Workshop recommendation for suspension work - Sydney area

[ABCD]

Hi
I am the second owner of a 2018 Golf R that has the creaking front suspension issue. I am a previous Golf 7 owner that had the exact same suspension noise so I am all too familiar with the "special lithium grease" fix that VW dealers use to manage the issue until the warranty period has expired. Now that my R is out of warranty I am keen to avoid what I suspect might be nothing more than a bit of the old "special lithium grease" dabbed here and there and take the car to a reputable suspension shop to get it done properly ie suspension control arms etc removed, bearings inspected and lithium greased and single use bolts replaced.
Any recommendations for this work in the Sydney area, preferably East/South East, would be much appreciated.

[amunra]

Hi
I am the second owner of a 2018 Golf R that has the creaking front suspension issue. I am a previous Golf 7 owner that had the exact same suspension noise so I am all too familiar with the "special lithium grease" fix that VW dealers use to manage the issue until the warranty period has expired. Now that my R is out of warranty I am keen to avoid what I suspect might be nothing more than a bit of the old "special lithium grease" dabbed here and there and take the car to a reputable suspension shop to get it done properly ie suspension control arms etc removed, bearings inspected and lithium greased and single use bolts replaced.
Any recommendations for this work in the Sydney area, preferably East/South East, would be much appreciated.

Creaking suspension is the top strut mounts .. need to get heavy duty ones if u wanna fix the problem properly..

[petemac110]

Creaking suspension is the top strut mounts

That's one potential source of noise for sure, but the control arm bushes are a very well known issue - to the extent that VAG have released various TSBs on how to deal with it (i.e. the 'special lithium grease' fix that the OP has described above and is mentioned here:

Circular (nhtsa.gov)

If the lithium grease has previously fixed the issue but the noise has since returned after a period of time (i.e. once the grease wears away from the bushing contact point), I'd suggest we're looking at the culprit right there.

For the MK7 there are various aftermarket alloy and pressed steel control arms from Whiteline and Superpro which replace the rubber bushing with a solid poly bushing, but I have no direct experience with how they perform and/or sound, particularly regarding NVH. I'm still yet to determine whether the control arms from the MK7 and the Passat B8 are interchangeable (I'm a dirty Passat owner), as I have the same MQB lower control arm bush issue which is rectified by routine greasing of the bush. I'm definitely keen to find a more permanent solution.

In the south-east of Sydney, Heasmans has a very good reputation, although they are not VW specialists as such.

Sports Car and 4×4 Suspension | Heasman Steering – Sydney – Offering a wide range of car racing suspension, lift kits, shock absorbers and 4×4 air suspension services in Sydney.

[Lucas_R]

Several workshops in the east, not far how south you mean.

VW Village in Kensington
Central Autohaus in Alexandria
Wolfsburg Motors in St Peters
Techo European Motorsport in Caringbah
Southern Eurotech Automotive in Kirrawee

Start with new strut tops and bearings. Then if the creaking still persists it will be your lower control arm bushings. I replaced the strut tops and bearings in my Mk7 GTI and it fixed 95% of the problem, but I still get creaking when going in and out of driveways - so im changing the lower control arms next and hopefully that will be the end of it.

[minke]

Several workshops in the east, not far how south you mean.

VW Village in Kensington
Central Autohaus in Alexandria
Wolfsburg Motors in St Peters
Techo European Motorsport in Caringbah
Southern Eurotech Automotive in Kirrawee

Start with new strut tops and bearings. Then if the creaking still persists it will be your lower control arm bushings. I replaced the strut tops and bearings in my Mk7 GTI and it fixed 95% of the problem, but I still get creaking when going in and out of driveways - so im changing the lower control arms next and hopefully that will be the end of it.

Did you R&R the strut top/bearings with OEM? or have you gone with something else?

[Lucas_R]

Did you R&R the strut top/bearings with OEM? or have you gone with something else?

I sourced new OEM strut tops and bearings via AutoInstruct and fitted them myself along with 034 Motorsport lowering springs.

SACHS Strut Mount – VW Golf Mk7 Standard/GTI/R & Audi 8V A3/S3 – AutoInstruct

SACHS Strut Bearing – VW Golf Mk7 Standard/GTI/R & Audi 8V A3/S3 – AutoInstruct

[amunra]

lithium grease was a fix that the shop uses for the top strut mounts.

but you know best ofcourse.

the strut mounts are a globally well known issue from the bottom line golfs all the way to the golf rs as they use a cheap plastic strut mounts which degrade quickly and creaks.. probably a cheaper and more effective fix for the creaking that replacing control arms and what not.

