Knocking noise still there and driving me mad

[Carla77]

Have you by any chance taken your car in to VW to have the notorious rusty front wheel arches replaced?? Reason I ask is that I had a knocking sound on my car, front left wheel just like yours. Took my car to an indy workshop and they pointed out that the wheel arch liners had been replaced too loosely by VW and they were rubbing on the front wheel whenever I put the car on full lock or went over pot holes/speed humps, etc.

[Grizzle]

I've had this noise for a year on my Octavia Vrs and so far replaced or added

Droplinks
Inner tie rods as the MOT said it was an advisory
Bilsteins

Getting ARB bushes replaced and track rod ends... failing that i' bloody well ignoring it until something falls off.

[camfollower]

Subframe bolts?  Most notably under heavy braking.
Engine mounts?

[wycombeant]

I have the same problem with my GT.....knocking/play in the steering

I really hope its not the rack.....if it is how much we talking? 

[gigolo456]

well if your question is how much do VW charge for supply and fitting a new steering rack, depending on how good you haggle, anything up to £1300.00, maybe a tad more!! I huffed and i puffed, full VW service history, my GTi was 6 years old at the time, managed to get them down to £850.00.... 

[wycombeant]

Oh $#&* 

This is not what i need right now  ..... is it a common fault with the mk5's then?

Does it matter if you leave them to get worse or is it important to change sooner rather than later?

[gigolo456]

I didn't notice any difference in driving to be honest, no knocking, strange noises, etc. However, the amber steering wheel light kept coming up on the dash, VCDS would clear it, then come back again, and so on and so on!! In the end, VW advised that i changed the steering rack, no other way to clear the fault as far as i know.....i would seek a number of different opinions though!!
I think early Mk V's did have issues with this, but no recall!! 

[wycombeant]

I havnt had any lights come on but doesnt mean that it hasnt gone

To be honest i dont even know if its the rack...im just reading this thread, what iv heard before and mine is showing the same signs 

Will get someone to look at it at the weekend and then know for def.

Mines a 57plate on 59K.....cant believe the rack can go already!!!!!

Cheers for your help bud

[gigolo456]

Hope it isn't, but my car had only done about 36k miles when mine went!!

[Mandy]

Has your car been lowered? The noise in the steering could be to do with that, my steering wheel sometimes creaks when turning to almost full lock, I've only had it since fitting lowering springs. I read that the dodgy steering racks were only in 2005 golfs, they'd sorted it by 2006. I'd expect the steering light to come on if it is the rack.

[wycombeant]

Oh right

Yea had the car lowered on eibach sportlines 2months ago but knocking has only just come to my attention last few days

If im just sitting still at a junction or traffic lights and then move the steering wheel slightly then i can FEEL a knocking, theres no noise really....dont know whether that helps

[will_15]

Could be worth changing the top strut mount (& bearing) on the left side. Cheap part (£30 or so) and was the source of all sorts of creaking, knocking and rattling on my right side when driving on uneven roads and turning left (or would be turning right in your case). Initially I could only 'feel' the knock when turning the wheel at standstill but it got progressively worse.

This thread helped me: http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158162