07 VRS TFSI Combi

 

I’ve had a bad knock from the front end for some time now, not really noticeable when on the power, very noticeable coasting or under slight braking. Have had it jacked up and can see nothing too alarming.

 

cable tied an old action camera to the wishbone this morning to see what state the console bush and front bushes were in, and I can see a lot of movement in the console bush.

 

These were replaced in 2017, have done maybe 35k miles max. 
 

YouTube video attached..... 

 

at the start it’s just leaving the house, round a few corners, then I’m rolling at a couple mph just taping the brakes lightly as this will slow the knock. Then built a bit of speed then stop. 
 

my question is, is this too much movement..... should I replace them regardless? 

https://youtu.be/Bg-eUogR6BI

 

 

Fascinating!

 

They appear to be doing their job but I didn't like the oscillation between 20 and 30 seconds, could you feel it?

 

The fore and aft movement is from the front wishbone bush, the console bush has little resistance in that direction.

Between 20 and 30 seconds I was rolling slowly and lightly tapping the brakes, as I can hear the knock when doing this! 
 

Would you think the front bush is tired? Is that a lot of movement in it? I am tempted to just replace the whole arm-bushes-ball joint but sadly it’s reasonably expensive so want to be reasonably sure one of these things are my problem! 
 

my other half has a scirocco with the same sort of suspension setup, may strap the camera to it today and see how it compares being driven the same way 

Strut top bearing?

Have just replaced the bushes on mine with polybushes. If you go down the route of changing them, a poly use replacement for the front is much simpler to install. They are two top-hat halves, one inserter from either side. The OE one I took out looked a tighter fit than yours seems to be.

You can easily check the rear bush for splits in the web from the back side. If the car is raised at the front you'll be able to feel any free play but you may need a level like a pry bar to help.

Have you checked the ARB drop link joints, they are usually a prime suspect.

@MicMac One top mount is from 2017, the other was replaced a few months ago to see if it helped - No change. 

@PipH Both replaced last year in a previous episode of find the knock, no change, and they are mighty tight. Ive had a loose joint on a drop link before, this is a different noise. 

@Me-109 Ill need to price up my options, polybush sounds good though, the cars got 122k miles on it, sadly theres probably a lot of it needs freshened up :( 

 

Whatever it is its only able to knock under free wheel or very light braking, when Im accelerating or braking hard it tends to be ok, which is why I suspected it was likely the arm bushings. I strapped the camera to my other halfs Scirocco yesterday and drove it in the same way, I cant say theres any real difference in what I can see there, just no knock on hers!

 

This is the bush on one side, both are similar, I can see it looks a little tired with some cracking, but is this done? Car is jacked up and wheel off the ground. 

 

Don't discount a faulty damper, I had a rear that used to knock.

 

All bushes checked good and only by removing the damper and forcefully operating it by hand I found the movement had a little slop on direction changes which was the source of the knocking, otherwise it operated fine.

 

As the fronts are beefier operating them could be difficult.

 

What happens when you or better a helper bounces the affected corner with you inside?

 

re photo

 

Just surface perishing, mine are worse looking but perfectly serviceable.

Edited 9 February, 20215 yr by MicMac

That bush is a bit tired but not dead. The dent in the casting is a bit worrying. I re-read the OP and was thinking of something maybe unrelated like an engine mount, but you'd expect to hear that going on and off the throttle. Given the other bits you have changed, unless one has failed quickly, would be the arb bushes. They wouldn't have to have much play and would transmit noise through the chassis quite readily. If not being put under stress they would have more freedom to move and knock. That's about all I can suggest.