Stupid Question (help please)

[Ic3man]

I posted a while back that I damaged my sump on a pothole. With the sump now replaced and happy driving for a while I then had a 'rattling sound under the car. Turns out it's just an exhuast bracket/clamp that has braken lose and is just swiveling around the exhaust which I'll be sorting tomorrow.

Now for the worrying part. On my way home from work tonight, I pulled onto my driveway and noticed a 'knock/clunk' from under the car. Upon further examination this happens when turning the steering wheel, even when the car is stationary. I get three clunks from full lock to full lock :(.

Now for the stupid question:

Due to the missing bracket, could the exhaust have now moved and is now rubbing on the steering assembly somewhere? Or is it a symptom of something more serious? Drop links, steering rack etc? Seriously hoping it's the former as I'm on my hols this week and could do without a hefty repair bill :(.

Please put my mind at ease :'(

[PaulMoVRS]

This may sound stupid (hopefully someone with more knowledege will know better) but when my step dads spring broke on his mk 4 golf he got a clunking noise while going from full lock to full lock and also clunking noises while driveing.

I could be talking crap but it sounds simmilar to what my step dad with his golf.

[Ic3man]

Nah I would think I would notice a broken spring? Everything still feels nice and tight on the road. Totally at a loss about this odd noise. The noise sounds like a rubbing knock if that makes sense?

[rk696]

That does sound like a broken spring. It will probably drive fine, but you need to get it fixed. My seat toledo did this, and so did my 52 vRS. :wonder:

Have a look under the bonnet at the strut top mounts. The broken one should have a smaller gap between the strut top and the body than the good one has.

[skud vrs]

Could be the bearings on top of the struts my old vrs had this; it developed the clunking soon after I had a play on Weston super mare beach. Dam salt.

[Ic3man]

Thanks for the replies so far gents. Just took out it for a quick spin now and can't notice any noise, stationary or while moving :wonder:

I had a look at the top strut mounts and both appear to be the same gap (about 1cm) and also had a 'tug' of the springs from within the wheel arch with no movement whatsoever found either. The car 'bounces' as it normally would when pushing down on either side. Just to expand on the clunks I had last night and it was if the clunks were at set intervals, not random as though something was catching as something was turning. I'm totally puzzled now!

So while the engine is hot after a 2 hours drive it clunks, cold it doesn't... the plot thickens! Any other ideas?

Edited 16 April, 2011 by Ic3man

[TissMe]

hello my dear

Have you had a check at the tyres to see if anything is rubbing?

I know Mark`s had a mark , like a scuff on the underside , maybe the noise is that

I know on my Fabia , I had the spring seats used to make a creaking noise going on to full lock , lots of trouble there , but got it sorted

Your luck has to change , maybe a wad of money there somewhere?

Sarah

[Ic3man]

No rubbing at all Sarah love.

I've just taken the car to the local tyre monkey and he says from what I'm describing it sounds like the top strut bearings may be showing signs of wear but he couldn't replicate it at the time - it's completely gone now :S. The drop links and springs are all fine though so thats a relief.

On a side note he said that I need a mid section rubber for the exhaust (Miltek) as its a Skoda OEM part that he can't get hold of. /sigh