Last week the wife's Citigo, 9K miles old, 66 plate started creaking in the OSR corner. Not an uncommon prob it seems. NSR all quiet.

Pointless going to Skoda despite the low miles so decided to investigate, thought this would be of use to others:

 

Removed the damper, greased the dry rubber top bushes and steel sleeve. Re-assembled, no change, maybe slightly better, but marginal.

Removed the damper and took the car for a gentle drive around the estate, a route that had the creeeking.

No noise whatsoever. Plastic trim cover still off the car.

Replaced the damper so the car can be safely used, creeking back, trim cover still off the car.

Replaced trim, same creeking as above.

Thus, 2 new dampers just ordered, £52.80

 

Skoda quality slipped down the ladder I think, my Superb could be due to be replaced, 14 plate/61K miles, perfect 4x4 Tour de France, but doubt the quality

of new Skodas.

Small things that go wrong pre-maturely just turn you off. Wonder if Skoda thing about that?

 

Will up-date when new dampers are on both sides (of course).

@911hillclimber

The VW Up!, Skoda Citigo & SEAT Mii were built in the same VW Factory in Bratislava so unless any cheaper hardware went on the Citigo the quality is what VW Group manufactured.

I am having the same issue, only noticed it recently and it doesn’t seem to be there all the time or perhaps sometimes I’m more tuned into it then others. 66reg 19k Miles. 
be interested to see if new dampers cure this. 

Well....

New Monrow dampers arrived today, fitted both, and the noise is STILL THERE.

 

Only noticeable at slow ie less than 10mph speeds, faster and all is well. Not impressed.

 

So, with the original damp out of the car there is utterly no noise. With either damper in the noise is there, thus the damper is noisy in action!

Wife says I should now leave it which I will but irritating. all was quiet untill about 3 weeks ago.

Is this sorted? I assume you have checked the bushes and mounts, and also the bushes for the beam axle...

 

 

No, far from it.

the rear or creaks more than ever with the new dampers!

I have a stepped plan..

replace the our ith the previous quiet nor damper. If it changes demo creaking to quiet then the dampers are faulty.

or

reove the new oar damper. Remove the splash sleeve come bump stop and replace as an experiment with a steel disk to replace that assembly, refer the bushes and see what happens.

if it goes quiet then the fault is with the sleeve rubbing on the damper main bodytube.

 

I can't see why the main beam bush is worn, it is only 9 k miles old and the creaking became appent suddenly.

 

Drives me mad, wife far far more tolerant.

I think it is something simple and no need to drastic bush changing etc.

we shall see, going to give it a go next week.

SORTED!

I have a Monte Carlo that is as silent as a dead mouse.

Found out what it is gents.

 

I took the damper dirt/dust/bumpstop cover off the new damper on the rear driver's side, the creaking side that was not fixed with a new damper set.

 

I removed the thin plastic sleeve off the steel top disc (wriggle until it is off) to bare the bump stop.

I then cut the bump stop shorter by 15/20mm and re-assembled the lot back into the car. The plastic sleeve simply taps back on over the steel disk, friction fit.

 

SILENCE no matter the speed or road surface, just like new. No creeks when you pull away, no creeks when parking etc.

 

The Monte Carlo is lowered by the factory by 10mm over a standard Citigo but they left the bump stop length the same, the nose of the bump stop 'just' contacts the top of the damper body and you get a creek-creek at low speed. With just the driver in, the contact surfaces come together more than the passenger as the suspension sags under the weight of the driver.

 

Did the passenger side too so to even things up though it was silent.

 

Anyway, this is my proven fix to the car's issue. The car still has the collapsing bumpstops so safe it just comes into play with greater suspension deflection.

 

I'm sort of happy

Spent £60 on new dampers where not needed and with 60mins under the car, a sharp blade, you can fix this issue.

German engineering is lacking in places.

 

Hope this helps others out there!

Drove the car today just to make sure it wasn't a fluke!

 

All quiet, as silent as when new.

This is the bit I cut off the bump stop foam :