Hi all

 

My 2003 vrs has had a loud knock for a few weeks gradually getting worse on the n/s up high.

 

I have had the car up on the ramp at work and couldn't find any split bushes etc. So I removed the strut to find the damper had no oil and the strut top mount worn out with loads of play, I have bought a full set of bilstein b4 and a pair of front top mounts. I have fitted them on the n/s and the noise is still there! 

 

The only other thing I found is my bottom ball joint had a small split now a big one but I doubt this is the cause.

 

Does anyone have any ideas? 

 

Is there anything behind the arch liner?

drop links

they dont have to look worn to make a loud clonking noise

fit the meyle hd ones

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meyle-HD-Stabiliser-Drop-Links-Front-PAIR-Volkswagen-Fox-Polo-GTi-Cup-Edition-/231409280628?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda|Model%3AFabia|Cars+Type%3A1.9+TDI+RS&epid=1983831170&hash=item35e1116674:g:e2MAAOxy3cJTf0B9

Both my fabias had this noise when I bought it and this resolved them.

Easy job to do as well

Or ARB bush, undo one end of the droplink on the knocking side and see how much play the bar has in the bush. I was surprised recently when an ever-worsening knock turned out to be this. I was intending to swap out the droplink as the easiest thing to try, but once the anti-roll bar was loose it moved loads within the bush, and made a familiar noise as it did. The bush was quite recent, but the shocks are original (150k old), and I have a feeling (without theoretical understanding) that a worn out old shock may allow fast, small movements that a newer one wouldn't, putting much more force on anything connected?

Brilliant thanks guys I will give the arb bushes a proper test tomorrow as Wino suggests and if they turn out to be fine I will replace the droplinks.