Hi all, I've been having a strange knock when I change from a forward direction to reverse and applying the brakes. It's a clunk sound, not brakes or wishbone bushes I've checked them an they're all solid. Some people have suggested it could be loose pads in the calipers, it's not that either. The track ends are in good condition and still very tight

, I thought I'd disconnect the track rods from the steering knuckle and check the inner tie rods. Well they wouldn't hold themselves up at all. Really loose but I can't feel hardly any play if any at all. But I can feel play when the car is on the ground and the steering is rocked from side to side. Could this be the clunk I'm hearing when I step on the brakes after changing from a forward motion to a backwards motion?

 

See video for yourselves.

 

Cheers

 

No, it can't be them, it'll be the back end, not the front, check the back brakes aren't binding.

24 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

No, it can't be them, it'll be the back end, not the front, check the back brakes aren't binding.

Back brakes are fine, it's from the front end anyway. Even if I apply the brakes very lightly after changing direction (forward to reverse and visa versa) I get a clunk. It's important to state that this only happens after the direction change after coming to a stop.

28 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

No, it can't be them, it'll be the back end, not the front, check the back brakes aren't binding.

What makes you so sure it's the back end?

Ok, it's a CV joint in all likelihood since it happens in both directions.

4 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

Ok, it's a CV joint in all likelihood since it happens in both directions.

Even in a straight line? Correct me if I'm wrong but I always thought the signs of a worn out CV joint is when you're at extreme locks and moving (not braking in a straight line after a stop). 

Just now, fabia_simon said:

Even in a straight line? Correct me if I'm wrong but I always thought the signs of a worn out CV joint is when you're at extreme locks and moving (not braking in a straight line after a stop). 

I'm pretty confident it's not a CV joint type of noise. This is just 1 single clunk not a rotational noise 

9 minutes ago, fabia_simon said:

Even in a straight line? Correct me if I'm wrong but I always thought the signs of a worn out CV joint is when you're at extreme locks and moving (not braking in a straight line after a stop). 

 

I give up, based on what you say I'm quite certain it's nothing to do with the steering rack or the track rods which begs the question, why are you looking at the steering gear if you already know everything?

Edited 5 February, 20224 yr by sepulchrave

2 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

I give up, based on what you say I'm quite certain it's nothing to do with the steering rack or the track rods which begs the question, why are you looking at the steering gear, if you already know everything?

As I said in the original post I could feel play along the steering rod when the car is on the ground under its own load

Edited 5 February, 20224 yr by fabia_simon

From experience over the years with arb links, I know it doesn't take much play at all for knocks to sound very loud. The forces involved are far greater that you can extert by hand. So it maybe a worn inner joint on the tie rod. Many fabias around 2011 onwards were fitted with faulty tie rods filled with incorrect or inadequate grease in the inner tie rod joints, caused sticky/creaking steering when going slowly lock to lock at static or slow speeds. There is a TSB and lots were changed FOC under warranty. If you simply ignored it or didn't notice, the joint would wear due to the lack of grease, and the one in the video certainly looks abnormally loose.

 

They are not expensive to buy or difficult to replace, but alignment will be needed adding to the cost.

I recently found out at great expense on our Octavia, a knock when going from power on to off can also be caused by failing differential support bearings. The allows the diff to move side to side. Check for play in/out of the gearbox at the output flanges. Twist the flanges in opposite directions at the same time, the diff will slide side to side on its helical cut gear if those bearings are shot.

 

In my case the box had been leaking oil very slowly for a long time from the output shaft/diff seals, and with less than 50% left, the gears and bearings overheat, leading to damage and failure. Apparently diff support bearings failing are common in 5 and 6 speed vag manual boxes. They went at 90,000 miles in one of our Fabias 1.2tsi (5 speed) and 150,000 miles in our Octavia 1.2tsi (6 speed).

 

Strongly recommend you check gearbox oil for evidence of a leak and oil level as its never checked at service.

 

Best to get the car up on a 2/4 poster with all the wheels hanging and easier to check everything, leaks and for play with both hands.

 

Find a friendly and good independent to check is my advice.

 

Edited 5 February, 20224 yr by xman

people looking far to "deep"

 

What I would suggest is the clonk is from the rear lower "dog bone" engine mounting, it clonks when you change direction as the weight of the engine shifts backwards or forwards, often happens when hitting the brakes as well.

