MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Edcase on January 31, 2010, 09:44:37 am

Title: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: Edcase on January 31, 2010, 09:44:37 am
I reported before about some clunking from steering rack when manoevring at low speeds.

However now I've had the car longer I realise it's actually clunking also over any bumps, speed humps etc. even in a straight line.

Is this still likely the steering rack or could it be suspension related?

thanks
ed
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: chip20 on January 31, 2010, 11:27:11 am
Hi.Could be a number of things.Broken spring maybe or could be the anti roll bar bushes.Better getting it checked out.
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: Edcase on January 31, 2010, 12:09:45 pm
Yeah think you're right - I was going to leave it when I thought it was just the noisy rack 'feature' but I get the feeling it's more than that.
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: 182_blue on January 31, 2010, 12:20:24 pm
Is it all the time ?, or every now and again
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: Edcase on January 31, 2010, 12:41:36 pm
All the time...every bump/speed hump etc.
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: john_o on January 31, 2010, 12:43:23 pm
given its over bumps etc sounds like suspension.
top mounts , arb mounting points, broken spring etc.
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: danishmkvgti on January 31, 2010, 12:45:16 pm
dogbones for the arb, i have just gotten new ajustable ones from Ksport
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: Edcase on January 31, 2010, 12:50:30 pm
Right, will get this checked in next week. Thanks for the advice.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: TomB on January 31, 2010, 07:03:29 pm
Front wishbone rear bushes are also common on the MK5 platform.

A Whiteline anti lift kit or a new set from VW would cure that.  Best way to check is to get under the car with a lever and test the bushes.
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: Edcase on February 01, 2010, 11:48:05 am
Incidentally the tyres I took off recently at the front were badly worn on the inside edges... is that likely to be related and does that narrow down what the clunking is likely to be?
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: tony_danza on February 01, 2010, 11:53:01 am
That sounds like either wishbone bushes or topmounts. Either way something needs checking ASAP.
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: 182_blue on February 01, 2010, 12:24:59 pm
when that happened on my old old car it was the wishbone bushes
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: sixpot on February 01, 2010, 02:36:07 pm
I'd put money on it being the track control arm bushes. Mine were knackered, and caused a banging noise over every bump.
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: 182_blue on February 01, 2010, 06:32:37 pm
I'd put money on it being the track control arm bushes. Mine were knackered, and caused a banging noise over every bump.

how much are these ?
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: Janner_Sy on February 01, 2010, 06:38:11 pm
bushes are normally cheap. its the labour that wil kill you as they are alwatys a pain in the ass
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: sixpot on February 01, 2010, 09:10:43 pm
I'd put money on it being the track control arm bushes. Mine were knackered, and caused a banging noise over every bump.

how much are these ?
Can't remember the price but the inner ball joints were that worn the whole arm was replaced (both sides) and new track rod ends fitted to the arms. after they had been removed I stripped them down and found water had ingressed into them, thus causing the wear. Car was just out of warranty, so I took the case up with VW customer service to try and get some compensation for the cost of replacing them. Never heard from them again!!

You can do an easy test to check for this type of wear, by jacking the front wheels off the ground and rocking the wheel up and down and side to side. If the joints are worn the wheel will wobble a bit and you should be able to replicate any noises you hear by increasing the force you apply to the wheels.
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: DaveyCupra on February 15, 2011, 11:52:31 am
sixpot:

Do you mean the arms coming out of the Steering rack and the track rod ends were replaced? Or do you mean the Wishbones and the Track Rod ends were replaced?

Getting the same noise issue on my Cupra, up to 40mph over every bump hear a bang out of front driverside area. Changed the Anti Roll Bar drop links and no joy. New top mounts added last summer with new shocks and lowering springs so not them items already.

Car has covered 43k how many miles were on yours when they went?
Title: Re: Clunking from front end - steering rack or suspension??
Post by: em2evol on February 15, 2011, 12:46:25 pm
I had this on mine - had it's MOT on Saturday so asked them to check it out - turns out the mounts are damaged from where I crashed into a pothole and had the suspension arm replaced... Just waiting for the quote for repair now... :popcornsoda: