Clunk on weight transfer

[philstar]

I have just replaced my front suspension, but now I can hear a very loud clunk from the nearside front, it seems to be when weight transfers.

I have jacked up the car and checked everything I replaced, all is tight and well. However, on turning the wheel by hand I can hear this noise from the inner driveshaft joint:

https://goo.gl/photos/dFm5minmegAL5s8v8

Is this normal or would you say that I have disturbed it whilst changing the suspension?

[philstar]

I have taken the driveshaft off now, the spline bolts weren't especially tight unlike other peoples' experience.

I have clamped the shaft in the vice and checked the play and it doesn't seem to be a huge amount, though there is some play there, see this video:

https://goo.gl/photos/YR5H9GJv7XT6v4FY6

I am concerned it could be a gearbox issue, the clunk does definitely come from the nearside front and not the offside.

[VW BUSH]

Did you do bottom joints and new top mounts?
what old parts are left.
did you get it tracked

[philstar]

Yeah all new bits, except for CV joints. Not been tracked yet, this will be done at the same time as the suspension alignment (as it has been lowered very slightly on Eibachs). I'm not convinced the loud clunk is coming from the inner CV joint on that driveshaft but I'll replace it anyway while it's off just to be sure.

[philstar]

Replaced inner CV joint and clunk is still there. My next guess is that it's engine or gearbox mounts, something I've never looked at. If I reverse then hit the brake I hear the clunk, then drive forward and hit the brake I hear the clunk, but it only happens when the weight shifts in the opposite direction. It's frustrating as it wasn't happening before I replaced all the suspension for MOT and the tester didn't pick it up either.

[philstar]

Right ok took it to a garage that had a lift, it would seem that my spring has spun round so wasn't located into the top cap stop end correctly which is what was causing the clunk. Spun the spring round and it isn't clunking anymore, will keep an eye on it.

I have Eibach springs that are ever so slightly shorter than standard, but I definitely bolted them up correctly to the new shocks, so they must have spun round at some point whilst the car was jacked up with the weight of the suspension and wheels extended the shock.

[Skywalker80]

I've had the same problem with Eibach springs on mine. What shocks are you using? I'm still using Bilstein B4's and the handling is good, but due to the stiffer springs it is harder to jack up now - with just the body going up, so will be changing to some stiffer shocks soon.