[KeithM]

Hi All

Don't know yet if this is a warning or just the result of being early in the queue.

Mid April got a 2.0 TDI three door. Decided to get the car after driving reflextdi's Mk IV which has been heavily modified. Decided that I would go down a similar route. Purchased Eibach springs (-30mm), Eibach ARB front and rear, Koni adjustable dampers front and rear, Powerflex bushes throughout, BBS CH 18" rims with Pirelli P Zero Nero rubber. Suspension mods fitted by a local garage owned by a friend (mistake number one).

All OK for the first week then began to hear a noise from the front drivers side suspension. Always difficult to describe a noise but combine knock/clonk and creak and you will be somewhere close. Nothing I can do will always provoke the noise. Everything I do will make it happen sometimes. I get it when pulling away from traffic lights in a straight line and can nearly always get it when going from lock to lock at low speeds.

Didn't want to go back to friends garage, they had the car for ages, it came back dirty and with a confession that they had not actually seen a Mk V before and "it was all a bit of a learning curve". Strange they didn't mention that before.

Have taken it to another friends garage. He runs Predator Motor Sport. (exhausts but mainly for bikes). Got the car up on a lift and from underneath nothing seems loose. Sprayed everything with silicon but noise still present.

Went to local VW dealer who was not keen as the car was modified.

Went to local garage that specialises in VW and has been there for 30+ years. They confirmed that everything seemed to be done up tight but offered no solutions. Said that it was probably because all the bits came from China!!! Didn't really follow that as everything was German. Still Hey Ho!!

Have been in touch with Richard at JBR performance where the dampers, ARB's and bushes came from and he said that he also has a similar thing happening on his but didn't think it was anything to worry about. Can't say I'm that worried about bits dropping off but I am worried about my sanity. It's driving me nuts!!

Did think about taking it to a specialist, but the only one I have used before is AMD and they seem to have a mixed reputation on the forum. If anyone has had the same sort of thing and has fixed it I would love to know, if not be warned that it might be part of what you have to put up with. Me, I'll be taking it all off again soon as I drive too many miles to put up with it. Any suggestions for a good reliable specialist would be welcome.

Sorry for the length of the post

KeithM

 

[JMcQueen]

Sorry to hear that keith, especially as i was considering adding the eibach anti roll bars myself. Maybe they're just bedding in noises as things can sometimes take a while to settle. One thing I did notice though is that the Koni shocks are only recommended for a drop of 35mm. This is the reason why I used the Eibach struts when i dropped mine (50mm). Im having problems with the car rubbing the arches when on an undulating road so need to get the arches rolled.

 

[simch]

Try to reporoduce it by getting up to speed, checking nowt is behing you and then stamping (and I mean real real hard) on the brakes.

If you hear like a crack/clunk noise, it is the front arb. Very common, shifting in the factory mounts and odes it on mk4's as well.

They are so fat and stiff, the bushes that come wiht the bars are very thin and such extrmes do just make then knock the subframes. Most do it, but not all.

Not sure how to cure it, althoug silconing it may have made it worse! it may be better when it dries off.. I get it rarely on the mk4 and live with it.

 

[Flex]

Hi mate. I was thinking of getting eibach pro kit, (-30mm) and the CH. If this is a problem then I might think twice. Foxy has this set up so he might shed some light.

Could you post up some pics of the car (so I can see how it looks) then some closer shots so we can see how the springs sit

hope it gets sorted

 

[KeithM]

Hi mate. I was thinking of getting eibach pro kit, (-30mm) and the CH. If this is a problem then I might think twice. Foxy has this set up so he might shed some light.

Could you post up some pics of the car (so I can see how it looks) then some closer shots so we can see how the springs sit

hope it gets sorted

Hi Flex

Car is in "Members Rides" section under "Pictures of 2.0 TDI So Far", about the third page of posts last time I looked. I know there is a way to take you straight to it, sadly don't know how.

KeithM

 

[KeithM]

Try to reporoduce it by getting up to speed, checking nowt is behing you and then stamping (and I mean real real hard) on the brakes.

If you hear like a crack/clunk noise, it is the front arb. Very common, shifting in the factory mounts and odes it on mk4's as well.

They are so fat and stiff, the bushes that come wiht the bars are very thin and such extrmes do just make then knock the subframes. Most do it, but not all.

Not sure how to cure it, althoug silconing it may have made it worse! it may be better when it dries off.. I get it rarely on the mk4 and live with it.

Strange you should say that as most of my efforts so far have, wot is known in the trade as, made it worse!!!

