Advice needed on knocking from front suspension (mk4 fr tdi)

[DanDiesel]

don't talk to me about knocking noises! i've had so many its unreal!

i've had a link rod replaced, and ARB bushes and something else, maybe suspension bushes?
and then my front wishbones started making this horrid squeaking noise! luckily thats been sorted with a tub load of white grease!

but theres this one knock that i've had for ages, and its really got the dealers stumped!now unlike most dealers these fella are decent and always help me out with whatever i throw at them!
so far we can't pin point the noise, they can here it but can't find it!

 

[Crafoo]

Took my car into the dealers the other day to try and get something sorted (again) regarding this knocking noise and the general talk is of the steering rack and anti roll bar knocking together, so parts have been ordered and the work should be getting done soon. Hopefully they are on the money this time, it certainly sounds more likely than anything else they have come up with. I will post up my findings when the work has been done.

 

[Andydurbs]

got mine finally booked in (27th april), will post what happens on the day aswell......knocking getting worse.

 

[acedano]

Susp. Ratling

I got that same noise on my car. 2007 1.6 Ibiza. Took it to the dealer, I manage to find a good surface to reproduce the sound and they heard it. The explanation is that the noise is "normal" and due to the electrohydraulic steering pump system working agains't impact generated by riding over rough surfaces. Is not a good explanation for me. He said that to proove it I should turn on a rought surface or bumb but with the engine off (hydraulic pump off)
I haven't found a chance to do it in a safe area yet.

The car is close to it's third service, I will ask again, I can accept it if it is a design failure that will not put my life at risk. But I want to be sure about that.

 

[Crafoo]

Switch your engine off while your driving, hmmmm that's sound advice

 

[Crafoo]

Well my car still hasn't been sorted, it's been in now about 16 times in total, and they are still scratching their heads. An engine mount is the next part that is going to be changed, trouble is I have to wait another 3 weeks before I can get a courtesy car from the dealers to get it done. I think if I can find a decent line on my way in this time I will drive my car straight through the showroom window and try and take out as many cars as I can.

 

[tasty_kebab]

I had knocking under full-lock and ignored it for a week since it was going in for service. Got the car back from dealer and they replaced cracked bushes under warranty! Hooray!

 

[acedano]

knocking solved!

I had this weird knocking on my 2007 Ibiza for almost 8 months, they looked at everything and couldn't find the source, finally, they decided to change the steering oil pump and rack (costly replacement for them!) and the difference is huge, goodbye knocking!

 

[Crafoo]

I had the steering rack changed on mine and the problem still remains.

 

[acedano]

Crafoo:

I would like to share my complete experience with you, I hope you will have a use for it.
Regarding water condensation on you front lights, I had the same situation, I'm a mechanical Design Engineer working in the automotive industry and when you expose your design to stuff that it wasn't design for, it will fail. Those lamps weren't designed to have water on them, the dealer wanted to clean the lights and seal them but I just didn't accept that, I insisted I wanted new front lights and they had to give them to me. And they did.
Regarding the knocking on the suspension/steering. At the begining they told me it was a "normal" noise, and to be honest I fell for that for some months but I realize that I bought a new car and I wanted it to behave like a new car, I gave them my money and I just wasn't going to sit and wait for that **** to fail two days after the end of my warranty! You have the right to have that problem solved, and you should fight for it.
The most important is to find a surface where you can replicate the sound, in my case, I found a roundabout or round point (I don't know how you call them there) with a rough surface, that did the trick, I could replicate the sound as many times as I wanted by driving (and maybe looking like a crazy *******) many times around that roundabout. After that I showed the noise again to the dealer and explain them that I knew my rights and I wanted my car to behave like a new one. As I work on the automotive industry, I know that kind of **** happens, mass production is like that, some products will go out to sale with issues, and you see more of that on low cost cars or brands like Seat and Ibiza. My attitude then was not aggresive, I was polite with them, yelling and screaming and getting angry wont take you anywere. They heard the sound and again told me it was "normal", I asked to drive a demo car over the same terrain, that car didn't make the same noise, so now I demostrated that the noise was not normal, I even accepted to drive three diferent cars and none of them made that noise. The "normal" factor was out of question, they checked the car, they found nothing, they contacted Seat Headquarters and receive an authorization to change ALL steering system, rack, pump and also some suspension arms. After that my car was OK for the first time since I bought it (8 months hearing that noise) and it felt like new again.
Be polite but not submissive, I did that and I got a great attitude from them, and of course a car that behaves like a new one. If you have to, write directly to Seat customer service, I did and it was a good think to do. Be pacient and insist.

Good luck.

 

[Looby]

aargh...ive developed the infernal knocking noise.
it doesnt happen over rough terrain, not especially over lumps and bumps...its happened just when pulling away from standing ..sounds like its coming from the back end of the car, not the front...
will go out in a while and see if i can replicate the noise so i know exactly what im going on about when i take it back in...

