Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
Hi
Im still trying to cure an annoying click from the front offside suspension of my Avant 1.9 TDI
I recently changed the front offside wheel bearing which cured the obvious rumbling
However car has creaks and groans for a while prior to the bearing change
i cant get it to make a noise when car is jacked up and all ball joints examined no play in joints.
However i thought the rubber bushes looked a bit tired
therefore i have changed the two bottom arms
i have changed the 2 top arms
the creaking seems to have gone, but not the clunks
i changed the drop links about 2 years ago, so i dont think they are causing it
i have placed the car on wooden blocks and had my wife rocking the steering when stationary without any noises
but as soon as i drive off and "twitch " the wheel click
can anyone suggest where next please?
Cheers
Re: Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
When you tightened up the arm bushing points, did you do this with the suspension loaded at ride height or fully dropped at damper max extension? Have you had the strut apart, i.e. spring off? Did you replace every single bolt and nut you removed?
Re: Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Crasher
When you tightened up the arm bushing points, did you do this with the suspension loaded at ride height or fully dropped at damper max extension? Have you had the strut apart, i.e. spring off? Did you replace every single bolt and nut you removed?
Hi and thanks for reading my post
when I replaced top arms I tighten them into position as detailed in Haynes manual
i.e 1 at 82mm and the other at 70mm from top of strut. Strut was removed to replace them
the bottom 2 were changed with car off the ground with strut fully extended
all bolts changed.
Re: Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
You did the top two correctly although the figures sound odd but as I am at home I can’t check them.
So the strut has not been dismantled to your knowledge?
The idea of the procedure for the top arms is to simulate their position when at normal ride height, what you have done with the lower inner bushes is to tighten them up unloaded and then when you put the car on the floor they are then twisted around like the car has another car sitting on top of it and then when you drive they are twisted even further and this quickly destroys them.
Re: Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
Hi again
i understand what you are saying
so presumably I could place the car on axle stands, slacken bolts in lower arms
then raise the hub to the correct height as if stood on ground (measured from wheel arch to hub centre?)
then re-tighten the lower arm bolts.
if you can confirm sequence I’ll give that a try tonight
question can the seats above below the spring cause an issue like this?
i can see in euro parts web site the top seating is a replaceable item
havent tried that as I haven’t got a spring compressor YET
Re: Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
I jacked up vehicle and slackened all bottom arm bushes, bottom strut bolts (both sides)
also both drop links and anti roll bar mounts
placed car on wooden sleepers under all 4 wheels to create height for access
retightened all bolts
car is now much better, creaks and groans have gone. So many thanks Crasher for your replys
still get an intermittent click. Appears to be on drivers side
any other pointers would be appreciated
Re: Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
Now you need to replace the bolts if you value your health
Re: Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
Hi Crasher
advice received thanks
all bolts changed this morning (again)
peace of mind
cheers
Re: Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
so did it fix the click/clunk you were getting
Re: Front Suspension CLICK or a CLONK
Hi there
hard to say
all the loud ones gone. Creaks and groans gone
still getting a slight noise very intermittently
difficult to describe but it sounds metallic . Spring ?
not sure, but much better than when I started
I’ll have another look after I’ve done a job on my sons A3. See new post and please comment/advise if you can
thanks