Model Year 20/21 Creak from steering at low speed / stationary

[Mobile Chicane]

Steering “creak” I had a technical bulletin done on my 2021 32k Formentor in June and it got rid of it, 3 months and about 3000 miles later and it looks like the issue is back but less obvious.

The work I had done was warrantied for a year so they will need to sort it for free.
Anyone else had this and did you get to see the technical bulletin details?

It went in today to be looked at and they reckon it needs a new steering rack to remove the issue of the creak.
However when asked I was told the car was safe to drive for 2000+ miles I was informed that it was ok to drive normally.
I can live with the creak if its only a mildly irritating noise and nothing more sinister as it only occurs on sub 1mph manoeuvring and not all the time even then.
Before even asking about cost of the new rack and fitting the service advisor said he would be approaching Cupra for some kind of goodwill towards the costs.
As I paid the £660 for the previous work (refunded to me later by the third party warranty company) I'm hope full that Cupra cover the whole bill or most of it.
I previously had goodwill on a camera on the same car from them and the bill went from £700 to just over £100.
I'll update with more info as it occurs.

 

[CupForm]

You could also ask for a diagnosis of the front shock-absorbers bearings.
I had a similar creak that occurred quite early (the car was about 1 month old and had 1-2k km), and it was later found that the bearing on top of the right shock-absorber was at fault. It was replaced under warranty and the steering is now quiet.
The noise was only audible at low speeds (maneuvering) or with the car stopped. The Auto-Hold and the EPB should be Off when you do this test with the car stopped, since the brakes could also "squeak"

 

[Mobile Chicane]

You could also ask for a diagnosis of the front shock-absorbers bearings.
I had a similar creak that occurred quite early (the car was about 1 month old and had 1-2k km), and it was later found that the bearing on top of the right shock-absorber was at fault. It was replaced under warranty and the steering is now quiet.
The noise was only audible at low speeds (maneuvering) or with the car stopped. The Auto-Hold and the EPB should be Off when you do this test with the car stopped, since the brakes could also "squeak"

I had the bonnet up over the weekend and its deffo coming from the rack area, my first thoughts were top mounts but having someone else replicate the issue from inside the car and me with my head in the engine bay I confirmed it.

 

[arminpohy]

I have similar problem. My Cupra is still under warranty and i replaced front right shock absorber and shock absorber bearing and still hear it but only on the left side, so i went again to my dealer and they replaced left shock absorber only. After a few days it started cracking again, now i have appointment for replacing left shock absorber bearing too. I hope it would work.

 

[Mobile Chicane]

So further thoughts, the sound is deffo from the rack area but only appears when the wheel is moved in one direction then another.

The fault was initially cured when Cupra replaced some of the hardware mounting the rack in place and only re ocured after about 2500 ish miles the last 500 of which involved some very wet roads.

I believe the rack has two large bushings clamping it in place at either end (I've been trying to find an exploded parts PDF to confirm this).

My theory is that the rack creeps very slightly in the bushings and that causes the noise, I suspect it may have been lubricated to stop this and the lube has washed away.

 

[Mobile Chicane]

So they are planning on replacing the steering rack, I'm waiting for the price from Cupra

 

[Mobile Chicane]

Quote has come through £2k + I'm waiting for the goodwill to be taken off that, I may also seek a second opinion as I'm not sure the rack itself is the issue.

 

[MATT RILEY]

There used to be a TPI for the Audi TT that you had to lower the subframe and loosen the motor bolts on the steering rack motor for this issue and then retorque the bolts to a new torque.
Have you asked them to check all TPI for this issue?

 

[Mobile Chicane]

There used to be a TPI for the Audi TT that you had to lower the subframe and loosen the motor bolts on the steering rack motor for this issue and then retorque the bolts to a new torque.
Have you asked them to check all TPI for this issue?

I believe they have already done this as it seemed to cure it for about 2500 miles

 

[Mobile Chicane]

Ok update time, I managed to pop my car on a friends 2 post lift yesterday and had a good look around the steering area no leaks and nothing loose however there was a piece of stone stuck in between the rack itself and the sub frame it is mounted to, I picked the stone out and put some duck oil on all the bushings I could see and so far the noise has gone.

I do need to wait for a dry day for max resistance on the tyres to fully test it at stand still.

 

[MATT RILEY]

Ok update time, I managed to pop my car on a friends 2 post lift yesterday and had a good look around the steering area no leaks and nothing loose however there was a piece of stone stuck in between the rack itself and the sub frame it is mounted to, I picked the stone out and put some duck oil on all the bushings I could see and so far the noise has gone.

I do need to wait for a dry day for max resistance on the tyres to fully test it at stand still.

Nice one matey