Noise: Je ne comprende pas

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 1:56 pm

Probably misspelled that, but anyway:

There's noises coming from the front of the car, when going through small potholes and/or up and down sharpish speed bumps. It's only there when the suspension has to cope with harsh bumps at low speeds. At higher speeds, there's silence. The noise can best be described as metal-to-metal knocking sounds.

Now, this is why I don't get it:

I had the noise when the car was on Raceland springs and shocks. Then I switched to KW's, set to -80 (or something), in any case I had 45mm left on the front shocks' thread. At that setting, all went quiet and it handled like a dream. I was quite pleased to get rid of the knocking sounds from the front suspension. I figured that the KW's were simply better quality, and that the Raceland bits were at fault, or that my suspension bearings were shot. Alternatively, I thought, the anti roll bar could be banging on the chassis somewhere. But then, lowering would only make it worse, not better. I changed the bearings, by the way.

Come today, and I raise the car 20mm, since I couldn't get on and off the driveway without scraping. The car still handles fine, but the noise is back. It's as if the springs are decompressed when driving on a smooth road, but then compress causing the spring to re-seat itself to the spring cup. This can't be however, since the KW's have helper springs to counteract this- and again, it would be worse if lowered and not better.

I'm not too pleased, to be honest. I could drop it some more again, but then I couldn't go very far, or, I'd have to park the car somewhere in front of the house. Besides, it also rubbed on harsh dips and bumps, which, admittedly, could be solved with a harder setting. Anyway. It shouldn't make noises, regardless of the height.

Anyone have a clue? All help much appreciated.

The KW's are fantastic btw!

delipolo16v · Post by **delipolo16v** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 2:37 pm

I have a similar prob on mine (standard springs) polo 2k mentioned in the forum somewhere about the rubbers on the tie rods being shot sorry i can't be any more helpfull than that!!

harry · Post by **harry** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 2:59 pm

mine used to make a clonking noise when it was low on the 17's it was the front anit roll bar on the left hitting the underbody of the wing as the front end geomatry was out, had it raised a little and it stopped making the noise, now i just a hear a creak coming from the front left on a morning then it stops by the time i get to work must be the coilies warming up as for scrapes i srapped the bottom of the gti lip on a dip in the road luckily you can't see it...

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 3:55 pm

Thanks Deli, I just had a quick look under the car and I didn't see anything obviously worn or bust - but then I'm no expert by any standard. I'll ask the dealer to have a look too when it goes in for its service in a few weeks.

Harry, I too figured it'd be the anti roll bar, but it was fine when low, and after raising it it started to make the noises again, so directly opposite of what I'd expected.

That GTI lip is pretty soft, I've scraped it a few times now and you can hardly tell!

Thanks for the replies btw.

polo2k · Post by **polo2k** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:24 pm

what i had was a pulverised rear rubber mounting on the right hand bottom arm, to get this checked raise the car and use a flat screw driver as a lever to try and move the bottom arm and it should be firm

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 7:28 pm

Thanks Ash, I'll try and check this weekend, or if I fail, have the dealer take a look at the rubbers.