Big creak over speed bumps

[Owyn]

A new job has seen me putting a fair few miles on my car, aside from the vibration which refuses to be cured by wheel balancing and me being convinced the car is slower than it was, its been performing admirably.

Today, however, I was going over some speed bumps at about 5 mph and the front end was making a noise like a creaky door.

The front suspension on these things is pretty complex so I'd prefer not to change all of it at once, it doesn't make any noise apart from over speed bumps going slowly-any clues over the first bits to change? Who knows, it may even cure my steering wobble.

Thanks

 

[Marky007]

Am same but mines rear not found fault yet

 

[spartacus 68]

What's the mileage and current suspension, sport, standard, etc? Worn top arms are fairly straight forward to diagnose, and if worn they would exhibit a definite clunk rather than a creak. You can normally see movement at the pinch bolt area where the arms locate if they were very worn with car jacked up and hold road wheel at top and bottom.

Suspect it could be the coupling rods, (also known as drop links). To fix, you need to jack up both sides, axle stands, etc. I doubt it's the ARB bushes, but if car is high mileage, say over 100k, then I'd replace them too at the same time as the coupling rods.

Parts wise, Meyle HD, Lemforder, etc.

 

[Marky007]

Mines 86k on s line suspension and 19 inch rota alloys mines defo a creek not a clunk sound

 

[Owyn]

Mine is an SE with 125k miles, definitely a creak, not a knock. It did have a new ball joint in the bottom rear arms a year ago.
Other than that it's original I think.

 

[spartacus 68]

Mine is an SE with 125k miles, definitely a creak, not a knock. It did have a new ball joint in the bottom rear arms a year ago.
Other than that it's original I think.

You've done well if at 125k. If you're planning to keep it, then start saving for a suspension refresh at some point. The drop links take a hammering with the anti roll bar through corners and uneven road surfaces. I suppose that's it's job. It's inexpensive as far as suspension work goes, if you can do it yourself.

 

[Jay_78]

You've done well if at 125k. If you're planning to keep it, then start saving for a suspension refresh at some point. The drop links take a hammering with the anti roll bar through corners and uneven road surfaces. I suppose that's it's job. It's inexpensive as far as suspension work goes, if you can do it yourself.

My 2010 2.0tdi Avant se has 111000 miles and has same creaking sound coming from front. Had MOT at beginning of year and no advisory. Is this sort of thing checked during MOT? Also is there really the need to replace the whole suspension system??

 

[spartacus 68]

My 2010 2.0tdi Avant se has 111000 miles and has same creaking sound coming from front. Had MOT at beginning of year and no advisory. Is this sort of thing checked during MOT? Also is there really the need to replace the whole suspension system??

I'm not advocating you do a suspension rebuild at 100k miles, but once you replace parts and tighten up the suspension, it can sometimes exacerbate the problem. Start with inexpensive parts first, ARB bushes, links, etc.

 

[cashutt]

I have a similar thing, creaking over speed bumps at 100k. Took it to the local Audi specialist. The guy said it was lower control arm bushes (I think) or anti roll bar links. We agreed he’d change the anti roll bar links (£220). It didn’t go away so I guess it’s the lower control arm bushes. They’re also about £220 to replace.

Try driving over those speed humps in the middle of the road to work out if it’s on one side or both. Might help diagnose.

 

[spartacus68]

Those prices are crazy. The ARB bushes will be pennies. Car jacked up both sides, engine undertray off, road wheels off, disconnect drop links at strut, remove ARB clamps and fit new bushes. 1 hour max.

 

[ROLO]

My 2010 SE with 142,000 on it does exactly the same, I think the creaking started around the 120k mark and I've never been able to fix it. It's had the ARB links/bushes replaced which didn't do anything and yesterday it passed it's MOT.

I"m thinking of getting a can of silicon spray and spraying one bush at a time, when the creak stops then that's the one to replace. Time consuming but then again I'm a tight wad.

 

[Jay_78]

Anyone resolve this problem?

 

[glenandem]

ive got a clonking noise that really clonks on turning but i get it setting off too, ive managed to work out its coming from drivers front for sure and had it jacked up and pry bars everywhere and nothing obvious, i did think top mount myself but i asked on another forum and someone said theres just a rubber bush and that wont cause any probs unlike a top mount bearing would!