 

[j3ster]

Have any of you managed to get this knocking noise sorted yet?

 

[Crafoo]

Crafoo:

I would like to share my complete experience with you, I hope you will have a use for it.
Regarding water condensation on you front lights, I had the same situation, I'm a mechanical Design Engineer working in the automotive industry and when you expose your design to stuff that it wasn't design for, it will fail. Those lamps weren't designed to have water on them, the dealer wanted to clean the lights and seal them but I just didn't accept that, I insisted I wanted new front lights and they had to give them to me. And they did.
Regarding the knocking on the suspension/steering. At the begining they told me it was a "normal" noise, and to be honest I fell for that for some months but I realize that I bought a new car and I wanted it to behave like a new car, I gave them my money and I just wasn't going to sit and wait for that **** to fail two days after the end of my warranty! You have the right to have that problem solved, and you should fight for it.
The most important is to find a surface where you can replicate the sound, in my case, I found a roundabout or round point (I don't know how you call them there) with a rough surface, that did the trick, I could replicate the sound as many times as I wanted by driving (and maybe looking like a crazy *******) many times around that roundabout. After that I showed the noise again to the dealer and explain them that I knew my rights and I wanted my car to behave like a new one. As I work on the automotive industry, I know that kind of **** happens, mass production is like that, some products will go out to sale with issues, and you see more of that on low cost cars or brands like Seat and Ibiza. My attitude then was not aggresive, I was polite with them, yelling and screaming and getting angry wont take you anywere. They heard the sound and again told me it was "normal", I asked to drive a demo car over the same terrain, that car didn't make the same noise, so now I demostrated that the noise was not normal, I even accepted to drive three diferent cars and none of them made that noise. The "normal" factor was out of question, they checked the car, they found nothing, they contacted Seat Headquarters and receive an authorization to change ALL steering system, rack, pump and also some suspension arms. After that my car was OK for the first time since I bought it (8 months hearing that noise) and it felt like new again.
Be polite but not submissive, I did that and I got a great attitude from them, and of course a car that behaves like a new one. If you have to, write directly to Seat customer service, I did and it was a good think to do. Be pacient and insist.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice dude, but to be honest I have done pretty much all you have said there and I am still no further forward, I have been polite all the way through and told them that it needs to be sorted, I just don't think they have the first idea about what is causing the problem and after having the car 18 times I think it is now for the same problem, you would probably like I have got the impression that they are completely toss at their job. My next step is to take it to the dealers in Sheffield (just for a second opinion) where I bought my first Ibiza to see if they can find the problem and sort it out, hopefully they can. When It's sorted I'm going to sue for damages for all the times I have had to go without my car.

Have any of you managed to get this knocking noise sorted yet?

Nope not yet, the last thing I had replaced on my car was an engine mount, still no joy, the knocking is still there loud and proud and pissing me off What's most annoying is the way I seem to be the one suggesting what should be replaced on the car, not the "mechanic" who is supposed to know the car inside out. I think pretty much everything everyone else has had changed I have too and still got no joy.

 

[Nick_J]

Have any of you managed to get this knocking noise sorted yet?

Yeh, I got coilovers, noise has gone!

 

[pauliepaul]

i had this a while ago in january

i hit a pothole whilst driving through leeds and after a trip to the SEAT garage, they discovered the anti roll bar had shunted over to the right, and was knocking on the link bar.

so i had the anti roll bar replaced for a cool 180 quid

THEN a couple of months later the noise started again... so after another visit to the garage they discovered the link bar was loose from before and replaced it for a casual 100 quid.

now the noise has gone but i think it shows the suspension isn't too hot on these cars - a round 300 quid for a pothole? nice.

 

[Crafoo]

Just had a call from Ted Johnsons wanting me to take somebody out in the car again to demonstrate the problem, must be about the 5th time but I'm not going to say no if it's going to help things.

 

[mexicorich]

Most Ibizas make a thudding knock noise due to the poor void bushes used as standard apart from the cupras with solid bushes

Drop links and a worn anti roll bar bushes also cause knocking noises

 

[kriso]

I've always had this problem from new and just put up with it

 

[Crafoo]

I've always had this problem from new and just put up with it

Don't put up with it dude, make a fuss and together we might actually get something sorted that resolves the problem for everyone. I've bitched about it since day one and now nearly 1 year on I still haven't had it sorted but I won't give up until I get a fix for it, I don't see why I should have to put up with a fault on a brand new car, I don't care if they have to replace every part of my car to fix the problem, if i'm paying for it and I want it right.

 

[st33ly]

has anyone found out the cause of this as it's driving me up the bloody wall. the roads in edinburgh don't help with it either!
Cheers