Hi all; I think I know the answer to this, but I appreciate the expertise on here.  I am talking about a 1.9 TDI Octavia mk ii estate here.

 

When I am going down local roads (i.e. residential streets etc), which round here are fairly shocking, there's a sort of clunk when I go over holes and bumps.  Smooth, speedy roads (such as the M4) have no problems like this.

 

It's not very loud or anything but I did notice it so it is "new".

 

A bit of background; the rear shock absorbers were advised as worn on the MOT at the start of the year, but with the lockdown I never got round to replacing them or looking any further into it.  I have never replaced them do they've done at least 40,000 miles.  The coil springs were replaced 20 months ago.

 

We were in France in September and returned with a laden (and low-sitting) car, which then rose up again when emptied.  However it then spent 2 weeks on the drive unused as we had to quarantine.

 

Then when I drove it again about 10 days ago, I noticed the new noise.  Luckily I am working from home so don't really need to use it much at the moment.

 

So my guess is knackered shock absorbers.  I think the bump stops have deteriorated too; when you look in the wheel arch, you can see the rod (technical name?).

 

There aren't any issues with steering or stability with corners or roundabouts; perhaps a tiny rightward drift though when driving straight, which I have to compensate for by turning left a fraction.

 

I am going to take it for a free Halfords suspension check anwyway (unless anyone says, 'no!")

 

Over to you...

 

 

Meant to add - I have tried the basic test of bouncing the front and back of the car by hand and seeing how long it takes to settle.  It doesn't bounce that much anyway, and when I stop pushing it stops moving almost immediately.

The noise is the shock absorber dust sleeves which have detached and are bouncing around, replace the bump stop rubbers.

 

It will be compounded by the suspension losing the rising rate of the bump stops and bottoming out.

1 minute ago, J.R. said:

The noise is the shock absorber dust sleeves which have detached and are bouncing around, replace the bump stop rubbers.

 

It will be compounded by the suspension losing the rising rate of the bump stops and bottoming out.

Unlikely unless he's fully loaded, there is free travel before bump stops make contact.

 

Although there are several possible candidates for clunking I have never heard of one I personally experienced on the Octavia,  I would get a clunk over very minor undulations and at slow speeds.  Long story short, one damper had broken internally.  It still performed as it should but when removed and forcibly moved there was a noticeable give in a change of direction which was the source of the clunk which for all intents sounded like a bad bush.

 

I made a post on this years ago.

The rear suspension is soft as sh1te on the Octy estate especially if its on the original springs, the bump stops come into play a lot more than they really should which contributes to their failure.

 

You really feel the difference with just replacing them alone but I think the noise is the piston rod sleeves bouncing up and down with the bumps, in any case they need replacing as a priority and that will reveal if the springs are broken (a good chance) or there are any problems with the dampers like you experienced.

@J.R.Maybe my 'sports' option suspension springs are a bit stiffer then hence my comment on damper free travel.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Would these pictures be what you mean?  The first is "as is".   The second is with me holding up a loose part (the dust cover?)

 

 

The part you are holding is the damper rod dust shield, it is a push fit onto the yellow bumper which has disintegrated.

 

Give it a jiggle by hand and assess if it is the sound you hear.  I suspect it's not heavy enough to be the source and its wear is an indication that perhaps another component of similar age has worn out e.g. a recent post with a similar issue turned out to be due to a worn RARB bush(es).

Edited 1 November, 20205 yr by MicMac