[petemac110]

lithium grease was a fix that the shop uses for the top strut mounts.

but you know best ofcourse.

the strut mounts are a globally well known issue from the bottom line golfs all the way to the golf rs as they use a cheap plastic strut mounts which degrade quickly and creaks.. probably a cheaper and more effective fix for the creaking that replacing control arms and what not.

As per the TSB I posted, lithium grease is also use on the lower control arm bushes as a dealer fix for noise. It's nothing to do with 'knowing best' (BTW I'm still not sure about the regular jibes in my direction... if you want to hold my hand, all you have to do is ask )- it's VAG's solution to one source of front suspension noise.

Nowhere did I say that it couldn't be strut mounts.

However... if we re-read the OP's post:

"Now that my R is out of warranty I am keen to avoid what I suspect might be nothing more than a bit of the old "special lithium grease" dabbed here and there and take the car to a reputable suspension shop to get it done properly ie suspension control arms etc removed, bearings inspected and lithium greased and single use bolts replaced."

Based upon this description, do you reckon this is referring to lower control arms that have previously been greased (as per the dealer fix and TSB) and need to be addressed post-warranty, or strut mounts?

[amunra]

the common fix to creaking suspension from VW is lithium grease on the top strut mount.. fixes the problem for a couple of weeks. as they use the same cheap strut mounts thru all the models from base model to golf R.

end of story

-p.s based upon the description... I would go and buy replacement heavy duty strut mounts $100 each x 2. and install them. or buy the same quality oem ones for $50 and prepare to have the same problem in 6 months.,



As for shop recommendations.. I would highly advise to stay away from VW VILLAGE - Kensington , for reasons ive posted clearly before in this forum to the dismay of some retard mods who seem to have a problem with people voicing personal storys of shady business practices of said mechanics on their highly expensive machinery.... because they thought i was talking about their own business...

[petemac110]

the common fix to creaking suspension from VW is lithium grease on the top strut mount.. fixes the problem for a couple of weeks. as they use the same cheap strut mounts thru all the models from base model to golf R.

end of story

-p.s based upon the description... I would go and buy replacement heavy duty strut mounts $100 each x 2. and install them. or buy the same quality oem ones for $50 and prepare to have the same problem in 6 months.,

It's absolutely one fix, but it won't help if the source of the noise is binding lower control arm bushes

Appreciate the recommendation from Lucas and yourself re: the heavy duty strut mounts. I suspect I will replace them in future at the same time as doing my control arm bushes - might as well tackle both.

[amunra]

lucas said he installed OEM strut mounts.. prob gonna have the same issue soon enough

u need the heavy duty ones

[Lucas_R]

It's absolutely one fix, but it won't help if the source of the noise is binding lower control arm bushes

Appreciate the recommendation from Lucas and yourself re: the heavy duty strut mounts. I suspect I will replace them in future at the same time as doing my control arm bushes - might as well tackle both.

I highly do not recommend the 034 Motorsport street density mounts. I tried these first and they were terrible - sounded like the front suspension was loose. So i took them out (after only being installed for a few weeks) and replaced with the OEM mounts.

[petemac110]

im sure if the 034 reinforced strut mounts are as bad as u said thered be a few reviews about them online

"034 strut mount golf noisy" reveals plenty of bad reviews and feedback via google.

[ABCD]

Getting back on track here...
Thanks all for recommendation on suspension specialists.
Based on my ownership experience of several Golf models I reckon the "noisy front suspension" issue is really luck of the draw with respect to OEM suspension parts. I/we have now owned/still own 3 Golf 7/7.5s all of which I believe use the same spec strut mounts/bearings and bushes.
The Golf 7 Comfortline I referred to in my original post was owned from new. It had various "suspension noises" that started from early on:
- the "creak" from the front end descending speed humps or narrow undulations, which VW eventually attributed to front control arm bushes, and which could be settled down for a few months with the magical lithium grease
- a more elusive tapping sound best heard from the front end that was under load when cornering on a downhill section of road. VW who in spite of road testing the vehicle numerous times without ever actually being able to hear it were nonetheless certain this was a normal operational sound related to the the shock absorber design ie due to the outer cover coming into contact with the body of the strut when under load. It all sounded like a load of bollocks to me and I eventually gave up worrying about it. Based on the your discussion above I reckon this sound would have been due to the strut mounts and bearings.
- a hollow tapping sound from the rear, best heard on corrugated road surfaces. Based on a 2 inch long marking on the top surface of the rear bumper right under the lower edge of the boot lid I am convinced the sound was caused by the hatch bouncing on its hinges and striking the bumper beneath it. I could tell that this would immediately be dismissed by VW as being within "normal operational tolerances" or similar and I never bothered taking it further.
This car was replaced by a Golf GTi Mk 7.5. This has done about 45K kms, owned from new, and driven on pretty much the same roads as the Comfortline. 18 inch wheels and lower profile tyres. It has the DCC set to "standard". I have never heard any hint of "suspension noise". Ever.
Fast forward to my new to me Golf R - a 2018 Golf 7.5 purchased about 6 months ago and now with about 50K km. It is already sounding very much like our old Comfortline, and based on above the suspension sounds must be due to both the strut mounts and the control arm bushes.
So when I have decided I can't stand the noises any longer (and noting that things do seem quieter during wet weather) I reckon I will look at the strut mounts and control arm bushes and stick with OEM given how well things are working in the GTi

