Anyone else sick of replacing every fecking part in their fabias?

 

My car tries to rattle itself to death over every bump and corner.  It's been getting worse and worse even though I keep fitting new parts.

Seriously considering just buying a MK4 golf and breaking the fabia.

 

There isn't much left to change.  The handling is *******s.  It weaves about all over the place on braking and gear changes and on lift off.  I've replaced rear console bushes, arb bushes, top mounts and bearings, driveshafts, cvs, gearbox mount, poly lower engine mount, poly front wishbone bushes

 

I have a drivers side engine mount on the way because I suspect it's rattling as well and I'm going to redo a console bush as well.  I might as well do the rear beam bushes as they 'might' need replacing soon.

 

Anyone ever had to replace a steering rack due to **** handling?

 

Also any ideas in how I could I could go about possibly finding out where the bloody clunking and rattling is coming from would be great.

check your subframe / console  bolts .... after having mine in a garage for a few months it drove like a donkey on way home it was all over the road .... fortunately nothing was damaged 

youve replaced all these vital suspension components but have you had it properly aligned?

Unless you've just failed to mention them... you should also change the bottom ball joints and track rods & ends. If they're worn they're definitely going to have effect on handling.

 

I'm planning on replacing the entire front end setup on mine soon, as I want it back to as good as it was from the factory, including wheel bearings.

Ive got some knocks and rattles but only when i have passenger or some additional weight. Ive done console bushes so gonna have it looked at again or just put it down to the joms lol

My mates MK4 GTI is in worse shape than my older Fabia!!!.....  ............I had to do the dreaded 1.8T ignition wiring loom overlay!!!..........  .................

 

Sounds like console bushes, or ARB bushes or droplinks or loose bolts...................had a Skoda main dealer forget to fully tighten the front pivot bolts on the front lower wishbone!!...............

MkI Fabias (all specs) have an inbuilt rattle factory installed in the glovebox. I tried to disable it with VCDS but it's not possible. HTH

Mk4 Golf won't be any better lol

That glovebox rattle absolutely does my head in!!!

halfords free suspension check, thats right FREE BARGIN, go get it checked out, i had a loose bolt on wishbone, they sorted it for me, felt loads better after, but still i dont rate the suspension on the fabia, want a coilover kit for mine next summer

How do you get the free check??

 

Will i have to act a bit stupid and make them think that i'm somebody they can talk into getting things changed that don't need to be or will they be honest??

 

Mite take about £200 cash with me and pull out my wallet just as they get started to make sure they don't skip anything lol

How do you get the free check??

 

Will i have to act a bit stupid and make them think that i'm somebody they can talk into getting things changed that don't need to be or will they be honest??

 

Mite take about £200 cash with me and pull out my wallet just as they get started to make sure they don't skip anything lol

just have to give them a call and ask then to book you in for a free suspension check, its a free service they offer as like customer good will gesture, there is no catch halfords are good like that to be fair, quite literally no.1 place in the country when it comes to honest work been carried out, if your suspention is fine they will say so even if only gain for them is example of there quality of service so you may wish to choose them in the future. it really is that sweet a deal

I'll give it a go in the new year

That glovebox rattle absolutely does my head in!!!

 

Glovebox rattle or the nagging of SWMBO? Glovebox rattle everytime for me.

Where you based in brum mate? I'm a mechanic and also work for seat so have all vag tools at work. Could go for a spin with you and give any some advise? I'm based in Northfield if you're close at all ever. Olly 

Only just seeing the replies now. I must sort out my email notifications!

 

Sorry forgot to mention, ball joints and track rod ends were done as well and alignment is fine (although something must be bloody moving while driving and making it .... not fine).

 

There's always the chance that I've got a dud component along the way somewhere.  I'm thinking that this might be the case.  I just need to find which one.

 

We have a 4 post lift.  When the front wishbones were done the whole subframe, wishbones, etc etc were all stripped out, bolts checked, all threads checked and cleaned with taps, and all torqued up again.  None of the nuts or bolts are loose.

 

My order for the drivers side engine mount was cancelled because they were out of stock  so I need to get another of those somewhere.

During the holidays I think i'll take the ball joints and track rod ends off and check or maybe even replace them (just for the hell of it).

New engine mount in the drivers side now.  The one I took out was absolutely shafted.  I can only guess that it was contributing to all the other knocks and rattles because the engine was moving so much.

 

I noticed a slightly shifty looking track rod end as well.  It was replaced not too long ago so I'm thinking it might be a dud.  The problem is that it's probably moved about and caused wear on the ball joint as well.  Just waiting for the new one to arrive so hopefully the next few days will get me some answers.

Inner rod ends on steering rack, these always used to wear on mk2 golfs and give weird feeling

Would they be moveable by shoving them around though? because there doesn't seem to be any play in them when it's on the lift.

nope only seem to show up when weight on them, must be common now as laser do a cheap special tool to change them

Inner rod ends seem to be solid.  As they're metal on metal ball joint I would expect to be able to get movement in them.  We've given them a real bit of rough treatment on the lift and they seem to be solid.  I'm putting my hunch on the track rod ends over everything else at the minute.

Both ball joints changed, alignment checked, One track rod end changed (other was fine), Console bush upgraded on pass side.

 

I've only driven the car about a mile and a half but i'll get a few more miles on it tomorrow. Handling is dramatically different from what it was.

 

The ball joints were in pretty crap condition.

The only thing left to change is a drop link on the drivers side.  I upgraded the pass side with the revised version about 3 months ago so I might as well do the drivers one too.  I think it's due.

 

So things seem to be getting better.  Which is just as well.  The last thing I want on icy roads is a wobbly, swervy bloody car.