suspension issues

[jesum]

Hi folks. Has anybody had these problems before:

1. Popping sounds from the rear right
2. Clunking sounds from the front right

These problems only happen when both wheels (either front or rear) are not at the same level. It is not always reproducible but happens often enough that you can hear it at least once a day. It is most often heard when going up a ramp at an angle. Driving over road undulations at an angle also cause the sounds to be heard.

Parts changed with no results
1. Front - strut bearings, shocks, springs, CV boot, oil seal, ball joint, both front and rear control arm bushings.
2. Rear - strut mounts, shocks, springs, bolts, spring seat rubber (not sure what this is called but it's the piece of rubber that is at the top where the spring rests against). Rear suspension was also refitted as per ETKA's instructions to ensure the angle between the shock and the torsion beam is correct.

All changed with ZERO results. Help??

[Ben_GTI]

Mine does this... but just front end of the car.... It is prob the swaybar. Maybe the bushes need a bit of grease or the drop links are wearing out. To be honest I haven't been bothered by it too much yet.

[jesum]

darn, i knew i missed something in the list there. the drop links have also been changed. all to no avail.

is everyone else's car dead quiet in these areas??

[pixl]

I get these too. Seems to be more pronounced when on full lock.

[noone]

How many kms? Stock suspension?

Have you lubricated the front swaybar?

I'm not sure what the noises are by the descriptions, but it could be the spring shifting on the bed, which could cause a noise that is not really a problem.

[jesum]

about 38,000kms with Eibach springs.

lubricated the front swaybar? you mean the bushings?? hmmmm.....never thought of that.

the thing is, there's another car that is completely stock (suspension wise) and has no such sounds! that unit has done about 35,000kms.

i'll try lubricating the sway bar bushing.

thanks.

[parraeel]

My Polo "clunks" from the front left, but mostly only in reverse. Had it checked, didn't find anything, clunk comes and goes. Has done it since near new.

[jesum]

parraeel - did you bring it back to the dealers to have it checked? what did they check / change? at least i know from a process of elimination that it can't be those parts.

[break]

I'd be checking the drop-links, even if they have been previously replaced.

Incorrect fitment of drop links will causing the knocks to continue.

[noone]

Yeah, the bushings. Jmac has lubricated the bushes on a number of the GTI's.

With low springs, some people have had issues with the droplinks hitting the drive shaft. This would be more predictable as to when it was happening. You should be able to see the clearance by looking under the front of the car with it on the ground.

[parraeel]

parraeel - did you bring it back to the dealers to have it checked? what did they check / change? at least i know from a process of elimination that it can't be those parts.

They didn't change anything. The dealers say they checked all suspension components and couldn't find a problem. And I took it to 2 different dealers. The knock in my car is sometimes really loud and sometimes barely noticeable. Sometimes it's not there at all. I've become used to it, and it doesn't affect the handling of the car in any way, so I live with it. But next service I might get them to look at the control arm bushes and the drop links anyway.

[ellie]

I'd like to pull this from the cupboard again if I may? I have only just bought my polo with only 27,000km. I have this excat issue = Knock coming from the front right when the chassis is under a twisting torsion when the wheel gets loaded or unloaded. Will only knock once but can hear it regularly due to my friends and my drive ways being on sloping properties.
Has anyone found or been given an answer (from a dealer) to this yet?

[Buller_Scott]

is the car bone stock?

[ellie]

Absoluteley, bone, dead stock! couldn't get any more stock if it tried.
I can speculate as to what it would be as good as the other 5 threads about it, but, i was interested in wether someone had actually (someone personally) stumbled accross something that had fixed/changed the issue or had it rectified by their dealer?
If not, I'm sure I can work with the dealer to locate the issue. I was just hoping someone could short cut the process?

Thanks in advance

[noone]

Bearings. When I had coilovers installed the old ones had broken but still holding the ball-bearings. Top hats may need changing too. If you are looking to source some good aftermarket ones from OS, I'd be interested. This has been discussed before, but didn't go through.