Re: Another Strange Noice Thread **UPDATE**

[POLOZ]

Guys need a bit of advice. I am sick and fed up with the strange creeking noise coming from me Polo GTI.
I have had a 9n before so pretty much know they are prone to all these issues.

Basically turning right stationary or at slow speed, i can hear knocking noise - is this to do with ARB bushes?

Also going over speed bumps there is a knocking noise which I think could be top mounts.

Please help

Btw! the car has cupra wishbone bushes so that be eliminated.

[9N3 Turbo]

Guys need a bit of advice. I am sick and fed up with the strange creeking noise coming from me Polo GTI.
I have had a 9n before so pretty much know they are prone to all these issues.

Basically turning right stationary or at slow speed, i can hear knocking noise - is this to do with ARB bushes?

Also going over speed bumps there is a knocking noise which I think could be top mounts.

Please help

Btw! the car has cupra wishbone bushes so that be eliminated.

Drop links?

These are usually the culprit

[chris meardon]

I took my strut out at the weekend to change springs but had to call of due to weather, put everything back together and now its creeking like a crock of s**t

When i do get round to changing the springs i will be changing drop links and top mounts to kill any noises as they are very irritating.

cars on 60k now so they are probably due a change.

[POLOZ]

Drop links?

These are usually the culprit

I checked the drop links while the car was jacked up but couldnt find anything unless I was doing it wrong.
Tried shacking it, moving it side ways etc.......

Also are they hard to change? What about ARB bushes, does the subframe need to come out?

[chris meardon]

Not really, there are 2 13mm bolts that hold the arb on. you can get at them without removing them (except the wheel obviously)

drop links arent difficult to change, just make sure youve got the right ones before you tear the old ones out as removing them usually destroys the rubber inside.

[9N3 Turbo]

Drop links?

These are usually the culprit

I checked the drop links while the car was jacked up but couldnt find anything unless I was doing it wrong.
Tried shacking it, moving it side ways etc.......

Also are they hard to change? What about ARB bushes, does the subframe need to come out?

You have to remove the drop link then check the play in each ball joint.

They should be very stiff. After time they wear and become floppy thus causing the knocking sound.

[POLOZ]

cheers for the reply guys, i will change the drop links and arb bushes tomorrow and see if it solves the problem.

[POLOZ]

Well after a good dose of gt85 I was able to get the bolts off. Good thing you can also use a T30 torx to get it off.
Damn the arbs are expensive, £20 for each Anyhow, the ball joints on the drop links can be moved without any force but not very freely whereas the
new ones are quite stiff but still can be moved with a bit of force. So dont know if I should change it?

Now, about the arb absolute b*******s as the drive shaft is blocking off any use of a socket or spanner. The top bolts can be removed but the bottom ones are
almost impossible without removing the subframe. Any ideas?

[chris meardon]

if your hands are too small undo the 3 bolts holding lower arm to the strut/hub and slide it out, that will free up the strut a bit so you can get spanner on it or ratchet.

[POLOZ]

if your hands are too small

If my hands were too small then perhaps it wouldnt have been an issue

undo the 3 bolts holding lower arm to the strut/hub and slide it out, that will free up the strut a bit so you can get spanner on it or ratchet.

Good idea ....Never thought of that. Do you mean 3 bolts near the hub/wheel side? Damn I have now took the car off axel stand
Basically i should be able to move the strut/hub/driveshaft side ways?

Well took the car for a short drive after fitting the new droplinks. I can hear no noises as of yet. Went over few speed breakers but no noise. So think the droplinks were the issue. I'll probably do the arb bushes by applying your technique.

[chris meardon]

sorry, meant if your hands arent small enough or you dont like having crushed fingers!

Yes they are directly under the hub. it helps alot but its still not the easiest thing to do.

[POLOZ]

sorry, meant if your hands arent small enough or you dont like having crushed fingers!

Yes they are directly under the hub. it helps alot but its still not the easiest thing to do.

I am dying to try it now. Infact I will
The problem is on the F/O/S the bottom bolt of the arb is blocked by the drive shaft and on the F/N/S drive shaft blocks the top bolt
If only things were easy I am now scared just incase the bolts are a nightmare to come off GT85 to the rescue

[POLOZ]

Well chris as you had suggested, I followed it and came out victorious. The bushes werent that bad but since I had thought about changing them anyhow.
But I can still hear a noise from the driver side while going over bumps but it is not as loud as it use to be.

[chris meardon]

mixed news then

Next would be top mounts.

Im changing everything at the weekend, all 3. that should shut mine up. it only started when i took it all apart last weekend! that teaches me to leave things well alone if its not broke......

[POLOZ]

mixed news then

Next would be top mounts.

Im changing everything at the weekend, all 3. that should shut mine up. it only started when i took it all apart last weekend! that teaches me to leave things well alone if its not broke......

Yeh! The steering is more responsive and no noise while turning which was bothering me the most. But I am saving up for uprated shocks so till then
perhaps I will live with the slight knocking going over bumps. But all in all thanks for the suggestion you gave me about the arb bushes.

Also thanks to 9N Turbo for the suggestion about the drop links