Edited 5 February, 20224 yr by UrbanPanzer

Well, I can hear a clunk, but when someone bangs a steering arm off a lower wishbone I'd expect to.

 

Is there any sign of uneven front tyre wear, probably on one edge or the other relative to the middle area, and on either or both front tyres?

1 minute ago, KenONeill said:

Well, I can hear a clunk, but when someone bangs a steering arm off a lower wishbone I'd expect to.

 

Is there any sign of uneven front tyre wear, probably on one edge or the other relative to the middle area, and on either or both front tyres?

Tyre wear is very good on the front even across both tyres. Passenger has slightly more wear though. 

7 minutes ago, fabia_simon said:

Tyre wear is very good on the front even across both tyres. Passenger has slightly more wear though. 

OK, it doesn't sound like the symptoms match what I'd wondered; track rod end wear. Still, I only have one angle to work from. Is there any sign, any sign at all, of damage to the rubber boot part of the rod end?

1 minute ago, KenONeill said:

OK, it doesn't sound like the symptoms match what I'd wondered; track rod end wear. Still, I only have one angle to work from. Is there any sign, any sign at all, of damage to the rubber boot part of the rod end?

No, they are relatively new. Maybe 2 years at most. They are still tight and no boot spilts

Put the track rod and wheel back on and and grab the wheel pulling right and left, check for steering play and noises. 

 

Spin the wheel by hand forward and backwards several time, check for a clunk when you change direction, (gearbox check)

 

Repeat the above on the other side as often its not evident which side the noise is really coming from.

 

At the same time check the wheel bearings, and springs. Springs usually break at the very top and can give bangs and clunks as they move around and over the cup/bearing at the top.

 

If that fails, I would suggest you get the car up on a lift with someone experienced and who you trust to check everything for play and deterioration. All the suspension, bushes, track rods, arb, links and drive shafts. At the same time check for evidence of gearbox oil leaks. Should take no longer than 10 mins to locate anything loose or wrong.

 

Never a skoda dealer though.

Edited 6 February, 20224 yr by xman

just incase you was not sure what I meant earlier, and ideally before you take it anywhere, check the item below, I am confident thats your guilty part.

 

 

13 minutes ago, UrbanPanzer said:

just incase you was not sure what I meant earlier, and ideally before you take it anywhere, check the item below, I am confident thats your guilty part.

 

 

 

You may be able to check that simply by pushing/pulling the top of the engine to the back front and listen for the clunk.

As already suggested check the anti roll bar linkages they wear out for a pass time right across the VW / Skoda range and can get quite noisy. Not y expensive either.

11 hours ago, UrbanPanzer said:

just incase you was not sure what I meant earlier, and ideally before you take it anywhere, check the item below, I am confident thats your guilty part.

 

 

Just taken it out and had a look. Doesn't seem to bad. It hasn't gone hard and stiff has plenty of movement 

Edited 6 February, 20224 yr by fabia_simon

Same sort of thing can be due to the gearbox top, or maybe more correctly, the mounting on the LHS of the gearbox being a bit duff, I had that on a 2015 6C Polo 1.2TSI - that car still used the same/similar top and lower mountings and probably the same RHS or engine mounting.

 

Grabbing the engine and trying to rock it fore<>aft proved something was a bit mushy.

I've just put the dog bone mount back in but took up some more slack in the front bolt and it seems to have worked the forward and backwards clunking has gone 🤞🏻 I guess only time will tell now 😂. Thanks guys for all your help and suggestions. Going forward I'm still going to change out the inner tie rods, they're just too loose for my liking anyway plus I have new ones at hand.

@fabia_simon Hi Simon, by the looks of it, I have the same problem on my 07 Fabia. One knock when reversing from parking space and not always. The car was inspected by several mechanics, each one changed parts but without success, the knock is still there.  I'm wondering if you solved your problem and if yes what was the solution. 

By the way, today I've tried to investigate by myself and only thing I found is slight play on left side inner tie rod when pushing it in forward-backward motion ( let's say from firewall to gearbox). Since there's no play in left-right motion I'm wondering could this be some steering rack issue 🤔

Would be grateful for yours and anyone else help.