Steering Rack / Suspension Squeak

[andyk11]

Mine's been squeaking and rattling like a good 'un since new.  The symptoms with mine were most apparent at low speed over unsettled or rough roads.

Well, today I finally got around to taking her in to be looked at.

I took the VW tech out for a test drive to demonstrate the noises.  As soon as he heard it he instantly recognized it as the front suspension... apparently they've had a few in recently with the same issue.

An hour later I get a call to say it's all fixed and lo and behold it's quiet as a mouse now 

However, with mine the suspension mounts were fine and no transport blocks had been left in. Instead, it was the suspension strut gators / rubbers that needed refitting.

Apparently when the transport blocks are removed sometimes the gators don't get refitted properly.  It's such a common issue that VW have issued TPI 2035921/1 for it.

[Mr Savage]

Mine's been squeaking and rattling like a good 'un since new.  The symptoms with mine were most apparent at low speed over unsettled or rough roads.

Well, today I finally got around to taking her in to be looked at.

I took the VW tech out for a test drive to demonstrate the noises.  As soon as he heard it he instantly recognized it as the front suspension... apparently they've had a few in recently with the same issue.

An hour later I get a call to say it's all fixed and lo and behold it's quiet as a mouse now 

However, with mine the suspension mounts were fine and no transport blocks had been left in. Instead, it was the suspension strut gators / rubbers that needed refitting.

Apparently when the transport blocks are removed sometimes the gators don't get refitted properly.  It's such a common issue that VW have issued TPI 2035921/1 for it.

Yep same issue for me mate. Was also the gators that were out if alignment from the transportation process.

[noobmonkey]

hmmmm mines been pretty good, but i do live in a ridiculously bumpy area with many speed bumps....  Every so often i think it might be odd, but then on a normal road etc it is fine.... Is it a really defined squeak/clunk etc?

[Mr Savage]

It's more of a knocking sound, hard to describe. It used to go nuts over bumpy roads but since I took it in it has improved, although it still isn't perfect in my opinion.

[monkeyhanger]

I get a few knock/pop sounds when going to the extremes of the steering range in a parking maneuvre - i'm assuming it's the boot gaiter fins becoming unstuck as they are stretched near full lock.

[matchboy]

Mine's been squeaking and rattling like a good 'un since new.  The symptoms with mine were most apparent at low speed over unsettled or rough roads.

Well, today I finally got around to taking her in to be looked at.

I took the VW tech out for a test drive to demonstrate the noises.  As soon as he heard it he instantly recognized it as the front suspension... apparently they've had a few in recently with the same issue.

An hour later I get a call to say it's all fixed and lo and behold it's quiet as a mouse now 

However, with mine the suspension mounts were fine and no transport blocks had been left in. Instead, it was the suspension strut gators / rubbers that needed refitting.

Apparently when the transport blocks are removed sometimes the gators don't get refitted properly.  It's such a common issue that VW have issued TPI 2035921/1 for it.

Yep same issue for me mate. Was also the gators that were out if alignment from the transportation process.

Ok, so my car went in yesterday and its back now - exactly the same issue, they had to reposition the suspension gaitors - I now am squeak/rattle/grinding free!! 

[andyk11]

Ok, so my car went in yesterday and its back now - exactly the same issue, they had to reposition the suspension gaitors - I now am squeak/rattle/grinding free!! 

It's weird, who'd have thought that a couple of gaitors could cause such a horrible noise... at times it sounded like the suspension was going to detach itself from the car! 

I suppose the sound must transmit through the suspension turrets and into the bodywork behind the dash.

[2014GTi]

So is this the root cause and fix for all these horror stories about the suspension 

Apparently when the transport blocks are removed sometimes the gators don't get refitted properly.  It's such a common issue that VW have issued TPI 2035921/1 for it.

I have only covered 239 miles so far and no signs of noises...... 

[Mr Savage]

Mine still isn't perfect though. Is everyone else's okay? Turn off your head unit, drive down a bumpy road at around 5-10mph, the knocking sound is almost gone & less frequent but I can still hear it. Also when going up a speed bump & down the other side there is a clunk/knocking sound still coming from the driver side wheel. Without having another GTI to test this in can you guys do me a favour & listen to what sounds your car is making over bumpy roads?

Cars back in on Friday for me to talk to the mechanic who worked on it so I should readdress this issue as it's still not quite right.

[andyk11]

So is this the root cause and fix for all these horror stories about the suspension 

Apparently when the transport blocks are removed sometimes the gators don't get refitted properly.  It's such a common issue that VW have issued TPI 2035921/1 for it.

...

Unfortunately, not quite.  This is the issue I suffered from and appears to be quite common but thankfully it's a quick fix. 

Other people are being affected by the separate issue of noisy suspension caused by faulty mounts which then need replacing.