Suspension knock

[labeline]

I have now had the entire front suspension checked over and am told there are no signs of anything knocking. The mechanic said it sounded more like a rattle than a knock so next move is to take the plate off the bottom to see if there is anything loose. If not I am just going to start replacing stuff. Top mounts and shocks first and then take it from there. The noise didn’t go away when the drop links were replaced so it’s not them although that was a couple of years ago so I will change them again anyway. It’s driving us nuts!

[bikergraham]

I have now had the entire front suspension checked over and am told there are no signs of anything knocking. The mechanic said it sounded more like a rattle than a knock so next move is to take the plate off the bottom to see if there is anything loose. If not I am just going to start replacing stuff. Top mounts and shocks first and then take it from there. The noise didn’t go away when the drop links were replaced so it’s not them although that was a couple of years ago so I will change them again anyway. It’s driving us nuts!

Yes these little noises are so irritating aren't they , I can sympathise with your pain , it can be very expensive and time consuming replacing parts unnecessarily , what  you have to decide is , is the noise enough for you to start spending a lot of money  when your car is safe as you have had  inspections and have the thumbs up from the garage . Good luck anyway and please if you manage to cure it let us know .

[labeline]

I have now had the entire front suspension checked over and am told there are no signs of anything knocking. The mechanic said it sounded more like a rattle than a knock so next move is to take the plate off the bottom to see if there is anything loose. If not I am just going to start replacing stuff. Top mounts and shocks first and then take it from there. The noise didn’t go away when the drop links were replaced so it’s not them although that was a couple of years ago so I will change them again anyway. It’s driving us nuts!

Yes these little noises are so irritating aren't they , I can sympathise with your pain , it can be very expensive and time consuming replacing parts unnecessarily , what  you have to decide is , is the noise enough for you to start spending a lot of money  when your car is safe as you have had  inspections and have the thumbs up from the garage . Good luck anyway and please if you manage to cure it let us know .

I will. I suspect that if we can’t find anything under the plate then I will just start changing things. It’s passed it’s CT and two mechanics have looked at it as well as myself. It only happens on rough roads. It doesn’t do it in normal driving or on normal road surfaces, only crappy ones. There are so many things it could be. It’s a strange one. Once we have done the under plate checks we will discuss what to do first. Anti roll bar bushes and drop links are cheapest and then on to the big stuff.

[smiddlewood]

Apologies to resurrect an old thread, but did you get to the bottom of it?

I have the same issue on a 11 plate. I've changed the drop links to no avail, and the new antiroll bar bushes are sitting on top of the toolbox ready to be installed.

I still have another 6 months on the used warranty so if the bushes don't cure it I'm planning to head to the dealer. Would love to know what to target straight away if you found out?
At the moment stop end of the dampers/springs seems to be a good start?

Thanks!

[hawkeyefxr]

I had this just last year, the knocking came from the front at low speeds over manholes and drains. Went to my local mechanic i have used for quite a few years. He went ocer it with a big lever (his words) but could not get any movement anywhere but agreed with me the know was there.
Turned out it was the top mounts and the shocks themselves, shocks were changed and new top bushes installed.
No more knocks, have to say i was a little surprised as the car is a 2013 model, i would have though that this was rather young i would think a car would be 10 years old before this kind of wear.

[bikergraham]

I had this just last year, the knocking came from the front at low speeds over manholes and drains. Went to my local mechanic i have used for quite a few years. He went ocer it with a big lever (his words) but could not get any movement anywhere but agreed with me the know was there.
Turned out it was the top mounts and the shocks themselves, shocks were changed and new top bushes installed.
No more knocks, have to say i was a little surprised as the car is a 2013 model, i would have though that this was rather young i would think a car would be 10 years old before this kind of wear.

I wonder whether you actually needed both the top mounts and the shocks , like you say , rather early for shocks to be needed . Ive got a " 02 " Mk 1 and i fitted replacement shocks about 5 years ago , i made the mistake of putting on gas filled shocks and they've been very noisy , they seem to " rattle " and have very little rebound which only affects them when coming of sleeping policemen and suchlike , they extend with an almighty thud . Im considering whether or not to replace them again with oil filled as per O.E. Its an old car but a goodun and shocks are now very cheap . It always passes the MOT without problems so i may do it in the spring . With the later models am i right in thinking the springs are seated on  plastic rather than metal as mine is ? Do you think this may have been the culprit ?

[hawkeyefxr]

I elected to have the top mounts done if the shocks were worn. He showed me the shocks and the shaft was quite loose as it entered the body of the shock, i said while they were out to change the top mounts. Did not want a second visit for the mounts at a later date.

[SteveE]

Front Coil spring / Shock Top mounts ?
My car was making an awful loud rattle type knocking noise over rough ground especially at low speeds, yet was fine on 'smoother' roads and Motorway driving etc. Turned out to be the top mounts - the centre mount bonding splits and comes away from the rubber, you can't see this when they're on the car and next to no play - mine passed it's MOT no problem. Changed them and the noise was no more, video shows the damaged on one of them..
https://youtu.be/hlkAc_4RZ-A

[bikergraham]

Front Coil spring / Shock Top mounts ?
My car was making an awful loud rattle type knocking noise over rough ground especially at low speeds, yet was fine on 'smoother' roads and Motorway driving etc. Turned out to be the top mounts - the centre mount bonding splits and comes away from the rubber, you can't see this when they're on the car and next to no play - mine passed it's MOT no problem. Changed them and the noise was no more, video shows the damaged on one of them..
https://youtu.be/hlkAc_4RZ-A

Thank you Steve for taking the time to video the problem , always makes more sense than trying to explain . My top mounts , bearings , springs , and shocks were all done at the same time . In my opinion its better to do the whole lot as its not a 5 minute job to do yourself .Im afraid i have to say i wouldnt trust a garage they always seem to find more than is necessary ! It always amazes me how these things can pass the MOT , even though the pass / fail is in the hands of the tester im sure there are " grey " areas and it would depend on how the car is looked after / how clean is it etc ,whereas an unloved heap would fail .

[Romahomepete]

The bearings in the top mounts are pathetic, the seals fail and they are open to the elements, if the suspension has to come apart for any other reason (broken spring etc) you should always change the top mount bearing.

Peter