Hello,

I have a 05 Skoda Octavia 1.9PD.It developed a knocking noise,left side,when hitting small bumps.This progressed to when i was steering,ie,pulling out of a junction.

Its getting worse,so bad the other night that i stopped to have a look,paranoid that i hadnt tightened the wishbone bushes up,as i had replaced the doughnut type(rear of the wishbone)and the ball joint,as i had to destroy the rubber gaitor to remove the nut,The ball joint was fine,and the doughnut had 2 small tears starting in it,front bush was good,so left it.

Been to a garage,(i live in Hungary BTW)and after a bit of a look he said it was the suspension bump rubbers top shock absorber.When i stopped the other night to check was because my passenger said he could feel the knock under his feet.I also get a knock sometimes when braking,but if i try to recreate it,ie;going back and forth and braking it doesnt happen.But i will drive off and first little bump,steering out of my drive,it starts again.

I have a big communication problem here!!! And i dont want to replace everything on the front,just to drive of and have it start again.

Does this sound familiar?Or is this just my car? Have searched the net,and came across a VRS with similair problem,but none seem to have the same remedy.

Thanks in advance.

@Crashcage - Well, my first thought was of the spring breaking right up at the pig tail, but yes it could be the bump rubber, or indeed the top mount. The problem is that you need someone competent and trustworthy with access to your car to say which!

Springs are good.The crack/knock and it is sometimes clearly audible,people walking nearby turn to look.I got my neighbour to drive over 3 bits of wood,to try and recreate the problem while i was looking (from the side)and the noise comes from underneath,not from the top.

Thanks for your reply.

2 hours ago, Crashcage said:

.......... the noise comes from underneath,not from the top......

How are your ARB bushings ?

 

Edited 23 March, 20188 yr by olddog

Checked them in the garage when up on the hoist and they seemed good,But,i have once or twice heard a knock from the bukhead.

But when we tried them with a prybar there was no movement.How far can a knock travel.Car has done 285,000+kms,was owned by a taxi driver(private) and he kept the car well maintained.I might replace them anyway,are the "D" bushes accessible from the engine bay?

 

If you can hear a knock from the bulkhead start looking at steering rack mounts and also the actual subframe mounts. Are you checking the bushes with the weight of the car on them? If you are lifting it on a 2 post ramp, then that will alter the way that the bushes react compared to when it is on it's wheels (which is why they say to only tighten suspension bolts with the weight of the vehicle on them)

Okay,2 post hoist.When i did the wishbone bushes i did have another jack under the wishbone.

Subframe mounts,do they have a rubber bush in as well?

 

19 minutes ago, Crashcage said:

Okay,2 post hoist.When i did the wishbone bushes i did have another jack under the wishbone.

Subframe mounts,do they have a rubber bush in as well?

 

 

Yes, they are bushed to the chassis - supposed to isolate the engine/trans from the body to lessen NVH

Okay.I will be giving them a look as well.

 

Problem solved! I bought a second jack as had decided to change the stabiliser D bushes first,as there are cheap and its not a difficult job.Watched a YT video before https://youtu.be/wI4nq_4bZlg

Took out the bolt securing the bush and then off the wishbone and there it was,the bit connecting the stabiliser to the wishbone on the stabiliser end was loose and the cause of the knock.I am surprised at the size of the hole through the stabiliser.I would have thought as it is a point of movement there would have bee an unthreaded   part on the bolt that would fit in the hole as the threaded part is of course smaller still.Bought 2, 10.9 Tensile bolt and lock nuts and 2 thick penny 10 mm washers,to increase the area of contact,and....

SILENCE!

Many thanks for all advice given.