fault.... AGAIN!

I spoke to VW and they say it's a 20mm bar with a 21mm bush... but powerflex dont sell any bigger than 19mm bush's

again! another problem more headaches, arrrrrgh!

But at least you know the cause of the problem

It'll all be fixed soon, and hopefully the knocking will disappear for a good while once you get the correct size bush in there. Look on the bright side