Is this possible? Supposedly had new ones fitted under warranty shortly after buying the car in January (29k) and I'm suspecting these are the source of my knocking coming from the front (43k).

My previous thread described clonks coming from my front suspension when turning tight corners at low speed and the outside wheel (whichever one it happens to be depending on turning left or right) is shocked with a bump and seems to cause clonks and knocks that could be felt through the steering and heard in the cabin.

After reading some other posts and driving the car for a little longer I'm coming to the conclusion it's ARB related as I'm sure I can now feel the trademark knocking when driving over rough surfaces at low speed. I've checked the ARB collars a few times and they're still there on both sides but I've always ignored the drop links themselves as I assumed with them being replaced by the dealer in January that they'd be fine for ages.....am I wrong? Also, I've never really scrutinised the bushes/ clamps either but at first glance they 'looked' ok.

Tempted to buy some new ones tomorrow from the dealer (and perhaps some ARB bushes whilst I'm at it) to see if it helps at all. It's also been mentioned that this could be the cause of the clunk when I brake in reverse (think it was TeflonTom that said this).

I drive over really ****ty road surfaces on a daily basis (West Yorkshire is appalling for this - every road is shagged) and also loads of speedbumps too so perhaps they have gone?

What do you reckon? Worth a shot?

Cheers,

Chris.

No doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but the crappy ARBs with the plastic collars/stops should not have been still being fitted to cars by the date your one was built. You can easily check if the ARB is "new" type or "old" type if you can get a small magnetic pick-up probe thing to "stick" to the end stop at the mounting bush - it will "stick" to the later metal collar but not to the earlier plastic collar. Next, I thought that the drop links had also been improved - so they should still be okay. Finally, our old friend, the TCA voided rear bushes - have they been replaced yet and are they still the standard voided ones? Next!?

LOL. Ok, the collars are still attached and there's no sign of rust around them to bust them off. The console bushes have been changed for non voided ones as they were creaking over speed bumps which was driving me potty.

Mine lasted 9.5k :(

Well, I replaced them today and it's not made that much of a difference to the clunking noise. It feels better over rough surfaces but hit a bump mid bend and whichever side's been hit makes a knock felt through the steering.

The ARB is tip top (as are the bushes which I contemplated changing but there's a wierd square bolt holding the clamps on). I wiggled it around whilst the drop links were off and the action was fine. My console bushes are new (non voided ones) and the springs aren't broken. It's almost like something's catching the track rod end if I go over a bump whilst turning. Wierd.

My drop links were knackered though. 9 months/ 14k in and the rubbers were all split and they felt really slack. I'm not surprised the go quite often as if you turn the wheel you can see the movement they have to make between the ARB and the strut where they attach.

the ARB bracket that clamps the bushes up is held on by 2 (13mm headed) bolts , accessed at the front of the console , i suspect you were looking at the captive (square) nuts on the bracket itself

my drop links were replaced at 46k and showed no signs of wear/play , i only changed them because i was changing the ARB due to the collars breaking

my car still knocks , and i've basically got all new stuff on the front , ARB, drop links , Cupra bushes etc

the ARB bracket that clamps the bushes up is held on by 2 (13mm headed) bolts , accessed at the front of the console , i suspect you were looking at the captive (square) nuts on the bracket itself

my drop links were replaced at 46k and showed no signs of wear/play , i only changed them because i was changing the ARB due to the collars breaking

my car still knocks , and i've basically got all new stuff on the front , ARB, drop links , Cupra bushes etc

Hmm.....I'm not sure if I'm expecting too much then. Everything in there looks fine and all the usual bits have been replaced. I'll look into doing the ARB bushes again at some point now I know how to get the brackets off.

As I say, straight line....all is well. Bends, clunkety clunk clunk. Bloody thing.

Next on the agenda is new tyres all round and new front discs and pads.

Then it's a RARB.....want one......

Drop links are about £18 each and take about 15 minutes to fit.

I used to go through a pair every track day.

Yeah, came to about £40 for the bits inc vat and took no time at all to fit. Took longer to jack the car up and take the wheels off.

I don't know if mine are goosed or not:confused:

The wifes SE seems a bit 'tauter' as it were, but it's new, and should be, compared to mine with 30k on the clock.

Is it detrimental? because mine handles ok, and doesn't crash or bang over our lovely Yorkshire roads.

Should I get it checked?

I'm getting paranoid now.....

It's hard to tell with them on the car TBH. Once I had mine off I could wiggle the ball joints and the rubbers were completely split. They also felt really slack. They're cheap enough and easy to do so it's worth it for piece of mind IMO. These and console bushes have made the front end feel much taughter even if it has not fixed my clunking.

Hmmm.....seems I'm not the only one with this. http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/vrs-noisy-full-lock/64619/

Really sorry about this weekend mate, just everything seems to be happening at once. Twas the vac control unit again. and at 90 odd quid a pop i hope it doesnt go again. :(

Ive been through two sets of these bloody things now, and thats around 10k per set. Might be because my car has been lowered, then highered then lowered and finally highered where its staying.

I sometimes get a loud knock if i brake over a pothole or a bump but i dont get anything when turning.

Might be the track rod end? I swapped my drivers side on about 4 months ago. cost about 14 quid and took about ten mins to fit.

Not to worry mate. Got the bits fitted on me driveway.

The knock's a really odd one, like something is catching the track rod end or something. With the car jacked up everything is a long way apart but it's hard to tell with the car on the ground as the wheel is in the way but I may have to try as it's bugging me. It clunked several times tday as I went over bumps.

Could it be a gearbox mount clunking as it flexes?

Nah, I've already lubedthat up and the noise comes from whichever side of the car that is bumped, not the gearbox mount. I've already had that one and it's a different noise and location to what I currently get. Ta for the suggestion though.

Have you tried having a mate or yourself stood by a bump listening for the noise to pinpoint it exactly?

I must admit it would drive me crackers.

It has taken me a month to find a small rattle inside mine, and it sent me mad, but now I know where it's coming from I can live with it, until I can be arsed fixing it.

Wishbone bushes or dogbone engine mount... money is on teh wishbone bushes.

Wishbone bushes or dogbone engine mount... money is on teh wishbone bushes.

Yup, front wishbone bushes would explain it.

Chris did urs not get changed by awesome when thye did the console bushes?

Yup, they did the lot, and the dogbone mount has already been changed a couple of months back. The knocking comes from BOTH sides of the car depending on which side is shocked and comes through the steering.