knocking from front end (1.2 52 plate)

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crappe_coupe
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Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:44 pm

knocking from front end (1.2 52 plate)

Post by crappe_coupe »

Having spent the last 2 hours searching here and briskoda i still havent got to the bottom of whats causing the knocking from the front end of my polo.

Its a soft clunking sound, mostly occurs driving over uneven road surfaces (potholes/drain covers) and can be provoked by driving slowly and flicking steering wheel left and right, clunking as the direction changes. However, on hard cornering theres not a peep and the steering doesnt feel vague. Accelerating/braking and going over speed bumps in a straight line everything is quiet. Drive up to park one wheel on a kerb and it clunks again.

The following seem to be the commonest likely culprits however i've had the car jacked up/on the floor and pushed/pulled on all of them and heard nothing but silence.
1. Rear control arm bushes - MOT guy checked them for me twice and said they looked fine, not even an advisory.
2. ARB Droplinks
3. ARB bushes - look fine, collars both in place.
4. Centre gearbox to subframe mount - is it safe to remove this for a short drive and see if the noise goes away?
5. Gearbox mount under battery - typically knocks on acceleration/braking i thought.

Can anyone suggest any ways of differentiating between these without blindly changing parts until i hit the nail onthe head. Last time i had wishbone bushes go on my Mk2 golf i could provoke it by repeatedly dipping the clutch to pull away with the handbrake on caused the wishbone to rock in the mount. I tried this test but it was silent - does that rule out rear control arm bushes?

Sorry for long post
Motoract
Bronze Member
Posts: 235
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:54 pm

Re: knocking from front end (1.2 52 plate)

Post by Motoract »

anti roll bar saddle bush's

or wish bone bush's

http://www.powerflex.co.uk/products/Pol ... 237/1.html

those are all the usual culperates... hence upgrade ones sold for them.
crappe_coupe
New
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:44 pm

Re: knocking from front end (1.2 52 plate)

Post by crappe_coupe »

Do these bushes cause a knock even when theyre not worn to the limit as a mechanic has checked them already.

Didnt realise powerflex did the rear control arm bush. Has anyone fitted them, if so:
1. Do the powerflex rear bushes create any noticeable increase in road noise or vibration?
2. They look it but can anyone confirm that they're easier to fit than the originals/cupra ones, because if they are i'm sold as they're only a tenner more.

Secondly has anyone cured a knocking ARB by simply changing the bushes to powerflex ones alone as the info i'd read suggested the design was flawed and you're better off changing the ARB for a later one with a metal lip that stops the ARB slipping out the bush.
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