Creaking front right end driving me crazy!

[g6pun]

Hi all,

I have a 2015 3-door GTI with 90,000 miles.
It's developed a creak on the front right which is driving me and my mechanic up the wall.
The creak is on any undulating surface and also when driving off from a halt. It's not different in the cold/hot or dry/wet.

So far we know its NOT (because these have all been replaced with new parts):
The shock; spring; top mount; top mount bearing; lower control arm; ball joint; anti roll bar bushes / endlinks.

When we hammered a wooden wedge into the following space next to the driver's side engine mount, the noise disappeared.
Shockingly, replacing the engine mount for a new one made no difference!!!!



What next ?!

[madstaff]

Check to see if the subframe mounting bolts are tight. (70 Nm + 180° turn)

Also check the anti roll bar bolts (20 Nm + 180° turn) and the rack bolts (70 Nm +90° turn) whilst your under there.

There torque to yield bolts so just make sure there snug, ive only quoted the specified torque values to give you some idea.

[sjw]

I had a bit of a creak when I installed my lowering springs. It was the anti-roll bar end link not being torqued enough.

[g6pun]

An update on this -

Purchased brand new: anti roll bar, endlinks, mounts and subframe bolts. All installed profesionally by a garage.
Creaking still there .

[Adam T7]

Is it possibly due to the actual sub frame being damaged at that particular point?

[g6pun]

Is it possibly due to the actual sub frame being damaged at that particular point?

Any idea how I'd check? Cheers!

[Adam T7]

Back in the day I had an MG Metro that a previous owner had somehow damaged the subframe at the point where one on the engine mounts was bolted on meaning it didn’t align properly and caused a creak - a mechanic found it when I was having a service. I hated the car so did nothing with it and sold it on.
I’m guessing it’s a rare thing to happen but as you appear to have replaced most of the likely suspect's, has to be worth a look?
I’m sorry I can’t help further but maybe someone with more knowledge than me will come along or suggest it to your mechanic?
Either way, hope it gets sorted for you ASAP, things like that drive me nuts.

[GTIreland]

Been down a very similar path and for me it was the downpipe hanger that was making the noise.