MY15 mk3 Octavia with creaking rear suspension on the right side.

 

Last time, to cure the problem, I have applied some silicone WD45 on the bushing, the spring beds and on shock absorber's bottom around the bolt. It was good for some time, the creaking has gone but came back again, and as annoying as before. So, I did the same treatement again, but this time it had no effect. This car has the cheaper torsion beam suspension, so not too many parts are involved, but still difficult to tell which part is making the dreaded noise.

I have recorded the noise by placing my phone on the top of the rear wheel, and shaking the car by the luggage rack.

I've been reading many posts here and on VW forums and watching bunch of YT videos, but still couldn't figure out - bushing or shock absorber ? What do you think ?

Skoda Octavia rear suspension noise.mp3

Broken spring? Sounds a bit metallic for a bushing? 

Yes, it sounds like metal on metal, but to my (untrained) eyes the spring looks intact.

Broken springs can be difficult to spot, I've had four. On level ground check the height wheel to wheel arch both sides, are they the same? Most including mine, but not all, break close to the bottom of the spring.

They are not the same, but interestingley the distance between the wheel to wheel arch is bigger by approx. 1cm (less than half an inch) on the right side, where the noise is coming from.

If I measure the ground-wheel arch distance the difference is much less, only few mm's.

The same difference can be measured on the front wheels as well.

Now after one day of the silicone treatment, the noise is quieter, so I tend to think of the bushes.