Knock from front - What else can it be?

D

Designaction

Member
This is driving me mad. Can anyone help?
My wife's 1.4 A2 has had a solid knock noise coming from the front offside whenever going over a bump (or a pothole).
Originally I had a number of private garages look it over a number of times but they could not find anything out of the ordinary.
Firstly the anti roll bar bushes were changed... but knocking still persisted.
I recently had to transport a washing machine in the back and noticed that the knocking only occurred when hitting larger holes or bumps so I thought it might be the shock absorbers.
Now the top mounts have been changed and shock absorbers. They were totally wrecked. The garage said that the springs were a bit weak and that he had put rubber bungs to cushion the springs. The knocking still remained but not as bad.
Unfortunately it now as bad as it was originally and I can't think what else to change.
Any advice would be helpful.

Mike
 
Designaction said:
This is driving me mad. Can anyone help?
My wife's 1.4 A2 has had a solid knock noise coming from the front offside whenever going over a bump (or a pothole).
Originally I had a number of private garages look it over a number of times but they could not find anything out of the ordinary.
Firstly the anti roll bar bushes were changed... but knocking still persisted.
I recently had to transport a washing machine in the back and noticed that the knocking only occurred when hitting larger holes or bumps so I thought it might be the shock absorbers.
Now the top mounts have been changed and shock absorbers. They were totally wrecked. The garage said that the springs were a bit weak and that he had put rubber bungs to cushion the springs. The knocking still remained but not as bad.
Unfortunately it now as bad as it was originally and I can't think what else to change.
Any advice would be helpful.

Mike
Click to expand...

The first thing to do is to check the rear corners of the bonnet. Just tap down on each with the palm of your hand (each corner by the windscreen) and see if that reproduces the noise.

But as Bretti says, the chances are it is the drop links, not expensive to buy and reasonably easy to fit, but check the bonnet first.

Steve B
 
Thanks for responses.
I am not a mechanic but not sure about drop links as it is not something that happens at slow speed.. quite the opposite.
The noise is quite a hard knocking noise much like hitting with a hammer but only when going in dips or over bumps on the offside.
I will check the bonnet though.
Thanks
Mike
 
Designaction said:
Thanks for responses.
I am not a mechanic but not sure about drop links as it is not something that happens at slow speed.. quite the opposite.
The noise is quite a hard knocking noise much like hitting with a hammer but only when going in dips or over bumps on the offside.
I will check the bonnet though.
Thanks
Mike
Click to expand...

As I say, it costs nothing to check the bonnet.

But if it is really loud, then it could be a broken spring, that does happen a lot on A2s.

Steve B
 
broken spring is detectable - lift that wheel off the ground, put your hand on the spring and then turn the steering. Should also tell you if there's an issue with the strut bearings.

The other alternative is that your ARB has moved and wasn't put back in the correct place?

And "rubber bungs"? Why? Lose them, now, they should not be necessary. If they fail or work loose while driving, you have no idea what's going to happen. Replace the springs if they're that worn (and they shouldn't be at <100k miles).

- Bret
 
The ARB has been checked before both before and after the bushes have been changed but did not cure the problem. Although I am wondering if it has bent and is knocking on something.
The springs are not broken as this would have been picked up when the shock absorbers were changed? I am not convinced the problem is 'weak springs' as the knocking still can be heard when hitting the smallest of dips/bumps and I don't think the springs have compressed that much.
Not had time yet to check out the bonnet but let's hope it's something as simple as that.
Mike
 
check that the hub nuts are tight, the bottom ball joint is ok and that the wishbone mounting rubbers are all good also.
 
I had this and it turned out to be the bolts that hold the lower arm were loose.
it drove me mad!
they need to be VERY tight
 
The car has been parked up for just over a week now... just driving it now and the knock has gone. Not sure if it will continue with use.
Any clues would be appreciated.
 
Hi, had a similar noise and had suspension checked, but no joy. Even an mot didn't pick up the cause, so I took a punt based on advice from here and other forums and replaced the drop links (arb connecting links). Problem solved!
I got new bilstein items for £20, and if you use a wire brush attachment for your drill to clean the threads and also some release oil before undoing the bolts, they come off easy.
Use the handle for your trolley jack to push the roll bar down (lever the bar down by wedging under the mounting bracket and over the arb, then press down) this will help align the hole in the roll bar with the bottom thread of the drop link.
Took me about 30 minutes a side, and access is really easy once the under tray and wheel is off.
 
Sounds identical to the issue my car had when I bought it, mine was a broken front O/S suspension mount - knocked going over speed-bumps mostly. Bit dumbfounded if these have been replaced because the symptoms fit.
Even more dumbfounded that it's now stopped, very curious.
 
I have the same problem, put new drop links on and going to try new bushes but a suppler says I need 16mm bush but my antiroll bar is 18mm then the plastic bush so I think 20.3mm and they said I'm wrong. Just another common problem with the little turd.
 
I have the arb with the plastic sleeves, but they have broken, so require the smaller bushes. There are vw Polo bushes that should fit and are about £8 the pair.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1426791230.668141.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1426791249.536000.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1426791265.088633.jpg
 
I had the same problem ..... look here :- http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?26347-metallic-quot-clacking-quot-from-front

For some reason, it seemed to go away, but now it is back with a vengeance! I had "Stealth Racing" look at it. They observed that some steel collars on the ARB were making contact with the ARB mounting

brackets, so they cut them away. That was a while ago and the clacking has not been obvious for a while, but just a few days ago, it's back! I will be interested to find out what is the cause on your A2!

David
 
You could wait till its warmer and use hot water on the bushes they should go soft?
The truck mechanics do it for our tight rear bushes but its on larger plant
 
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