Rattly suspension

[Reverend Frog]

The right front suspension is making a fearsome clatter on my car - usually on poor surfaces and speed bumps. OK on smooth roads.

It is a rattle/clatter, and pretty sure it's just from one side.

What does anyone think - I suspect top mounts.

[marcus]

Think you're right re top mounts, jack the car up and use a lever to apply upwards pressure to the suspension arms, suspect you will see a lot of movement.

[mark1gls]

If it's not the top mounts check the big nut/cap which holds the front shock insert inside the strut is tight.

[Nate]

...then look for play in the balljoint and excessive movement from the bushes (including arb) and check arb clamps are tight and not broken

[Reverend Frog]

Cheers guys

with my luck the problem will be all of the above!

[Reverend Frog]

This might explain things:



these are loose

i don;t see an obvious way to tighten them - any suggestions?

[mark1gls]

If its just the plastic top that's lose just take the off, they are only there for looks and serve no real purpose.

[ianaudia4]

There is no way the plastic caps would cause a in your words "a fearsome clatter"! Do you mean the top mounts? If so they are approx £30 a pair (best to change in pairs!).

[the edmundator]

Yes, and if you suspected the caps were causing the noise, you could just take them off and drive around without them on. Many Sciroccos don't even have them any more.

[mark1gls]

If you can get your finger between to rubber and the metal plate on the top mount then they are well past there best and will need changing.
A picture of the gap will help tell if they are shot.

[crashbanggg]

If you can get your finger between to rubber and the metal plate on the top mount then they are well past there best and will need changing.
A picture of the gap will help tell if they are shot.

Apologies for the slight thread hijack, but iv got a similar clatter/rattle on mine! Iv just had a look at the top mounts on mine, would this be the gap between the rubber and the metal plate you speak of to indicate a knackered top mount?

[mark1gls]

Yep that's the one, if you jack the car up on that corner (use a good jack and axel stand as you will be shacking the car) and get a long bar/bit of wood and place it under the wheel and lift the bar up and down you might hear the knocking/banging, then with the car still in the air grab hold of the strut and give it a good wobble backwards and forwards and it might knock bang.
Your's look like they are near the end of there life but check them out first doing the above then start pricing up new ones before your next MOT.

[bengould]

I'm not 100% sure the gap between the rubber and metal is a sign that top mounts are gone. Mine have been like that since the day I fitted them, they don't make any sort of noise and the steering is not overly heavy. Which are two signs I would look for in dead top mounts.

Ben.

[DT1]

If you are still getting the noise it can also be due to tie rod ball joints (inner or outer). Just failed an MOT on these after fixing loose strut mounts.

[The Autoad]

Are you sure that the rattle is suspension related? You may have lost a pair of anti rattle springs from your brake shoes, lack of them can cause a clatter noise over rough surfaces.

If you are sure that is is suspension related, check for a broken coil spring in addition to what the fellas above have pointed out.