MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Black9 on December 22, 2012, 05:56:26 pm

Title: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Black9 on December 22, 2012, 05:56:26 pm
So I have a knocking noise coming from the front left corner of my eddy. Only happens over cobbled roads and bumps on the road.

In the past 2 weeks I've replaced,

Bilstein B12 kit with new OEM top mounts and bearings
OEM lower ball joints
OEM ARB front drop links
Front subframe bolts and spacer mod

And it's still there  :fighting: :fighting: :fighting:

Have no idea what else to replace and to make matters worse I'm hearing a squeaking noise from the rear left of the car over speed bumps too. Not sure if its an interior squeak or something else.

Someone please shed some light  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: 56OctyVRS on December 22, 2012, 06:06:17 pm
Have you checked the front arb brackets as they can break.
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Black9 on December 22, 2012, 06:07:44 pm
No I haven't, can they be checked on a jack or do I need a ramp?
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Statller-Stevo on December 23, 2012, 10:38:18 am
If not Could be the steering rack itself, try to get it on a ramp and bash the tie rods directly from underneath if it knocks the racks fuxxed  :happy2:
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: paulk on December 23, 2012, 10:44:10 am
have you checked the arb bushes , i had the exhaust bracket snap on my gti worth checking
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Black9 on December 23, 2012, 10:59:40 am
The cars been aligned on Monday so I'll have the guy take a look over it. How much does a steering rack cost in parts & how common Is it to fail?
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Black9 on December 23, 2012, 03:17:06 pm
Car was on ramp today. Everything seems solid. When the cars parked and I turn the steering right to left I can feel some play in the rack (I think) and a knocking noise too so it sounds like the rack :sad1:

Also when accelerating with WOT to high-ish speeds I can feel vibration through the wheel. Does this sounds like the symptoms of a failed rack and how much does a new rack from VW cost?
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: 56OctyVRS on December 23, 2012, 03:49:09 pm
Is there any play in the wheel bearings?
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Black9 on December 23, 2012, 04:14:53 pm
Don't think so. Will be handing the car into a VW specialist after the new year and have them give it a FULL check over. Bit of a gutter as I've spent a fair amount of ££ already and it's still the same.

Doubt a wheel bearing would cause knocking tho?
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: vRSAlex on December 23, 2012, 05:01:58 pm
Could just be the steering arms rather than the rack itself.
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Black9 on December 23, 2012, 07:18:57 pm
Shame there isn't any specialists off the forum nearby (Edinburgh). Anyone know about a garage called autohaus in Edinburgh?
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Statller-Stevo on December 23, 2012, 09:33:41 pm
Could be Al, but when you crack the tie rods from underneath the rack makes a noise from the middle not the ends
I've done loads now
Go on most other forums and you'll see, it's really common with lowered cars
Just a thought anyways
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: peter on December 23, 2012, 10:55:20 pm
Could be Al, but when you crack the tie rods from underneath the rack makes a noise from the middle not the ends
I've done loads now
Go on most other forums and you'll see, it's really common with lowered cars
Just a thought anyways
Stevo I've got the same problem mate on my eddy, how much would it be supply and fit a new rack  :drinking:
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Teo10 on January 23, 2013, 12:00:07 pm
Shame there isn't any specialists off the forum nearby (Edinburgh). Anyone know about a garage called autohaus in Edinburgh?

Not sure if this will help but get it to Autohaus if you haven't already. Have taken my car there for years and could not reccomend them highly enough. Really decent guys that know their stuff and will get it sorted in the easiest way possible! Use proper VW parts etc and don't take the p*ss out of you in getting things worked on that don't need worked on!
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Llew on January 23, 2013, 08:06:06 pm
Check your wishbone
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Carla77 on January 23, 2013, 10:16:01 pm
Have you by any chance taken your car in to VW to have the notorious rusty front wheel arches replaced?? Reason I ask is that I had a knocking sound on my car, front left wheel just like yours. Took my car to an indy workshop and they pointed out that the wheel arch liners had been replaced too loosely by VW and they were rubbing on the front wheel whenever I put the car on full lock or went over pot holes/speed humps, etc.
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Grizzle on January 27, 2013, 07:33:10 pm
I've had this noise for a year on my Octavia Vrs and so far replaced or added

Droplinks
Inner tie rods as the MOT said it was an advisory
Bilsteins

Getting ARB bushes replaced and track rod ends... failing that i' bloody well ignoring it until something falls off.
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: camfollower on January 27, 2013, 07:34:53 pm
Subframe bolts?  Most notably under heavy braking.
Engine mounts?
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: wycombeant on April 25, 2013, 09:49:42 am
I have the same problem with my GT.....knocking/play in the steering :sad1:

I really hope its not the rack.....if it is how much we talking?  :scared:
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: gigolo456 on April 25, 2013, 09:56:03 am
well if your question is how much do VW charge for supply and fitting a new steering rack, depending on how good you haggle, anything up to £1300.00, maybe a tad more!! I huffed and i puffed, full VW service history, my GTi was 6 years old at the time, managed to get them down to £850.00....  :fighting:
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: wycombeant on April 25, 2013, 11:28:55 am
Oh $#&*  :signLOL:

This is not what i need right now  :mad:..... is it a common fault with the mk5's then?

Does it matter if you leave them to get worse or is it important to change sooner rather than later?

Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: gigolo456 on April 25, 2013, 11:46:43 am
I didn't notice any difference in driving to be honest, no knocking, strange noises, etc. However, the amber steering wheel light kept coming up on the dash, VCDS would clear it, then come back again, and so on and so on!! In the end, VW advised that i changed the steering rack, no other way to clear the fault as far as i know.....i would seek a number of different opinions though!!
I think early Mk V's did have issues with this, but no recall!!  :sick:
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: wycombeant on April 25, 2013, 12:04:11 pm
I havnt had any lights come on but doesnt mean that it hasnt gone

To be honest i dont even know if its the rack...im just reading this thread, what iv heard before and mine is showing the same signs  :fighting:

Will get someone to look at it at the weekend and then know for def.

Mines a 57plate on 59K.....cant believe the rack can go already!!!!!

Cheers for your help bud
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: gigolo456 on April 25, 2013, 12:07:23 pm
Hope it isn't, but my car had only done about 36k miles when mine went!!
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: Mandy on April 25, 2013, 12:09:31 pm
Has your car been lowered? The noise in the steering could be to do with that, my steering wheel sometimes creaks when turning to almost full lock, I've only had it since fitting lowering springs. I read that the dodgy steering racks were only in 2005 golfs, they'd sorted it by 2006. I'd expect the steering light to come on if it is the rack. :smiley:
Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: wycombeant on April 25, 2013, 12:18:58 pm
Oh right

Yea had the car lowered on eibach sportlines 2months ago but knocking has only just come to my attention last few days

If im just sitting still at a junction or traffic lights and then move the steering wheel slightly then i can FEEL a knocking, theres no noise really....dont know whether that helps :confused:

Title: Re: Knocking noise still there and driving me mad
Post by: will_15 on April 26, 2013, 02:27:26 pm
Could be worth changing the top strut mount (& bearing) on the left side. Cheap part (£30 or so) and was the source of all sorts of creaking, knocking and rattling on my right side when driving on uneven roads and turning left (or would be turning right in your case). Initially I could only 'feel' the knock when turning the wheel at standstill but it got progressively worse.

This thread helped me: http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158162