Clunks and Jolts aren't good...

1381 Views 16 Replies 6 Participants Last post by andyr32, Nov 2, 2007

DomR32

Discussion Starter · Oct 11, 2007

Here's one for all you car doctors out there.....

I may be worrying about nothing, but every time anything seems slightly wrong with the car, I freak out - especially after spending an arm and a leg at Awesome today (but a great deal, cheers Sarah! :151

I just drove the car for the first time in 4 days, and as I turned full lock to the right to do a 3 point turn, there was a jolt through the steering like something was freeing up. Turning full lock the other way while reversing did the same thing.... After that it was fine for a 5 minute trip to the garage and back - I did a lot of turning and no more clunks.

Can anything in the steering seize if its left for a while - anyone experienced similar on any car? The suspension, wheels etc are OEM. It has done it once before a monthor 2 ago, but nothing since....

any thoughts? :hmmmm2:

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andyr32

· #2 · Oct 11, 2007

i had the same sort of feeling and it ended up i needed a new top strut bearing.but if you have had new suspension wouldnt think that would be the problem mate??

DomR32

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 11, 2007

andyr32 said:
i had the same sort of feeling and it ended up i needed a new top strut bearing.but if you have had new suspension wouldnt think that would be the problem mate??

No new suspension - all original... Would the top strut bearing not mean that it did it every time you went full lock? Or would that be a reason for it to seize and then be ok again?

andyr32

· #4 · Oct 11, 2007

dose it make a clonky noise under slight wheel movement or is it just full lock??

you might just find all the jionts need a grease up.mine get done in a service.:151:

DomR32

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 11, 2007

Just when I turn a lot and its the first turn of the wheel as a pull away (I always have to do a 3 point to get out as I live on a cul de sac).... but it has never done when I get going....

Its going in for its haldex service in 10 days so I'll get them to have a look and give the joints a grease.

Cheers Andy

andyr32

· #6 · Oct 11, 2007

no probs mate!!bit of a head scratcher that one!!

see how it is once its been serviced,maby the boys there will be more clued up and seen it before!!

Awesomesarah

· #7 · Nov 1, 2007

Hi
If the car had been stood for a while it could be freeing up
Or the springs can tend to spring with a twang
Are you still having these problems? If so give us a call and we can have a look for you
Glad we could sort you out too

Sarah

DomR32

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 1, 2007

Awesomesarah said:
Hi
If the car had been stood for a while it could be freeing up
Or the springs can tend to spring with a twang
Are you still having these problems? If so give us a call and we can have a look for you
Glad we could sort you out too
Sarah

Cheers Sarah, I'm hoping its just that. exhaust sounds great.... are the carbonios in yet? They were expected weeks ago!

silver r

· #9 · Nov 1, 2007

let us know domr32, when you find out, mines doing the same thing! only does it when turning around a tight corner or on full lock. i have checked powersteering fluid.( fine) it also passed its mot yesterday, so bit of a mystery.

r32mjc

· #10 · Nov 1, 2007

mine did the same thing.

so i replaced the top strut bearings not a bad job to do.

got the bearings from vw they were about £12 each.

sorted the problem, 1 was shot and the other was ok.

matthew

dubzter

· #11 · Nov 1, 2007

yeah sounds like strut top bearings, I've had mine replaced three times all showing the same symptoms

silver r

· #12 · Nov 1, 2007

any idear how much dealer charges for stut top bearing to be replaced? is there an better after market bearing which will last longer? is this a job that you can do yourself or do you need specialised tools etc? seems this is a common fault! be handy if we could change these ourselfs to keep the running costs down.

DomR32

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 1, 2007

silver r said:
any idear how much dealer charges for stut top bearing to be replaced? is there an better after market bearing which will last longer? is this a job that you can do yourself or do you need specialised tools etc? seems this is a common fault! be handy if we could change these ourselfs to keep the running costs down.

I'll tell you this weekend - mine's going in for its haldex service tomorrow, so I'll see if they can change them.... from what everyone's saying, this is worth doing after a while anyway (even if you haven't had clunks).. cheers all

dubzter

· #14 · Nov 2, 2007

don't know about price as I had mine all done under warranty

DomR32

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 2, 2007

Spoke to the guy servicing my car at VW this morning. He said that if it only happens when I pull away having left the car for a while, then its nothing to do with the fact I'm turning (as I said the first thing I always do to pull away is a 3 point turn).

he said mk4 rear brakes have a tendancy to seize up after a few days, so the jolt as I get going is just those freeing up... I'm inclined to believe him, as I've never had it happen after I've been driving for a while - turning or otherwise.

silver r

· #16 · Nov 2, 2007

going to give mine a bit more time investigating, i park mine in a garage with the handbrake off, mine only does it when turning! almost feels like a driveshaft problem, you can feel vibrations though the steering wheel, perfect when going straight. mine started doing this when cold, after a while it disappears, going to drive the car a bit this weekend and find out a little more.

andyr32

· #17 · Nov 2, 2007

if anyone has changed there top strut bearings and is willing to do a DIY thread to let us all know how to do it would be much appreciated as think mine need changed and would be great to not have to take it to the stealers!!!

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