Been getting squeaking when going over bumps for a long time. Recently upgraded springs and dampers as it was on my to do list anyway. Still getting the squeaking or squeal noise. 

 

Cleaning the alloys properly today I noticed this, as they are new dampers it was easy to see the paint being rubbed off. Looks like the rusty looking metal part is hitting the dampers when going over bumps.

 

It could be this at fault but either way has anyone got any advice?

 

MK2 Facelift. Both fronts are like this.

I would ask myself if the same scraping was evident on the old units... Did you do the replacement yourself or had a workshop do it/ If they did it, go back and ask them to check the clearance. Might just be a little bit of bending/straightening needed but might be worse!

Well I was getting the same noise on the old dampers when hitting bumps.

 

A trusted independent garage did the work and the old dampers will be long gone. I have gone out and bent the plates back a bit. Apparently they are there to hold the ABS wire. Also sanded the backs of them down slightly.

 

I will report back after a few days of driving!

Nope, annoying squeak or squeal still there when going over bumps and touching the brake pedal. Back to square one!

Whenever I got a squeal/squeak/creak going over bumps (not braking though) it was always either one of the front droplinks. 

 

Recently thought either one/both had gone again (IIRC I've been through approx 4 in the last 3 years), but is suspected to be dry bushes. 

Funnily enough Skoda reported both front drop links are weak so could be that. i will get both replaced within the next 2 weeks. Are there any better ones or uprated ones I can get or are any drop links as good as the next?

Cannot comment on performance upgrades et al, but when my original OSF went at approx 5 years and 70k I had it replaced by ATS (Skoda couldn't fit me in for a few weeks) and it failed in less than a year and less than 10k miles. As did the one they fitted under 12 month warranty at around same age and mileage. Got it replaced by Skoda as the original ATS warranty had expired, and touch wood it appears to be behaving itself. 

 

 

Meyle make extra thick ones that on flea-bay, are actually cheaper then genuine parts! They are the HD range (Heavy duty) So come with the added bonus of a four year warranty! Just be sure to tighten them properly. Usually, drop links have bolts that are impregnated with locking stuff, to prevent loosening but if you unbolt them, you need new nuts again or need to add a fluid locking compound to re-tighten. This is usually available from places such as Halfords, though. Its often used on bolts that get re-used but need locking compound. (They do come open with spanners, just should not vibrate loose on their own, hence tighten properly so as to not need to re-tighten, breaking the compound's seal).

These Meyle bars are quite a bit thicker and have bigger ball joints on each end, with easier spanner application as some just spin round and round! German engineering!

 

I know a guy who fits cheap aftermarket PLASTIC ones to his old Pug... They break very easily, under hard acceleration etc. He thinks they are bargain at around a tenner a set but the Merle ones come in at around £30 and you will most likely never need to replace them again unless you damage one in an accident! 

Edited 24 June, 20187 yr by mrgf