My car has been making a knocking noise from the front end for a couple of months now. I'm hoping to get it up on the axle stands at the weekend, but would like to pick your knowledgable brains to give me something to aim for.

 

Details as follows:

 

• 2012 FL 2.0 TSI VRS with DSG
• Knock sometimes appears when first engaging D but with foot still on the brake
• Rolling at low speed, can initiate knock by gentle prodding of accelerator (knock heard on rise and fall in speed)
• Previous MOT advisory to replace front suspension bushes, but fitting new arms and consoles hasn't helped
• No humming or whining at any engine/wheel speed

 

I'm thinking CV joint or drive shaft. Is that a common issue on the VRS? Should that be diagnosable with the wheels up in the air?

front subframe bolts tight ? Usually knocking from the front end on acceleration points to suspension arm bushes worn or sub frame bolts loose allowing the subframe to move before the body does or the engine mountings loose/worn.

You might have been bang on the money @erindad!

 

Had the car up on axle stands today. Could see a few millimetres of paint rubbed off the body where the subframe attaches, and I managed to tighten the bolts a good half turn!

 

Have ordered the subframe bolt and spacer kit from Darkside, so hopefully that will fix it for good 

 

Thanks 👍

So I've just fitted the kit...no improvement. Currently only torqued up to 80ft lb (as per the ECS Tuning vid on YouTube) and not the 1/4 turn, mainly as I want to get my tracking sorted before I stretch the bolts. Not sure if that will suddenly fix it.

 

I have new front strut top mounts ready to go when I get the time. Could it be worth looking at engine mounts?