I have a 2011 liftback, with 160k km/ 100k miles. I'm getting some noise coming from the front passenger corner. This is noticeable when on rough roads, particularly when cornering left, i.e. unloading the wheel in question. I've replaced sway bar links (front and rear) as I read that a fairly common problem. This doesn't appear to have done much, if anything, to reduce the noise.

I can't detect any movement in the ball joint trying to shake the wheel by hand or levering around the joint with the car lifted. The strut top mounts show no movement when I bounce the car. The wishbone bushings are starting to crack but don't look super far gone.

What would you look at next?

Maybe just the wishbone bushings then.

Could be antiroll bar bushes or perhaps a bad cv joint/propshaft as its more noticeable when turning. Check the top mount again and also the top strut bolt. Had an annoying tack tack noise on mine and discovered the top strut nut needed tightening. Why it came loose I don't know. It started soon after I got the car so I assume at some point strut had been removed/broken spring and not torqued up properly.

Alasdair

Anti-roll bar bushes seem to be a frequent VAG thing.. took mine, with a suspension creak on uneven bits like speed bumps, to my regular MOT garage who said they'd seen it on a number of VAG cars. If it gets too annoying the bushes can be changed, but if there's no play they will pass MOT.

Thanks for the suggestions. Any idea if it's possible to change the anti-roll bar bushes without removing the subframe?

Top strut nut is an interesting one, though the noise is dull so I'm assuming it's one of the rubbers.

Yup, the arb bushes come in 2 halves, so easy enough to replace as long as the clamp bolts aren’t seized solid.

Febi do a pretty decent replacement

Nice, might try those next.

So scrutinising things a bit more, I have some movement in the top mount: https://youtu.be/7xSevRTdy0I

The driver's side moves about 1/3 as much with the same effort so I reckon this is likely the culprit. Doesn't feel like free movement, but I suppose the rubber must have broken to move this much, right?

ARB bushes are cracked, but seem pretty tight on the bar.

It would be silly to not change both top mounts, right?

You would get away with changing one but I personally would do both. It could be the rubber but also perhaps the bearing is failing. I always do anything suspension/steering in pairs but in the past have had to change one side and do the other later due to needing car all the time. Last ones I did on a mk2 octavia the small bolts that secure top mount to turret wouldnt come out as the encapsulated nuts were just turning. I managed to get a few extension bars from strut side to hold them while undoing bolts. Ended up replacing front shocks and new springs while I was at it as one was starting to go and springs looked pretty rusty. Used KYB parts and have had no problems for a few years now. From memory you are supposed to renew bolt that holds strut to steering knuckle. The top mounts are marked on the originals with arrows and have a specific direction for fitting. Not my favourite job but fairly straight forward as long as everything comes off.

The ARB bushes look worn but if solid on bar cant see them being the culprit.

Alasdair

Thanks for the insight. I've skimmed the technical manual and it looks like most of the hardware is single use. I think I'll need a couple of new tools as well.

I used a small cold chisel to open strut base to remove from knuckle. I also did the spring replacement myself. Its a job I hate doing and might be worth asking local garage to swap top mounts if you remove struts they will have a safe! spring compressor and probably wouldnt charge you too much. Check condition of struts as well as last thing you want to do is to repeat job if one starts leaking etc.

Alasdair

Sachs top mount kits are about half the price of KYB or Monroe (in Australia). Are the Sachs ones ok?

Reckon Sachs will be good. From experience there master cylinders and clutches etc are excellent and generally sachs get a good name for aftermarket parts.

Alasdair

If your taking off struts in the hunt for a noise I would definitely replace mounts and bearings on both for piece of mind.

Front ARB bushes are a bit of a nightmare as the bush is encapsulated in a welded together bracket so takes quite a bit of work and modifying to get off and back on. Yours look good from here.