UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi guys im really confused and need some help!!! I just cant get rid of that annoying knocking noise from the suspension!! Its coming from the front passenger side this time.

The powerflex bushes keep falling out!! the garage says that their a rubbish fit!! Ive had them fitted in twice..

Wot has everybody else done to remedy this??

I read of Ibiza Cupra bushes, but not sure

ps the cars lowered on Eibach coilovers

Thanks

Are you're drop links ok?

This was my problem. They had warn out. All the grease in them had gone. and the ball joint inside it was making the ARB clonk.

Yep my description is awesome but I can't think of any other way to put it.

SiDaBa wrote:Are you're drop links ok?

This was my problem. They had warn out. All the grease in them had gone. and the ball joint inside it was making the ARB clonk.

Yep my description is awesome but I can't think of any other way to put it.

Not sure abt that but I had new vw droplinks fitted not so long ago.

To clarify the noise sounds like something is slipping. It doesnt happen when you go over a bump but it happens when the car has a jolt, ie braking or starting and stopping, sort of pressure from a horizontal movement rather than vertical movement.. If that makes any sense!!

I'd bin the Powerflex inserts and get a pair of Cupra TCA bushes fitted and take it from there! (best move you will ever make).

I've just noticed that you are from up North - have you ever tried using Star Performance down above Kirkcaldy - its an easy run down and they are good guys good prices - factor in a four wheel re-alignment, what age is your car - I ask just in case your ARB is the older type that fail and if you are paying for a four wheel re-alignment after the bushes work then it would be a problem if you needed this work done again if the ARB fails a few months down the line - just a thought!

(bloody spelling again)

RUM4MO wrote:I'd bin the Powerflex inserts and get a pair of Cupra TCA bushes fitted and take it from there! (best move you will ever make).

I've just noticed that you are from up North - have you ever tried using Star Performance doen above Krkcaldy - its an easy run down and they are good guys good prices - factor in a four wheel re-alignment, what age is your car - I ask just in case your ARB is the older type that fail and if you are paying for a four wheel re-alignment after the bushes work then it would be a problem if you needed this work done again if the ARB fails a few months down the line - just a thought!

So let me get this right Cupra TCA bushes are for the rear wishbones arnt they?? Thats all I should really need to get changed, nevermind abt the powerflex, im sick of having to pay for repairs!! lol

btw do u get ur work done by Star??

The Cupra bush are fitted to the pin on the rear of the front TCA (wishbones)- the big "voided" in your case bush that is located in the aluminium consoles - they face front-to-rear and have a hexagonal hollow pin stuck through them and the bush is roughly 2.5" in diameter. The Cupra replacements are solid. Yes I've used Star Performance to get these bushes changed in my wife's Polo and to get the cambelt changed - they will always use VAG parts where necessary and will source any VAG parts themselves. Again, what age is your car just to see if the ARB is okay. These little cars just bit your wallet again and again, right now the Polo is wanting a new Lambda probe - so that is about £130 for parts.

Its a 52 plate

abdnmoh wrote:Its a 52 plate

Ah - so is my wife's Polo - so that means that it came out of the factory with the older style of ARB - when did you buy this car and do you know if the ARB had needed to be replaced? Also, for some hints on what to look for, maybe you should take a peep at the Fabia forum on www.briskoda.net and search using suitable terms like ARB stops failure as the early ARBs had plastic end stops and they split when the ARB breaks its paint then rusts under the plastic stops or sleeves. BTW you should not be able to move the ARB from side to side, also you can check what end stops are fitted to the ARB by using a magnet as the newer ARBs have metal stops. If its not already broken or been replaced then it really is overdue failure and it costs less than £100 for the new ARB + new size mounting bushes - but the front crossmember needs to be dropped like a garage would also need to do when the TCA bushes get changed - so doing this job at this time will save you maybe £200 in labour and re-alignment costs later.

Edit'd to add "not" and correct spelling!

RUM4MO wrote:

abdnmoh wrote:Its a 52 plate

Ah - so is my wife's Polo - so that means that it came out of the factory with the older style of ARB - when did you buy this car and do you know id the ARB had needed to be replaced? Also, for some hints on what to look for, maybe you should take a peep at the Fabia forum on www.briskoda.net and search using suitable terms like ARB stops failure as the early ARBs had plastic end stops and they split when the ARB breaks its paint then rusts under the plastic stops or sleeves. BTW you should be able to move the ARB from side to side, also you can check what end stops are fitted to the ARB by using a magnet as the newer ARBs have metal stops. If its not already broken or been replaced then it really is overdue failure and it costs leass than £100 for the new ARB + new size mounting bushes - but the front crossmember needs to be dropped like a garage would also ned to do when the TCA bushes get changed - so doing this job at this time will save you maybe £200 in labour and re-alignment costs later.

