Front Suspension Knock Noise

[GeordieChap]

Well have fitted new front standard struts with new eibach springs, new mount tops etc, only thing is im getting a knocking noise off the front when travelling down a bumpy road, was just wondering if any one had any pointers as I have tighten the struts up as tight as I can with a swan neck spanner and allen key, could it be they are not tight enough or something else?

[Sgt_Lemon]

It might be the spring is not set in the cup correctly as I have had this problem on the rear before after changing suspension. When I jacked the car up and the weight was off the wheel there was a load "diong" noise as the spring went back into the cup and that settled the knocking noise.

[clipperjay]

There is a big rubber doughnut that sits at the top of the strut housing was this replaced along with the strut itself?
Ball joints take damage due to worn struts so wiggle and see if its loose!

[GeordieChap]

Cheers for the quick replies, the cups are seated correctly and if you mean the rubber donut that the slotted nut fits through and then sits against the bodywork which the top mount screws tight against then yeap that has been replaced as well, although I have to say there is a 7mm gap between the top mounting plate (under bonnet) and bodywork is this normal?

[Sgt_Lemon]

When the car is flat on the ground there will be a gap between the bodywork and the plate thing that the top nut goes on top of.

[GeordieChap]

Cheers for that Sgt I wonder if the top nut isn't tighten enough then, might see if the local workshop will gun them up. Although I did notice that there was still a little play in the new bearing plate with the slotted nut done up tight, is a bit of play normal on that plate?

[weazgti]

That slotted nut not tight enough. It ll seem tight but its not unless you have the vw tool I d imagine.
Went through 2 sets of top mounts because it kept knocking then I went down the mk3 top mount route which replaces the slotted one with a normal one.

[GeordieChap]

Cheers I bought the nut tool for the slotted nut and have tighten it as much as it will go but there's still a bit of play in rubber bearing mount am I right in thinking that their shouldn't be any play in it?

[GeordieChap]

Right have jacked the car up today and found that when you turn the steering the top spring plate is moving i had double checked this to make sure the plate was fitted correctly, could it be that the slotted nut is done up too tight causing it to move?

[gazareth]

the top spring plate is meant to move.