KeithM

 

[KeithM]

Sorry to hear that keith, especially as i was considering adding the eibach anti roll bars myself. Maybe they're just bedding in noises as things can sometimes take a while to settle. One thing I did notice though is that the Koni shocks are only recommended for a drop of 35mm. This is the reason why I used the Eibach struts when i dropped mine (50mm). Im having problems with the car rubbing the arches when on an undulating road so need to get the arches rolled.

Maybe I got the wrong dampers?? Will mention this to Richard at JBR.

KeithM

 

[Flex]

very nice that - did it have standard ride height at the beginning?

 

[Touran-Osaurus Rex]

I have a knocking from the nearside when slow speed parking etc since lowering with KW springs on my Touran.

TBH though I had my doubts about the nearside topmount (days of MK2 Golf failures come rushing back) so I will probably change this item and see how that goes.

 

[KeithM]

very nice that - did it have standard ride height at the beginning?

Hi Flex

Yes, standard at the beginning, straight from the dealers brand new.

KeithM

 

[Foxy]

Sorry to hear your woes Keith.....I know what may sound trivial to others can drive anyone mad....I would quote my own "imaginary" wheel bearing noise at this point !!

Well, I can't say i've had any of the above problems but then again i've only installed springs onto stock shox....

I used to get a metallic clunk on my Mk4 when it was nearly new.....mostly going from lock to lock - i put that down to a front spring bedding down onto the mounting platforms..it went after maybe 5-10k.
I never had the noise in any other circumstances though.

My 2p:

1) Dont take it to AMD
2) Check the front top-mounts are done up properly/tightly (not visible unless to tease back the scuttle panel)
3) Pull back the shocker covers and spray a little light oil on the telescopic bit
4) Check the drive shafts for signs of contact on ARB
5) Check the ARB links are done up tightly - you may need to jack up car to check

Apart from stripping it all down to check all other things are tight, you'll have to take their word for it I guess !

 

[KeithM]

Hi Jon

Kinda guessed that AMD would be out of the frame. Have checked strut mounts at the front. Had the car up on a hydraulic lift and sprayed just about everything with silicon and checked that everything was tight. Didn't look specifically for contact between ARB and drive shafts but will do so at the weekend.

Had some conflicting advice with regards to lubrication on the ARB's. Some advise as much lubrication as you can, others say just enough to get the bushes in but let the bushes take the rotating load and don't have the ARB rotating within the bush. Too late now as everything is well siliconed and trying to get that off would be difficult.

Will probably take the lot off and Ebay it fairly soon as the noise is loud and seems to get worse the longer the journey goes on. As long as I don't sell all the bits to one person they shouldn't get the problem. At the moment I would rather drive a 15 year old Mazda van that I have. It's noisy but it's supposed to be

It was suggested that I tried severe braking from speed. If it provoked the noise it would indicate ARB/drive shaft contact. No noise during the braking or coming to a halt. Plenty of noise when I moved off from stand still, tending to suggest a spring unloading or ARB twist. Will investigate further during the weekend.

On a different tack, have you heard anything from James lately. I have phoned a number of times and left messages but got no response. Hope he is alright.

KeithM

 

[Reflex TDI]

On a different tack, have you heard anything from James lately. I have phoned a number of times and left messages but got no response. Hope he is alright.

KeithM

Sorry Keith, will give you a ring with all the news!

James

 

[KeithM]

On a different tack, have you heard anything from James lately. I have phoned a number of times and left messages but got no response. Hope he is alright.

KeithM

Sorry Keith, will give you a ring with all the news!

James

No problem Jimbo, just as long as you are OK. Will catch up soon as I owe you a ton of CD's DVD's and Books.

KeithM

 

[Foxy]

Keith.....did you have a think about my proposal?

No pressure!

J

 

[KeithM]

Keith.....did you have a think about my proposal?

No pressure!

J

Hi Jon

Sorry I haven't got back to you sooner. Think I would rather stay as I am. Sorry for the length of time to get back to you. Do you want me to keep my eyes open or is the project still at pondering stage??

KeithM

 

[Enzo]

Powerflex bushes throughout,

With poly bushes you will get alot more noises, as are alot harder, so will transmit more noise and vibration into the body of the car.

I tried some poly wishbone bushes on a older Golf, and were on the car about 2 weeks, before I had to take them out, as couldnt stand the increased noises and bangs over every imperfection in the road.

May be worth swapping back some of those powerflex bushes back to OE rubber ones.

 

[KeithM]

I am currently trying to find the time to book it into RSD to see if they can fix it. If not I think you are right. I will probably take all of the suspension mods off and revert to standard.

KeithM

 

[Foxy]

Good luck Keith!

 

[KeithM]

Hi Jon

Nice to have you back from wherever it is that you have been. Hope all is well

KeithM