I've been looking for a knocking noise from the front of my 2012 Fabia TSi for some weeks.

On Monday, I removed the near side Track Rod End from the wheel hub to;

a) See if there was excessive play in the TRE ball joint - I would say no; it wasn't really stiff like a new one but it was still offering a certain amount of resistance (no signs of cuts in the rubber).

b) To judge the condition of the Inner Tie Rod - from the linked (hopefully) photo (via Google Photos) you can see it's unable to support its own weight even;

https://photos.app.goo.gl/H2tvt3j8UaPoyYH98

However, I've googled symptoms of a worn Inner Tie Rod and knocking when driving straight ahead (as mine does) doesn't appear to be one of them (when turning the steering wheel it is a symptom), so have I simply stumbled on another fault with my car (I've already replaced the near side lower suspension arm due to a worn rubber bush) or is it still possible this is what's causing the knocking)?

In my fabia (same engine but wagon) I've chased the same issue, the coulprit was the (UK passenger side) upper handlink bolt loose, they're cheap so consider to replace them.

I've realize that after replacing everything in the suspension scheme, even a wheel bearing with 2k km, in the end when I was replacing the lower control arm balljoint, moving the strut (like steering) when I've reached the steering full lock the handlink moved making the same knock I was listening while driving.

I've also replaced the inner tie rod if you need help feel free to ask.

Edited 19 March19 Mar by Jack25

For inner track rod joint wear, maybe just rock the steering wheel with just the ignition key in to open up the lock.

I've only ever had that issue on a 2002 VW Polo and a 2009 SEAT Ibiza, both of them had electro-hydraulic power steering.

The 2002 VW Polo had an advisory for that in an MOT so I followed that up quickly, confirmed that it was the inner ball joint(s) and replaced both arms and TREs.

The 2009 SEAT Ibiza, I was working on the front suspension, broken spring, and I again rocked the steering wheel, felt/heard a slight "knock" then got my wife to do the steering wheel rocking while I held the track rods tightly so that I could work out if any knocking was coming from them.

You may have noticed I went a bit quiet after @rum4mo 's above post.

That's because that same day I'd done the 'rock the steering wheel' test before reading the post and found very little free play before I could see the tyres moving but have now solved the knocking; I'll update the Noisy suspension thread.