Knocking Noises & Clutch Issues!!

[Lee172]

I had a free trial map put on my car yesterday so was giving it quite a bit of grief last night, today i noticed a knocking noise from under the car in the middle towards the front (which i could slightly feel from under the pedals), it's when i go over larger bumps and speed bumps at 15 - 20mph + . At first i thought it was bushes at the front but driving up and down my drive i have noticed it knocks on what ever side i go over the bumps on.. then i thought it could be the exhaust so got under the car and gave it a good shake, but still nothing.

Has anyone got any ideas of where i should look next ?

Also, nearly forgot to add, my clutch slipped slightly this morning. Took it to a friends garage and he told me to put it in third with the handbrake on and see if i could pull off, which i could (with a lot of smoke). i dont know if thats the right thing to do but, now my clutch pedal has got alot lighter, still seems to work ok though.

What could this be?

Thanks, Lee.

Its a amk s3 by the way.

 

[JD09]

Try front drop links on the knocking sound. This has been found to be my issue.

 

[amerikzz]

hi there,

i had the same issue with my car, s3 2001 AMK.. quick questiom, what happens when you rev it up to about 4000rpm? a loud rattling noise?

well, my issue was that of the 6 bolts holding my flywheel, 4 had come loose and the other 2 i could loosen by hand... i obviously only discovered this after i took off my gearbox off (crap job if you lack the proper environment and tools..)..

anyhow, upon replacing my DMF, clutch and release bearing and re-assembling my car.. i noticed the hole on my gearbox through which one can see the flywheel, which i assume is used to set timing?? dont really know cos im not an expert... but before doing anything drastic i suggest you check for play on your flywheel through that hole...

 

[Lee172]

i do get a bit of a rattle but not at 4000 rpm, more around the 1200 mark and for a split second. I assumed it was just something liittle but i will have to have a look at the flywheel.. where abouts is this hole on the gearbox?

I was under the car today and noticed some leaking fluid which i took pics of..

This is near to the front 'diff' (i think). Sorry about pic sizes..

Does anyone know what this is ? Also i was reading a thread , i think it was welly, where he had a knocking noise which turned out to be something to do with his prop shaft i believe. In the middle it had some black oil which i found on mine, although i havent taken my exhaust of so couldn't see properly..

However, i found and removed the fuse for the haldex.. which in welly's case stopped his knocking. It didn't make any difference to the knocking im getting so i dont think its drive related. But now im worried about all this fluid leaking everywhere. Anyone got any ideas??

Thanks, Lee.

 

[Lee172]

Ok. I have had a good look and i think its the front bushes on the lower arms. Wierd how they both went at once. Does anyone know a good place to get these bushes? Or would it be worth my while getting uprated ones?

 

[S3 TAM]

If you got to change it upgrade it thats my moto.

 

[Welly]

If you got to change it upgrade it thats my moto.

Agreed, why replace with OEM, when you could use something much better....

 

[Lee172]

ok does anyone know what are some decent upgrades and where i can buy them from?

Also, Welly.. do you think the pictures above are something i should be worried about?

Thanks, Lee.

 

[Welly]

ok does anyone know what are some decent upgrades and where i can buy them from?

Also, Welly.. do you think the pictures above are something i should be worried about?

Thanks, Lee.

One syllable..... Naaaaa.

From what I've seen dude, most S3s now (being 8 years old and more) have grease creeping from the UJ on the propshaft.

The propshaft I removed had grease seepage, even though the gaiter on the UJ wasn't split.

I wouldn't worry about it. Your knocking doesn't sound prop related. Mine used to bang like hell on heavy acceleration, much like you would expect from an inner CV joint. The reason I changed mine wasn't that anyway, one of the bolts at the transfer box end had come undone and 'shafted' the shaft (dum dum tsssh).

Worry about it when it becomes a problem. Which will likely be never.