UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi, I've got a 2002 Polo, 5 dr. Recently serviced and garage flagged up a front nearside leaking shock absorber. It then started knocking in that area when going over bumpy roads and speed humps, so I booked it in and had both front shock absorbers replaced on their advice. When I collected it from garage, the knocking sound is still there when going over bumpy roads and speed humps. Has anyone got any suggestions as to what it could be ? Any advice received with thanks!

I've never known a leaking shocker to "knock", (In my experiance as a HGV Mechanic) I'm betting on either the bottom arm (ball joint) - worn, too much play, or your anti roll bar is either lose or the bush has gone. Tho your shocker may not have been tight and knocked a little, but seeing how you have had them replaced and them done correctly? everything should be tight.

Hi Helen
I agree either the anti-roll bar bush or the ball joint arm, if your shock was leaking that did need replacing anyway but they should have road tested the car before giving it back to confirm the problem was rectifed.
Depending how much they charged you for your new shocks I would take it back or find someone else to help find the problem.

Thank you for your replies. I'll take it back to garage and query the noise.

The other thing that catches a lot of garages out is when the ARB end stops fail and allow the ARB to move side ways and collide with the aluminium consoles. The original ARB fitted to your car will have had plastic end stops - by now that ARB should have failed and been replaced (not free of charge) by a modified one that has steel end stops, if this has already been done then it could just be the ARB bushes - if the original sized ones were fitted after the ARB was replaced (the point in the ARB that the bushes fit over is now smaller as the plastic sleeve bit of the end stops no longer exists) then they will always be loose. The only way to check if the ARB has been replaced is to check the end stop material by using a small magnet. The droplinks, as said already could also be the cause.

ive got a knocking on my rear shock absorbers, its a broken bumpstop that has dropped down and rattles inside the coil when i go over bumps, apparantly its not serious but so annoying. lol
just waiting for some coilovers now to sort that one out lol.