130 Sport TDI - suspension knocking/clunking driving me to despair!

[gileto]

HI

Have an issue with my Passat knocking/clunking on the n/s/f when travelling over rough surfaces/large speedbumps. It also manifests itself sometimes when braking at low speed too. No problem at all when car is up to speed out of town. Noise is definitely just n/s but could possibly be rear too. I've had the sound for a couple of months now, and it has got slightly worse recently (typically, as I'm trying to sell it!). A VW specialist and VW main dealer have had a look. VW specialist replaced track rod end (to no avail) and thought it was probably both front lower control arms, whilst I cant remember what the main dealer said as was dumbstruck when they said £962 but couldn't guarantee to stop the knocking/clunking sound!! Also had n/s outer CV joint and gaiter replaced by another garage in early April.
Anyone know what it is most likely to be???? :zx11:

[smithy602179]

check the drop links or C links as they are sometimes known as . also check all the rubber bushes on suspension arms

[PCDoctor]

Hi Gileto

Im having the same issue and repalcing the front lower rear arm as we speak £60

I Must remember if im in bournemouth looking for a car i need to check for greased up suspension..

I Personnally would not want someone to do that to me but you cant say you have not tried to fix it....

I Will tell you if it works as i have too had garages give me the same run around....

[gileto]

check the drop links or C links as they are sometimes known as . also check all the rubber bushes on suspension arms

I'll see what the specialists say next week. Cheers!

[gileto]

Thanks. Was that £60 including labour, and was it just n/s/f?

[passat tdi130]

if its a dull knock especially when you go over a speed bump it will be the shocker top's mine does it on n/s front obviously need's leg removing to refit new top's...

or

it could even be the dash clunking mine does that as well mainly when turning left or right tho... there is a cure for that but means dash removal it bugs the life outta me but dont warrant removing the dash

[PCDoctor]

Hi All

The arm is fitted and the nocking noise you get through the floor has stopped :)

But there are other issues to check at the moment..

The arm is £60 only and fitted by myself..

Fitting was fairly straight forward except for the sub frame does not drop like everyone says and to get enough clearance to remove the bolt a bar was required to lever the sub frame down and not a job for one person...

[gileto]

if its a dull knock especially when you go over a speed bump it will be the shocker top's mine does it on n/s front obviously need's leg removing to refit new top's...

or

it could even be the dash clunking mine does that as well mainly when turning left or right tho... there is a cure for that but means dash removal it bugs the life outta me but dont warrant removing the dash

It is a dull knock/rumble - but there's no sound when turning left or right, so it's not the dash. Thanks.

[PCDoctor]

Well thats my rumble knocking noises fixed

Front lower rear arms replaced and sorted

Even drove to work and hit the usual bumps and pot holes fixed... :biglaugh:

[caldirun]

I would go for the cheapest and easiest to fit first (and most common), the drop links!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-PASSAT-1996-2005-FRONT-ANTI-ROLL-BAR-DROP-LINKS-X-2-8DO411317D-/320758532312?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3APassat%7CPlat_Gen%3AB5.5%2C3B6&hash=item4aaeb2c8d8 £15 delivered

[Toonmania]

I would put money on the Top mounts they are a common on these but rarely replaced until everything else has been, i have a horrible knocking/cluck on my car but only found out what it was when i fixed a borascope up in the wheel arch and drove down the road whilst a friend watched there was enough movement to dock the QE2 around the mount, hence they will be replaced soon I'm just saving up the money to put some new springs and shocks in whilst I'm at it otherwise i would have done them by now but I don't like doing things twice.:banghead:

[passat tdi130]

the clunk you can hear is the top mounts on the shocker i have replaced both front and rear lower arms C links and track rod end's the only 2 that have not been changed is the upper arm's i will do them next year now at the same time the shockers and springs will be done along with the top mount's

after that said so long as the C link's bushes are not worn through then they may knock a bit

[passat tdi130]

i did say it was a 2 man job also i did say the sub frame need's to be pulled down on the rear arm's its ok on the front does not need any sub bolts undoing....
Hi All

The arm is fitted and the nocking noise you get through the floor has stopped :)

But there are other issues to check at the moment..

The arm is £60 only and fitted by myself..

Fitting was fairly straight forward except for the sub frame does not drop like everyone says and to get enough clearance to remove the bolt a bar was required to lever the sub frame down and not a job for one person...

[caldirun]

I changed all the arms, links and rod ends on my tdi 100 last year, its now very quiet over rough surfaces. If you plan to remove the springs get some serious spring compressors as they are very hard to compress, you will also need a long reach socket with an external hex to remove the top nut ( I stripped my struts but everything was in perfect condition so I did not replace anything!)

the clunk you can hear is the top mounts on the shocker i have replaced both front and rear lower arms C links and track rod end's the only 2 that have not been changed is the upper arm's i will do them next year now at the same time the shockers and springs will be done along with the top mount's

after that said so long as the C link's bushes are not worn through then they may knock a bit

[Toonmania]

i've replaced all of the arms top and bottom just these top mounts and shocks to do