Thanks 4the advise mate, im gonna give Star a call and see what they can do4me..

That's good, BTW I have edit'd my last post to add "not" - ie "you should not be able to move the ARB from side to side" .

Just come back from a trip to ireland and noticed some serious knocking on starting and braking at slow speed. Quick look under the car shows that the centre of the console bush on one side has come completely out. Potholed irish roads

Already changed the arb myself and fitted powerflex bushes which made the car fll loads stiffer and less knocking. Now I;ve ordered up some powerflex bushes for the front and am off down the seat dealer for the cupra ones for the console. Then just a matter of fitting the pigged things which I'm not looking forward to. Hopefully all sorted after this is done though.

Jacking your thread lol, but ive got a clunking noise from the front of my car. Garage said it was droplink on passenger side, cos it was a slack compared to drivers side.

But the insides on both front tyres are worn ALOT more than the outside, so ive been told by a mate its more likely Bushes gone and affected tracking causing uneven tyre wear. What you guys think??

The noise is only really occurs when it goes over pot-holes etc....

Thanks

Veedub9n wrote:Jacking your thread lol, but ive got a clunking noise from the front of my car. Garage said it was droplink on passenger side, cos it was a slack compared to drivers side.
But the insides on both front tyres are worn ALOT more than the outside, so ive been told by a mate its more likely Bushes gone and affected tracking causing uneven tyre wear. What you guys think??
The noise is only really occurs when it goes over pot-holes etc....
Thanks

How old is the car and has it still got the standard voided TCA rear bushes? If it is 53 or older then it might still have the old style ARB with the plastic stops. First, try and move the ARB side to side - it should not be able to move - if it moves then the ARB is U/S. Second, with the car on level ground out of gear and handbrake on, try to move the front wheels forward and backwards (try to rotate them) - them should have no or very limited movement within the wheel arch centre - if they move a lot and you get a squeaking rubbery noise then the TCA rear bushes are U/S. Third, droplinks like the garage said one of them could be U/S and they are very cheap to replace (bolt on). Fourth, front tyre insides wearing a lot - it seems to be a trait of this platform - but if you have widish tyres then it will show up worse - could be due also to TCA rear bush failure (like your mate said), tracking - would need these bushes sorted first, or front<>rear wheel alignment. Changing the ARB and/or the TCA rear bushes means dropping the front crossmember - which really means getting a full four wheel re-alignment done on the car - so it better to check the ARB and TCA rear bushes first as by doing that only one ressonably expensive four wheel alignment would need to be paid for.

RUM4MO wrote:

Veedub9n wrote:Jacking your thread lol, but ive got a clunking noise from the front of my car. Garage said it was droplink on passenger side, cos it was a slack compared to drivers side.
But the insides on both front tyres are worn ALOT more than the outside, so ive been told by a mate its more likely Bushes gone and affected tracking causing uneven tyre wear. What you guys think??
The noise is only really occurs when it goes over pot-holes etc....
Thanks

How old is the car and has it still got the standard voided TCA rear bushes? If it is 53 or older then it might still have the old style ARB with the plastic stops. First, try and move the ARB side to side - it should not be able to move - if it moves then the ARB is U/S. Second, with the car on level ground out of gear and handbrake on, try to move the front wheels forward and backwards (try to rotate them) - them should have no or very limited movement within the wheel arch centre - if they move a lot and you get a squeaking rubbery noise then the TCA rear bushes are U/S. Third, droplinks like the garage said one of them could be U/S and they are very cheap to replace (bolt on). Fourth, front tyre insides wearing a lot - it seems to be a trait of this platform - but if you have widish tyres then it will show up worse - could be due also to TCA rear bush failure (like your mate said), tracking - would need these bushes sorted first, or front<>rear wheel alignment. Changing the ARB and/or the TCA rear bushes means dropping the front crossmember - which really means getting a full four wheel re-alignment done on the car - so it better to check the ARB and TCA rear bushes first as by doing that only one ressonably expensive four wheel alignment would need to be paid for.

The car is an 04.

Most of what you tired to explain has gone over my head lol, not very good with mechanic side of things. Chekced tyres and the inside on both fronts are worn quite badly compared to the outside.

Im gunna order Cupra bushes so hopefully they will last longer (thats if it is the bushes thats gone).

The garage said the passenger side droplink was a bit slacker compared to drivers sides.

The noise is mostly heard on small potholes or drain covers.

SO whats you guys think its gunna be?? I want it sorted this week, cant have my tyres going this fast when im doing 40+ miles a days. Ive only had the tyres for 3 months aswel and they werent cheap with them being 16's

Thanks