Creaking - subframe? Thoughts??

[Rybu79]

Hi all. 

 

I have had ongoing creaking from my car my car and have previously posted about it. 

 

Has as anyone ever had creaking g subframe die to loose bolt/s?

 

apparently the bolts are ‘stretch bolts’ and one time use - of ever undone requires new ones. 

 

My my car is suffering with creaking and this appears to an mqb chassis issue. I’m not the original owner so unsure if the front subframe been dropped previously. 

 

 

So far I’ve had cv boots regreased, new shock absorber dust covers. 

 

It happends at slow speeds steering both directions lock to lock. 

 

Ill try to add a video. 

 

Anyway im off to Skoda tomorrow morning. 

 

Wish me luck. 

 

Also so I have found a golf on YouTube with same noise and mentioned subframe issue. 

 

Please feel free free to comment and any advice / thoughts appreciated

 

 

[ntl123]

Mine does this going over speed bumps 63 plate Octavia 

never been a concern as it keeps passing its mot with flying colours so

[SC03OTT]

My 14 plate did it and my 17 plate does it as well. Ok, not as bad as that video however. I’ve come to just ignore it. 

[ahenners]

Same, my 63 creaks over bumps etc. but otherwise fine and nothing noted during MOT or service.

[Rybu79]

Mines not on bumps - totally flat surfaces. 

 

Quite a moist morning and and was going to take it to Skoda however it’s not making the noise. 

 

Which leads me to to think it’s some rubber bushing somewhere - possibly anti roll bar. 

 

Thanks for the replies - mystery continues. 

[MoggyTech]

Spray the mountings with PTFE white grease, problem solved.

[jaygemson]

Mine does this too, but as others have said only when going over speed bumps, ramps etc.

[TonisT]

http://www.tyrolsport.com/suspension/chassis/tyrolsport-deadset-rigid-subframe-kit-for-mk7/mqb/a3/s3/

[BGB]

Its a TPI for the lower support armrest squeaking if that what it is, they just take it out and lube it up as it dries up after some time.

[jordy_wd]

There are numerous threads on this on Mk7 Golf forums and Audi A3 8V forums.

 

Most common issue seems to be the front lower control arm bushing. The one nearest the front of the car. The VW group dealers seems to take the control arm out and grease the bush with lithium grease.

 

Other common issues are strut bearings and loose subframe bolts. Be wary that if tightening bolts they can seem to be tightening and tightening forever but they are stretching and will snap. Always torque to spec by googling the torque for that bolt.

[Nickj633]

On 03/04/2018 at 21:19, Nickj633 said:

Ok, have found the invoice. I remembered incorrectly, I did report a noise in the suspension and they did the following:

 

vehicle tested and noise heard, related to TPI 2042935/3, remove both front lower suspension arms, applied grease to both transverse link bushes, refitted both arms with new bolts.

 

i am presuming the tpi related to incorrect fitment or grease, anyway it was done free of charge and cured the issue.

 

nick

 

I had a creak from my O3 which was diagnosed as a TPI as above.

 

nick

[jordy_wd]

Lubricating them is only a temporary fix. Best option is to replace with polyurethane bushings. I've replaced mine with ones from PSB and they're excellent:

 

 

[Robinson1234]

Hi all my is the same it's doing my head in... 

I've replaced engine mounts 

Drop links 

And just today engine and gearbox mount ta dog pin if that makes sense 

And it stills creak

 

[MeteorOcty]

Mine does this.....told last week by a Skoda master mechanic that it's likely to be the front anti roll bar bushes. Apparently the front subframe needs to come off\down to replace the whole bar?

2014 car but originally reported the issue in 2017!

Edited 27 October, 2019 by MeteorOcty
Extra info...

[Stuuuey]

I took mine in to Skoda for creaking noises and they fobbed me off with it being the interior creaking and nothing else mechanical!

[SkodaKing]

I have a video from Skoda when they fixed this for me under my used car warranty. I will upload it to youtube and link it here later. 

 

Quoted this on the report - 

 

Requires G 052 150 A2 grease and all bolts for front lower arms both sides £72.58

[Robinson1234]

Greet thanks 

[SkodaKing]

 

This is what they did to mine, it creaked over bumps and rough roads, sounded horrendous. The problem has now gone and it drives like a dream.

 

It shouldn't have been covered under my warranty but as they gave me such **** service over a month period, and after i got in contact with the CEO of the company, they agreed to fix this along with a few other faults free of charge.

 

hope this helps y'all

[jordy_wd]

The above video would tie-in with this:

 

https://www.techtips.ie/Autodata/audi-a3-sportback-squeakingcreaking-noise-when-driving-over-rough-roads.pdf

 

Seems to be the slits in the bushing allow it so rub against itself.

 

EDIT. See this too:

 

Edited 3 November, 2019 by jordy_wd
Additional info.

[StriderDog]

My 2.0 TDI 16' plate estate drove me crazy with creaks, groans and knocking noises - until I told the Mrs to get out and walk....

 

I bought a can of WD40 'specialist" Silicon spray and the same but PTFE spray, I blasted every bush and linkage I could see underneath and the annoying noises ceased immediately.

I might be imagining it but the car felt more 'planted' on the road and the suspension more supple, better all round really.

[jordy_wd]

Replaced the rear bushing on the front control arms today. Replaced with bushings from PSB:

 

https://psbushings.co.uk/product/2-x-vw-golf-mk7-front-wishbone-rear-poly-polyurethane-psb-bush-kit-2012-to-2017/

 

This completely cured the creaking I have been hearing for a while now. I did the front bushings a while ago and I regret not doing them all at the same time.

 

You can see that the bushing is deformed and the rubber is separating from the metal casing. The "kidney" cutouts are also deforming which causes the creaking/groaning.

 

In fact I've just realised the best word to describe what I was hearing was a squelch...

 

Few before and afters:

 

 

[jaygemson]

Good work @jordy_wd!  Thanks for sharing.

 

Do you need a press to get the old bushes out?  And did you replace or re-use the bolts for the control arms?

[jordy_wd]

The front ones will require a press, but the read ones can be easily cut out with a hacksaw/sawzall. The rubber can be cut out leaving the thin metal casing. This can be deformed with a hammer and a punch, then knocked out too.

 

The bushes are easily pressed in using a vice and some very large sockets.

 

I re-used the bolts and nuts. All the guides say they are stretch bolts, but they seem to re-torque fine.

[bstginger]

On 29/10/2019 at 21:44, SkodaKing said:

 

This is what they did to mine, it creaked over bumps and rough roads, sounded horrendous. The problem has now gone and it drives like a dream.

 

It shouldn't have been covered under my warranty but as they gave me such **** service over a month period, and after i got in contact with the CEO of the company, they agreed to fix this along with a few other faults free of charge.

 

hope this helps y'all

 

 

Awesome! Been putting up with this for years.  MOT/Service in a couple of weeks, so have messaged the garage to do this. Thank you

 

 

[StriderDog]

Its a totally crap design, my car started creaking/groaning and knocking after two years, I sprayed all bushes with silicone spray and it stopped immediately.

I did that last October and the noises have just started again, not bad rally I suppose with the wet weather, the miles and the floods I've driven through..