Knocking Noise coming from passenger side front wheel..!! Help

[black magic]

id check all ball joints there a common fault.....

[Eddie4]

My 1999 1.8T has also developed this knocking noise from the near side front wheel. I replaced the anti-roll bushes about 5K ago, and have only noticed this noise for the last 6 months.
I've taken the wheel off and examined the suspension etc but not found anything. I have also pulled on the wheel (pull away and push toward the car) and manage to make the noise, but not easy to identify where it is coming from.
The interesting thing is the noise only manifests when I'm crawling in traffic. It may be at higher speeds I just don't hear it?
I'm very keen to hear if anyone has solved this problem and what the cause was discovered to be.

[black magic]

could be a broken coil spring as sometimes when they snap the loose part sits in the cup at bottom of spring and rattles like mad ...?

[pavdha]

Do u suggest just changing the tie rods and ends (balljoints)? Or changing the lot on each side?

And what is wrong with those full control arm kits off ebay? Anybody ever tried them?

[Carlw2426]

Sorry to bring this one back, i've recently bought a 98 1.8T Passat with 91k on the clock. The drivers suspension area knocks when braking lightly over bumps or when the weight is on the opposite side of the car. £400 worth of work on the suspension and steering and it's still there! I has a Clio RS 182 as my last car which always kck and over steep bumps (even at low speeds) Renault put this down to 'car design' and not to worry - is this the case here? As someone has replyed, I just put the radio on as it drives me mad!

Thanks

[PeteK]

Just an idea, but could this noise be the pads rattling in the calipers? My last car (a BMW Coupe) did this and it is amazing how much of a noise it makes when you go over a bump with the window down. I was convinced something was broken. A mechanic diagnosed it by lifting the car up on a wheel free ramp and banging on the tyres with a large hammer! My Passat has also started doing it very slightly, when I drive over an uneven surface with the window down a slight rattle can be heard over the heavier bumps which disappears when the brakes are gently applied.

On the BMW, I cured it by bending the pad retaining springs out slightly so they were a tighter fit inside the caliper piston. I haven't tried to cure it on the Passat yet as it is not too bad.

[glen poole]

Exactly the same noise from my 1.8t, sounds like a bag of spanners over bumpy ground, dissapears at the slightest touch of the brake pedal, i fitted new pads from vw a couple of months ago & the noise dissapeared, but now it's back so i'm going to change the front calliper springs, just under a 10er from vw.

[ST.Alban]

Sounds a familiar problem,

I would bet it has something to do with the break pads, most likely the butterfly spring of the inside pad has come off from the pocket (do not worry, it is not a serious problem) you can still break but the noise can drive you nuts.

I had mine fixed by a very old mechanic after having visited the dealer and being told that it needs new suspension.

All we did was find the naughty pad and instead of leaving it with a clip make it with a screw of about the same size.

[Carlw2426]

Ironic that brakes seem to be a possible issue. The last owner (a friend) was unaware of the knocking noise. Just before he sold the car to me, a non-mechanic friend of his fitted new pads and discs on the front.

Suspicious!!!

[cat]

Exactly the same noise from my 1.8t, sounds like a bag of spanners over bumpy ground, dissapears at the slightest touch of the brake pedal, .

Best description of this annoying problem, i've tried many things shocks and suspensions included, but this annoying little problem will not go away, Foot on brake and the noise dissapears, so i think i''ll strip the brakes and check the calipers next. if anyone has any other posssible fix's please let me know.