[amunra]

Getting back on track here...
Thanks all for recommendation on suspension specialists.
Based on my ownership experience of several Golf models I reckon the "noisy front suspension" issue is really luck of the draw with respect to OEM suspension parts. I/we have now owned/still own 3 Golf 7/7.5s all of which I believe use the same spec strut mounts/bearings and bushes.
The Golf 7 Comfortline I referred to in my original post was owned from new. It had various "suspension noises" that started from early on:
- the "creak" from the front end descending speed humps or narrow undulations, which VW eventually attributed to front control arm bushes, and which could be settled down for a few months with the magical lithium grease
- a more elusive tapping sound best heard from the front end that was under load when cornering on a downhill section of road. VW who in spite of road testing the vehicle numerous times without ever actually being able to hear it were nonetheless certain this was a normal operational sound related to the the shock absorber design ie due to the outer cover coming into contact with the body of the strut when under load. It all sounded like a load of bollocks to me and I eventually gave up worrying about it. Based on the your discussion above I reckon this sound would have been due to the strut mounts and bearings.
- a hollow tapping sound from the rear, best heard on corrugated road surfaces. Based on a 2 inch long marking on the top surface of the rear bumper right under the lower edge of the boot lid I am convinced the sound was caused by the hatch bouncing on its hinges and striking the bumper beneath it. I could tell that this would immediately be dismissed by VW as being within "normal operational tolerances" or similar and I never bothered taking it further.
This car was replaced by a Golf GTi Mk 7.5. This has done about 45K kms, owned from new, and driven on pretty much the same roads as the Comfortline. 18 inch wheels and lower profile tyres. It has the DCC set to "standard". I have never heard any hint of "suspension noise". Ever.
Fast forward to my new to me Golf R - a 2018 Golf 7.5 purchased about 6 months ago and now with about 50K km. It is already sounding very much like our old Comfortline, and based on above the suspension sounds must be due to both the strut mounts and the control arm bushes.
So when I have decided I can't stand the noises any longer (and noting that things do seem quieter during wet weather) I reckon I will look at the strut mounts and control arm bushes and stick with OEM given how well things are working in the GTi

after reading thru a page of the upgraded top strut mount reviews on the golfmk7 forums.. seems like a bit of a mixed bag with results ... people getting noises from different combos of suspension setups / lowered springs / coil overs e.t.c e.t.c so hard to know whats really been doing by these guys and if the strut mounts are actually no good or if the install jobs are no good.


would be hard to take lucas' gti word for 100% that the 034 mounts are no good as he is prone to installing parts incorrectly already.

I also did see someone point out in that thread that it has to do with the spring orientation when putting it back in which might lead to noises due to rubbing on another part from the spring... some guys have said they straight up dont get the noises ever with the upgrade..

And some people have said they did not tighten the bolts correctly / reinstall their suspension correctly and needed to re-do it and the problem went away.

if you do undo your suspension.. try to take note of this spring orientation (which might lead to some rubbing on another part which leads to the noises or maybe clicking under load).

personally.. i have only had this caravan squeaking noise at lower speeds, undulations in the road / speedbumps / load on the suspension going up steep driveway e.t.c after about 20 - 30,000kms life.. no other clicking or weird things

VW straight up ignored my complaint a few times, they didnt even give me the magic lithium grease.

Personally i've stopped caring as I have other fish to fry with VW and hopefully will get these strut mounts replaced with some other poorly made things that need fixing like warped and falling apart foam in the drivers seat and the blue led light that stopped working when i had to open the door up to get the loose metal pieces out of what was meant to be a new replacement passenger door... Clearly, it was not.