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

**Louis 73** · 08-06-2009,05:20 PM

My 2003 Passat has developed an annoying knocking noise coming from the front passenger side wheel.

The noise occurs when I go over any uneven surface. No problems on corners and flat straights... It sounds like two pieces of metal klonking together.

I have had the Anti Roll bushes replaced.

And today had two new suspension strutts put in and .... the noise is still there
!!

Please Help.

**Rolo** · 08-06-2009,07:26 PM

This happens quite regularly to mine as it has now covered 240k and I usually find that it is the lower rear arm outer swivel joint. Not easy to find the play with the joint on but i split them and find out which is worn. It could be the centre arm, also but have only had to change one of these.
Hope this helps
Ian

**saintsman** · 08-06-2009,08:48 PM

I have the same problem on my 2004 tdi passat. I bought the car with 29,000 miles on the clock. I had the brake discs and pads replaced at 32,000 miles, i needed the front wheels retorqued as 3 of the studs mades themselves loose on both wheels, ( the mechanic only tightened them up to 100 NM instead of the 120NM as per VW's recomendation), then 4 new tyres at 33,500 miles as i had an MOT comming up. Not long after this i started to notice a feint knocking noise from the front nr side wheel, the only thing i could think of is, as the studs wore themselves loose they may have upset or disturbed something or other. I was getting more and more frustrated and would drive round without the radio on obsessed with this noise.
I asked the mechanic who MOT'd my car to may particular attention to the nr side front wheel. He said there isn't an ounce of play anywhere.
Next stop to a VW specialist recommended to me in Milton Keynes by my work mates, he will find it they said, well he put it down to road noise, or the start of a wheelbearing on its way out.
Next was my neighbours mate who is one of the top mechanics at VW in Aylesbury, he checked the gearbox oil, driveshaft etc and even changed the wheels. Still did it, but he did say it as probably the start of a wheel bearing.
I got a mate of mine to change the wheelbearing for me as he said it sounds like a rotary noise. Wheelbearing changed, noise still there, he said it could be a bearing in the gearbox!!!
Next to a friend of mine who works for a Land Rover specialist, he said it doesn't sound like a wheelbearing as it doesn't change noise at all when turning, nor did he think it was the gearbox, but he did say had anyone checked the rear wheels as he knows of noises transfering themselves to the front from the rear, he found a warped tyre! Convinced this was the problem i shelld out £200 for 4 new tyres (much to my missis disgust). I drove away, noise still there. I was gutted. Now i'm starting to think it could be the heater blower, which is inbetween the pollen filter and the glove box (passenger side).
But after reading the reply to your plea for help, maybe it is the bushes, but one of the mechanics did say the thing with VW's when they knock they bloody knock. I'm sick of throwing money at it. It's supposed to be the best car i have ever owned but i'm just not enjoying driving it at the moment, but i don't want to give up on it either. The noise has been there for 11,000 now but sounds exactly the same as you have described your cars noise Louis 73. I'd love to find the source and enjoy it again.
Ideas anyone?

**Louis 73** · 09-06-2009,07:56 PM

Thanks for repsonding Guys. The noise is driving me mad, its true you could end up throwing pound after pound at it and still have the problem.

Interesting that you mentioned Noise transfer, the noise appeared after I had a new back tyre fitted on the same side !! I'm sure thats just coincidence or is it?

Its going back in on Friday and I will suggest that they look at the swivel joint as mentioned by Rolo.

We will get to the bottom of it (hopefully) and I will let you know how I get on..

Cheers Louis

**Louis 73** · 25-06-2009,02:08 PM

Suspension replaced and the Mechanic couldn't find the fault...... Its driving me mad.....

.

He claims that all appears sound !!

**dirtyderv** · 27-06-2009,02:50 AM

I would say its the track rod end guys. not an expensive fix, had to get it done on my bora, same symptoms, rattling noise over uneven surface, esp when braking.

**Ria** · 06-07-2009,08:05 PM

Have also started getting a knocking on the passenger front side. More when I go round corners to the left so the weight id on the opposite side to the knocking.

Not getting it when I go over normal bumps or uneven surface.

Car is going in for 80,000 service next tues but suspect (at the mo) it could be cv boot, anti roll bar or poss suspension.

Am going with anti roll bar at the mo - used to have a P406 n used to make same noise when anti roll bars went on that.

Although having read the replies now, my confidence in knowing roughly what it is has lessoned slightly. lol.

**vwtdi130pd** · 09-07-2009,01:33 AM

iv had the same type of noise for 2 years about 20k and replaced all arms on nsf and anti roll bar links the only thing i can think of now is the top strut mount let le know how you get on

**pavdha** · 09-07-2009,08:47 PM

I have exactly the same problem! I bought a vw passat 130pd tdi sport the chap who sold it to me totally took me for a ride and didnt not replace the cv boots etc and even gave me an MOT with the car when they were visibly split and grease was everywhere! Any way cut a long story short the driveshaft went OBVIOUSLY! i was sooooo angry cost me £250 to sort out and alot of head ache. I then got a knocking noise from the near front.

Took to gargage and had split cv boot again which was fro when i had bought the car! I then replaced the drive shaft on that side aswell and thought it would get rid of the knock!

But Nope its still there and now after doing alot of research i believe its the control arms!

Basically VW passats do not have normal track ro ends it has four different control arms on each side! You can see them if u full lock your wheel and have a look.

I have found a place i can get a complete set for £120 jus gota get it fitted will let u know how i get on!

And by the sounds of it guys you have the same problem! TRUST me when i say ive spent alot of time researching this!