On a recent drive I heard a thud and something seemed to hit along the bottom of the car. Since then the car has been a little looser to drive and something is rattling. I think one of the plastic panels down the passenger side has come loose and is tapping on the underneath of the car.

 

Anyway, I digress, I think the car looks as though it is leaning slightly to the passenger side but also when turning at low speed there is now a creak from the passenger side windscreen.

 

I have visually examined the bottom of the spring and it all looks as it should. I can't seem to see the top to check it.

 

What could be causing this creek? It is getting worse.

 

Chris

Edited 26 February, 201412 yr by kissifer

Sounds like it could be a snapped spring to me. Bounce on the wing and see if the noise occurs.

Sounds very like the symptoms I had the other week.  Broken spring found and replaced.

If it's a spring I hope you don't have the sports option...

£70+vat from VAG only, there are no pattern springs available from motor factors.

Thanks guys. That's what I thought.

 

So my next question is, it has 110k on it, would you go for new shocks and springs on the front axle? I don't want the expense but I bet the shocks are not far from needing replacing at that mileage.

 

Mine's a 2.0 Tdi DSG. How do I check which is the right spring for it? I can't find a site anywhere that lists a spring for the DSG, just for the 2.0 Tdi.

 

I can get a pair of KYB springs for the price of 1 Lesjofors or Sachs spring, they all have a 2 year warranty. Anybody have any experience with any of them, good or bad?

 

Once again thanks

 

Chris

On the bottom of the spring there should be a few paint splashes which denote the spring spec. 

The motor factors contacted when I replaced mine all insisted they had the correct spring, but didn't know from the VIN/reg no that my car had been built with sports suspension. 

I had to go to TPS/dealer to get the correct one.

I just read in your other thread that you don't want any lowering. 

Having already smashed a sump once on a mk1, I was a bit leary of doing the same again.

Despite mine having some sort of sports suspension from the factory, and now living in the fens where the roads are VERY uneven and driving in rural France where they are almost as bad, in the 3 years ownership I have only hit the undertray a couple of times.  It isn't broken yet.

When I had the alignment done a few weeks ago, the guy found the ride height a few mm lower than the computer said, but nothing radical.  I'm not sure if the springs are of a different rate but they certainly keep the sump and road separate.

If one spring has potentially broken with the age and millage I would change all four at least then you know you have a matching set and in six months another one may break so its worth investing in a set for piece of mind, You may find that possibly the shocks are gone as well and then theres the top mounts and bearings on the front , on the rears the bumpstops/dust covers are prone to fall apart its an evil circle but well worth going with fresh parts all round , first you need to find out if the spring is broken try jacking the front up safely so you can see more of the spring and see if you can wobble it should be solid or remove the shock completely to inspect and diagnose the problem . 

If it's a spring I hope you don't have the sports option...

£70+vat from VAG only, there are no pattern springs available from motor factors.

As I found out last year :( Rear spring snapped, and garage sourced standard springs! The car looked ridiculous. After I explained (again) that it has sports suspension he eventually sourced vRS Eibach springs for it. Although i do believe it is still sitting a little higher than it did.....

Thanks for all the advice and tips guys.

 

I'll try get the car up on a jack this weekend and see if I can get the colour code off the spring and check if it is indeed broken. The weather forecast looks good, so should be good for getting under and having a good nosey around.

 

Will keep you informed.

Mine snapped right at the very bottom, literally the last inch of the coil. 

Front sport spring OE colour code is Red, White, Blue, Blue.

OK so finally had a good look at the springs in this lovely sunshine. Front N/S Spring has definitely snapped at the top and the colour code on it is Pink Pink White White. Also noticed a rear strut is weaping and a rear droplink is goosed.. :(

 

The rear spring's colour code is Red/Orange White

 

Can anyone confirm for me the part number I need for the springs? Or that they are standard and not a different code for the DSG?

 

Thanks again for all your help