Mk3 VR6 - Rear Axle bushes replaced but the knocking returns!!!!

[RichyH]

Hi Everyone and a very Merry Christmas to you all.....

Sadly, mine will be a miserable one as I had the rear axle bushes replaced 10 days, or 250 miles, ago in order to cure a knocking noise coming from the OSR. The knocking disappeared for about 8 of those days and all seemed well, then the noise reappeared.

I've only had the car for a couple of months, and a couple of years ago it had a Boge lowering kit fitted which I understand puts the bushes under shear. However, I'd expect them to last more than 10 days. I was always under the impression that the initial knocking noise was the top mounts - it does sound like its coming from high up rather than low down - but I had a quick poke around today and there doesn't seem to be any movement in them.

Which begs the questions:

What else could it be? Can axle bushes just fail? Could they have been fitted incorrectly? May I am clutching at straws but I am thinking of horrible things like bent axles etc.

Any further questions and maybe some answers would be greatly appreciated!!!

best regards,

RichyH

[monkeyalan]

are you sure it's coming from the suspension?

[AudiA8Quattro]

Check that the bushes are present at the top of the o/s/r suspension leg. There should be one either side of where the suspension mounts to the body.

[AudiA8Quattro]

Just to add to that, try bouncing each back corner of the car, see if you get any knocking.

[RichyH]

Hi monkeyalan,

Well, I've looked at non-mechanical things like the parcel shelf, seat-belt & tensioners, spare-wheel and gubbins but can't seem to find anything wrong. Am a bit miffed but it's going back to the VW specialist on Jan 3rd when it re-opens - am reluctant to drive the car in case I do any damage.

In order to change the bushes do the shocks need to come out & would top-mounts be checked as a matter of course?

best regards,

RichyH

PS - Just read the new post - thanks golfvr6-is-back - and no there is no knocking but sometimes it's a bit creaky.

[AudiA8Quattro]

When exactly does the knocking noise appear?

[RichyH]

Well, there doesn't seem to be any specific situation or type of road/condition. The noise is coming from the OSR and I may be imagining this but under braking or turing left seems to aggravate it more - so perhaps a lack of load going through the OSR. But I've noticed it just pottering in a straight line also.

[AudiA8Quattro]

Have you tried standing on the bumper to bounce the car?
Might make it knock?

[RichyH]

I can't seem to create any kind of knock when the car is at standstill either by pushing down on the car or rocking it sideways. I was pushing that hard today the my feet were lifting off the floor!!!!

I'll have another look tomorrow, but with regards to the top suspension bushes are they visible if I remove the wheels or is there more work involved? Surely things like this would have been checked by the garage? 

[AudiA8Quattro]

Garages don't usually bother checking much 
In the boot find the suspension mounting point.
Undo the top nut and remove the plate, you should then be able to get at the top half of the bushes, and also see the other half under the hole.
Make sure you remember to keep everything in order for refitting...