Hi all,

 

When I go over highspeed bumps I hear a creaking sounds from the front, and I think the driver's side.  It's most noticeable going up them and then back down, so it seems to be when the suspension/shocks are under compression - ie when the weight of the car comes down on the shocks quickly.  

 

I've done a search and people have suggested that suspension/wishbone bushes could need cleaning or replacing and that it's more noticeable when cold.  The sound is getting worse, and it is getting colder, however it could just be coincidence.  Also, I bought the car when it was cold, and I've only done 5k since then and I didn't notice anything. Should I try giving all bushes I can get to a blast with WD40? 

 

If I ask my garage to look tomorrow will they likely just turn round and say they all need replacing at cost?

 

EDIT: when I had the wheels off last I did basic checks and couldn't see and slop/or play around droplinks etc, but the joints were very dirty, and could probably use a greasing.  

 

Thanks!

Edited 23 October, 201510 yr by planehazza

It could possibly be the rubbers on the anti roll bar.

 

Get under and give them a scoot of WD40 / spray silicon / spray grease. Once the lube works its way in, If the sound is less or goes away, they either just needed lubrication or maybe replaced.

 

You could take them off and put some thicker grease on them before putting them back on for a better solution.

 

Try just pushing down on the bonnet instead of looking for speedbumps to go over, it may help narrow the creaking area down.

Edited 23 October, 201510 yr by FatblokeVRS

I'd be looking at top strut mounts and bearings myself. Sounds exactly like my estate was, and when the struts came off to sort things out, both top strut mount bearings came out in pieces. I also changed rear wishbone bonded units, springs and drop links whilst everything was in bits, and remember it is VITAL to get a full 4 wheel laser alignment done as soon as the bits are replaced.

 

Mike

Cool I'll bear that in mind.

 

It could possibly be the rubbers on the anti roll bar.

 

Get under and give them a scoot of WD40 / spray silicon / spray grease. Once the lube works its way in, If the sound is less or goes away, they either just needed lubrication or maybe replaced.

 

You could take them off and put some thicker grease on them before putting them back on for a better solution.

 

Try just pushing down on the bonnet instead of looking for speedbumps to go over, it may help narrow the creaking area down.

 

I'll the WD40 a go.  I've already tried pushing down on the front as hard (and carefully) as I can but I can't get enough force to make it audibly creak. It definitely sounds like the front, and more to the right but it's hard to precisely hear it from the cabin.

I'd be looking at top strut mounts and bearings myself. Sounds exactly like my estate was, and when the struts came off to sort things out, both top strut mount bearings came out in pieces. I also changed rear wishbone bonded units, springs and drop links whilst everything was in bits, and remember it is VITAL to get a full 4 wheel laser alignment done as soon as the bits are replaced.

 

Mike

 

Mike how much did this cost to have done? I presume most of it is labour cost to remove the shocks etc?

I'm gonna say broken spring.

Jack corner up and feel around the bottom of the coil, expect to find the pigtail snapped off and laying loose in the cup.

Recently had a broken front spring identified at the vRS's MoT; absolutely nothing untoward when driving it. My previous Volvo c30 had creaky front suspension (a common fault apparently) and I'm sure it was something to do with top mounts/ bearings.

Edited 22 March, 201610 yr by Sarge

When my estate had the problem with the front suspension, it was driving absolutely fine too. It was just the creaking that was doing my head in. Considering how "well" it felt on the road, I was amazed when the struts came off and the top bearings and mounts came off in pieces! And it was only with new components that I realised just how damned noisy it was before.

 

Somewhere on my phone I have a photo of the condition of the top strut mount bearings -- if I haven't deleted it, I'll post it up to let you see how bad they can actually get.

 

Mike

 

Thanks Mike, appreciated.  I'm going to order new strut bearings and just take a gamble that the suspension itself is fine. I'll get the car up on the stands, and see if the spings have any play.  I blasted the bushes with WD40 and the creaking has improved, but the knocking/cracking sound is still there, obviously coming from the shot bearings.  

 

The trouble is, I can't really tell if the mounts are also shot without taking the struts etc out and that costs an hour's labour or two each time.  

 

What's best way to assess strut/shock wear?  I've bounced the front end and it doesn't seem to bounce up and down - it springs back up and maybe bounces down again VERY slightly. If I had the confidence I'd take them out and assess them but I don't have spring clamps or the confidence to do it.

Edited 22 March, 201610 yr by planehazza

front wishbone bushes, common vw gruop problem.

get under the car put wd40 on each bush and you'll see that im right. 

when weather get warmer the noise will go awat till next cold days, just leave with it or replace whole wishbones, not that expensive but buy OEM parts only

front wishbone bushes, common vw gruop problem.

get under the car put wd40 on each bush and you'll see that im right. 

when weather get warmer the noise will go awat till next cold days, just leave with it or replace whole wishbones, not that expensive but buy OEM parts only

 

Hi mate. I didn't have time the other night to get the car on the jacks, but instead I turned the front wheels full left (and then swapped) and blasted all the bueshes with WD40 as best I could. The car is noticely less creaky now and I can now precisely tell that the knocking/tapping is coming from the strut mounts.  I'm going to get Swift to replace them both and will probably just cough up and pay to have the mounts replaced also.  Is it likely that the rubber strut stops will need replacing? I don't want them halfway through the job to say "X and Y need replacing but we have none in stock so pay us twice to remove the struts".  I'd rather go in with all the necessary parts in the first instance and just be like "fit these please"

 

On the subject of the front wisbones - they are the axel standing mounting location, correct?

Edited 23 March, 201610 yr by planehazza

Yes.

Very strange to me, my car done 200k and only bushes making squick on high bumps

Thanks all. I'm happy to have all bushes and mounts replaced; what I'm worried about is not knowing my shocks need doing also, as it would make sense to have it all done at once. Having said that, labour would be what... 1 hour, two tops?

What I mean to ask is how can I tell if the shocks are tired? They don't seem too bouncy when I push on the wing, but perhaps when do when on not so great road...

Can I double check I have the right parts?

1K0199231J

1K0199232J

1K0407182

1K0412331B - mount

6N0412249C - bearing

Edited 28 March, 201610 yr by planehazza

If you feel they will need doing at some point, get them done now. Not only is it just one set of labour, remember that every time you have any components removed or replaced it's another 4 wheel alignment you'll have to pay for too.

 

Mike

Cheers mate. Unfortunately, I have no idea if they're still good, nor how I'd tell.  My only reason for thinking that they might, is that they're nearly 70k miles old, and others have had to have them replaced earlier, yet others are still going strong at 100k+.  I don't drive her hard, but I've no idea what the previous owners were like...

Car's going in to a mate's new garage on Friday. Ordering parts now, just want to make sure there's nothing else I need?

 

What are the chances the drop links will need to be cut off? Should I be ordering some in case?

 

 

I would certainly replace them.  They had to be cut off both of my octavias,  and even if they did undo easy,  for what they cost it really isn't worth trying to reuse them.  Don't forget the Hunter alignment once the job is done! 

 

Mike 

 

How much are they mate? £35 a side?

Cheers dude, just as well I held off on my order ha. The official part from genuine auto parts is £35 each.