Clunking front end!!

[reflexsilverfox]

Evening chaps, got a clunk on my front end that is driving me round the bend!

Only happens over ridges or potholes.

Its lowered 20mm on an ST fixed height kit which is a year old.

I’ve changed top mounts all round, drop links, rear wishbone bushes (front bush on passenger side but not drivers side) fitted the Passat shims and bolts for the subframe noise, track rod ends, ball joints.

It’s still got this noise, my mechanic said there is slight play in the rack end and engine mount but nothing serious.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as this is making me want to sell the bloody thing.

Thanks

Also I’ve got a video of the noise, how do I upload it?


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[reflexsilverfox]

Here’s the noise


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[pudding]

That is classic drop link clunking, but you've replaced them which is puzzling.  Where they VW ones or ebay specials? 

I would double check everything is torqued up properly under there.

If it was the rack, it would be a deeper 'thudding' noise and very obviously coming from your feet area......but they are a common fail point on these cars, so worth getting that checked out.

[colesey]

Brake pad rattle?!?

[reflexsilverfox]

Thanks for the replies.

The drop links were from a local parts supplier as opposed to VW but they were a OEM brand like Febi or similar.

Is it worth trying driving it with the arb disconnected to prove it one way or another?

The noise did sound deeper than it sounds in the video and does sound like it’s coming through the floor from my feet.

My mechanic did mention there was play in the rack but it was only slight

What about the central steering rack bush?


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[reflexsilverfox]

Brake pad rattle?!?

Thanks but sounds to central to be the pads... I will check though


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[pudding]

I have a loose drop link at the moment and it sounds like exactly like that, but from your further info it does kind of sound like it's the rack 

[reflexsilverfox]

Sounds like my luck for it to be the most expensive part, maybe I’ll take it to a VW garage for a second opinion.

And disconnect the arb drop links and drive it just to rule them out first


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[reflexsilverfox]

Another question... if it’s a faulty rack would it knock on both front wheels?

The knock seems to be mainly on the drivers side so just curious as to if if it can still be a faulty rack


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[Dan_FR]

Its the rack - no doubt about it. My original failed in exactly this way - persistent knocking from the drivers side over bumps that sounded more like a drop link.

Unfortunately my new rack is now on its way out and is clunking and clicking constantly from both sides.

[reflexsilverfox]

I’m either living with it or selling it then, I’m not changing the rack and risking it coming back.

Thanks for the help guys


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[bobby_fodge]

I've had a similar noise so changed my rack to a gen three. I still had the noise with the new rack. I'd make sure it's the rack before swapping it over.
I've got new engine, dogbone and gearbox mounts, new drip links and arb bushes and a deadset kit and still the knocking is there.

[4ndy]

  Even changing these didn't help me   All bolts replaced and torqued

[reflexsilverfox]

I appreciate this is 2 years old now but finally figured out what the issue was.

The golf bust a rear spring which was picked up at MOT time, so I switched it back to stock ride height with new oem shocks and springs and lo and behold no more clunking from the  front end! My mechanic reckoned the fact I was running stock droplinks when it was lowered 20mm on the ST kit but who knows. Rides lovely now.

[chimp400]

Very odd but I have a similar experience.
Removed some eibach sport line springs as the car was too low for me, decided to go for the complete vwr kit as the existing dampers must have been past their best at 90 k.
New TT top mounts fitted as well, a few weeks later I develop what sounds like a drop link knocking so I change them but no difference.
Recently went for new bottom arm bushes, bottom ball joints and track rod ends, also added the super pro dog  bone insert.
Knocking still there.
Took it for a decent 4 wheel alignment and the knocking has almost disappeared which is strange, can only assume it’s the steering rack at fault.
Difficult to pin down these noises sometimes.