Nightmare front shock change.

[rob280]

Hi everyone.
Having a nightmare at the moment, had a leaky front shock on my 2014 cupra so purchased a pair of dcc shocks from seat parts direct, had them fitted along with new top mounts and drop links.

Now i have a knocking coming from both sides, sounds like it is coming from the top of the shocks/mounts. Only really knocks over smaller bump, like something is loose but everything has been checked numerous times.

I removed both drop links to see if that was the problem but it still knocks so not that.

I have had the garage put the old top mounts back in as they were quiet but it still knocks, but worse strangely.

so then we put the new top mounts in with the old shocks and it still knocks,

Next step is put all the old stuff back in to see if it goes quiet as this will prove it is the shocks and top mounts.

Anyone experienced this much hassle changing shocks.
P.s the car defo never knocked before it had the suspension change. Cheers for now.

 

[H Rafiq]

I’m having this issue too. Only on my drivers side. I didn’t change top mounts, just the shocks. I’ve had another garage check over the suspension n they’ve said it’s fine too. It’s going back to the garage who changed the shocks to investigate further. Mine makes a creaking/knocking sound when I go over bumps slowly, or brake harshly. Starting to think it’s not suspension-related.

 

[rob280]

I’m having this issue too. Only on my drivers side. I didn’t change top mounts, just the shocks. I’ve had another garage check over the suspension n they’ve said it’s fine too. It’s going back to the garage who changed the shocks to investigate further. Mine makes a creaking/knocking sound when I go over bumps slowly, or brake harshly. Starting to think it’s not suspension-related.

Its a bloody pain, Garage is putting the original stuff back today, so far I'm £700+ down just to get the old failed suspension put back on the car. I have ordered another pair shocks from autodoc to see if that helps but i feel im just chasing my tail.

 

[SuperV8]

Brake pads can knock.
What brake pads do you have?

 

[rob280]

Brake pads can knock.
What brake pads do you have?

Nope, had new brake pads fitted, they have been checked, the knock was present before and after the pads were changed, also the noise is present even under braking. Cheers for the replys everyone.
Currently waiting for the outcome of fitting the old suspension, if it still knocks then, we will be looking at everything on the front end but as the knock wasnt there with the old suspension fitted we have assumed it is something to do with the new suspension and what has been undone to fit it.

 

[H Rafiq]

Interesting to see what they say. I bought the Monroe shocks from Autodoc too. Way cheaper than OEM prices.

 

[rob280]

Interesting to see what they say. I bought the Monroe shocks from Autodoc too. Way cheaper than OEM prices.

The nightmare continues!!
The garage reinstalled all the old hardware and it still knocks, so i would say it is a fitment fault. Garage has been ok to deal with but answers are becoming less and less as they are as stumped as me.

 

[Mr Pig]

Mine makes a creaking/knocking sound when I go over bumps slowly, or brake harshly.

We've had four Leons and only one of them did not do this.

 

[H Rafiq]

Did you get em sorted @Mr Pig ? Mines due in for further investigation next Monday. When the shocks were replaced they said they’d grease the bushes from the outside n see if that helps. It didn’t. They may need to take em apart n grease internally too. Getting to the point where I have to baby it over bumps, and, if I can’t dodge a pothole, the way the car crashes through it, I’m just waiting for the damper warning to illuminate again…

 

[Mr Pig]

Did you get em sorted @Mr Pig ?

No. The first car was a 14 plate SE and it went in a couple of times under warranty. Both times they said it was fixed but the noise was unchanged. Gave up after that and just ignored it. Same noise on a 16 and 17 FR. Only car with silent suspension was an 18 Cupra.

 

[H Rafiq]

No. The first car was a 14 plate SE and it went in a couple of times under warranty. Both times they said it was fixed but the noise was unchanged. Gave up after that and just ignored it. Same noise on a 16 and 17 FR. Only car with silent suspension was an 18 Cupra.

Was this Seat trying to fix it, or independents? MOTs passed fine, no issues? Didn’t lead to any other issues?

 

[rob280]

Well the garage is stumped, they are now keeping the car for a while and will take another look when time allows as this fault on my car has caused a backlog on other jobs.
So im without a car,
Has anyone fitted these type of shocks themselves on here?
Would be helpful to know about how the top mount fits.
Its sounds to me like the shock is rattling in the mount, maybe there is a spacer or washer missing? Any help would be great.

 

[DEAN0]

Well the garage is stumped, they are now keeping the car for a while and will take another look when time allows as this fault on my car has caused a backlog on other jobs.
So im without a car,
Has anyone fitted these type of shocks themselves on here?
Would be helpful to know about how the top mount fits.
Its sounds to me like the shock is rattling in the mount, maybe there is a spacer or washer missing? Any help would be great.

Nothing special I can see - have they moved the "spring seat" across to the new struts ?

 

[rob280]

Nothing special I can see - have they moved the "spring seat" across to the new struts ?

View attachment 42482
View attachment 42483

Cheers for that
It now proves that nothing has been left off when fitting.
Spring seat was moved across so it aint that.
So strange that the old suspension which is on the car now also now knocks when it didnt before.
I dont know what the garage has done but it is driving around the bend.

 

[DEAN0]

Cheers for that
It now proves that nothing has been left off when fitting.
Spring seat was moved across so it aint that.
So strange that the old suspension which is on the car now also now knocks when it didnt before.
I dont know what the garage has done but it is driving around the bend.

Strut top deffo in correct orientation ?

 

[DEAN0]

Spring lower tail seated completely at the stop ?

 

[rob280]

Spring lower tail seated completely at the stop ?
View attachment 42487

Will ask the garage, mate you are a star for posting this info for me mate, thanks so much.

 

[SuperV8]

Wishbones/ball joints?

These have to be disturbed to fit new dampers - i'm sure they were on 'tired' on a 10 years old car - and levering down the wishbone to get dampers out would have disturbed/stressed them.

 

[rob280]

Wishbones/ball joints?

These have to be disturbed to fit new dampers - i'm sure they were on 'tired' on a 10 years old car - and levering down the wishbone to get dampers out would have disturbed/stressed them.

They checked all the ball joints, seemingly no play in them, tried it on the shaker plates on the ramp but it just walks itself sideway because the car is so stiff.
I think the garage is coming to the conclusion that it may well be something that they have disturbed during the suspension fitting.

 

[Mr Pig]

Was this Seat trying to fix it, or independents? MOTs passed fine, no issues? Didn’t lead to any other issues?

Seat dealer. They had two goes, said it was fixed both times. Was not. Never had an issue with an MOT and the noise never got any worse. Cars still make the noise. Still have no idea what it is!