Hi all,

I'm just looking for a few opinions before I jack the car up and start removing bits.

As I was manoeuvring the car at work today, one of the lads said my wheel was moving forwards and back in the arch

Also, when driving at motorway speeds, the car 'wonders' around the road a bit, and every so often when putting on lots of steering lock at low speeds, the steering seems to meet some resistance. Possibly a related problem.

I have taken a little video of me kicking the wheel, which shows it moving a little - I'm sure it would move more when driving!!

Are these classic symptoms of suspension bushes failing?

If so, I'll get some new wishbones with bushes / ball joints - but at £40 odd a side, I'd like to be sure first!

Cheers, Andrew.

Video link

Jack it up a little and see if there's any rock/play. You should be able to see where the play is coming from with a light if there is. Also, get a lever bar underneath the tyre and apply pressure (rock wheel from underneath) whilst looking closely at all bushes. Don't just rock it left to right (front to back) you need to work it in all directions to see what's going on.

Kicking a wheel with the weight of the car on the ground will tell you virtually nothing.

It's also more likely to be steering links from what I see on the vid.

Edited 4 July, 201114 yr by demonufo

That video doesn't really show anything useful!

Best way to check the rear bushes in the wishbones is to pop off a front wheel and have a real look. While you have the wheel off you can check the ball joints, droplinks, track rod ends etc.

From the sounds of things it's probably the rear wishbone bushes that have torn through though.

I will have a closer look tomorrow then, with the car jacked up a bit.

What do you mean by steering links, is this the rack bushes, or the track rod ends, or what?

I presume if one of the bushes has torn through, it will be fairly obvious with the amount of play?

Cheers for the replies.

What do you mean by steering links, is this the rack bushes, or the track rod ends, or what?

Track rod ends most likely if it is steering related. But the bushes aren't the best quality and I'd examine EVERYTHING real close if you get the opportunity. Mine are pretty shot - at 53,000 miles.

If it is the rear wishbone bushes and they have got through, then it's probably Goodnight Vienna for those arms...

Edited 4 July, 201114 yr by demonufo

Mines been knocking for a while and wondering a lil, finaly had a chance tonight to jack it up and check it. Result was no play on the vertical and loads of play side to side, need a new track rod end tomorrow :( dunno how much one costs but it'll be about £40 for the tracking after :'(

Mines been knocking for a while and wondering a lil, finaly had a chance tonight to jack it up and check it. Result was no play on the vertical and loads of play side to side, need a new track rod end tomorrow :( dunno how much one costs but it'll be about £40 for the tracking after

How did you get on?

I think tack rod ends are about £25 each. I needed one for my MoT about 15 months ago, the old girl was on about 150k then, iirc.

There are two possible diameters for the track rod end, so be prepared when ordering (or get both and take back the one which does not fit).

Right, update time.

New wishbones (aftermarket eBay jobbies) arrived, fitted them, and now I have a knocking noise, and my issue seems not to have been resolved.

So, problem summary:

My wheel is moving backwards in the wheel arch, under sharp braking. If I brake very hard, then I get a knocking noise, which I have identified as the wishbone touching the sub-frame (see photo here)

The whole hub assembly is only connected via the wishbone and the top-mount, both of which have been replaced. The joint between the shock absorber and the wheel hub is solid also, with no evidence of movement.

As far as I can see there is no play in the shock absorber / spring assembly either.

I have checked for any play in the sub-frame, using a pry bar at multiple points between the sub-frame and the chassis, and this is solid.

So this points at the new cheapo wishbone bushes being plain pants.. does this make sense?

My thinking now is to buy a set of powerflex bushes or similar, to fit to the old wishbones, while they are off the car, then to re-fit them. I will then just have a spare set of wishbones, should they ever be needed later.

Do you reckon I'm thinking along the right lines here? Is there perhaps anything else I should be checking before I buy?

Also, I will be needing a bush removal tool if this is the case - can someone point me to a suitable one?

Try fitting the Audi TT solid bushes. They don't have any voids in them, so the wishbone doesn't move as much and your steering sharpens up a bit.

Right, update time.

New wishbones (aftermarket eBay jobbies) arrived, fitted them, and now I have a knocking noise, and my issue seems not to have been resolved.

I have checked for any play in the sub-frame, using a pry bar at multiple points between the sub-frame and the chassis, and this is solid.

So this points at the new cheapo wishbone bushes being plain pants.. does this make sense?

My thinking now is to buy a set of powerflex bushes or similar, to fit to the old wishbones, while they are off the car, then to re-fit them. I will then just have a spare set of wishbones, should they ever be needed later.

Do you reckon I'm thinking along the right lines here? Is there perhaps anything else I should be checking before I buy?

Also, I will be needing a bush removal tool if this is the case - can someone point me to a suitable one?

I suspect the cheap as chips aftermarket wishbones are a bit crap - speaking from experience with Fords. Especially if they touch the subframe when new...

When I get chance Im going to change the wishbone bushes in mine. I think that extracting them is fairly easy, but pressing in the Audi TT rear bush is difficult.

(The poly-bushes for the rear wishbone mount get some bad reviews if you read other posts here).

(The poly-bushes for the rear wishbone mount get some bad reviews if you read other posts here).

Only Powerflex, iirc. Superpro seem fine.

Only Powerflex, iirc. Superpro seem fine.

I have bought a superpro kit for both front and rear inner bushes, which I will fit to the original vag wishbones - should get this done at the weekend if the bushes arrive.

£55 all in didn't seem too bad I will report back when I get them fitted, as to whether they resolve my problem, and if they are generally any good etc..