DamirGTI 342 Posted June 22, 2008 Hello ! Boys , i need second opinion regarding this : I have trouble with 1.1 91year pug , basically it feels a bit strange during the driving (steering feels "spongy" , somehow too light - callous ..) and the front suspension bangs rather hard when going over a bumps (sound is similar like worn ARB bushes or worn ball joint ..) .. also when i go over a bumps i can fell this banging on the steering wheel aswell ... So far i've changed : both suspension arms (brand new) ARB bushes (new) strut bearings (new) checked track rod ends - seems fine no free play on the joints jacked the front end and tried rocking both wheels - both firmly with zero free play checked both struts by rocking the front of the car - seems fine APART form strange creaky sound from RH strut when i depress the RH side of the car down (also i can hear it creaking during the driving ..) - what's that suppose to mean ?.. checked suspension bushes one more time with long bar - good , zero free play on the ball joint and bushes checked both brake calipers for free play - none , seems fine ... checked pads , sliders and anti rattle springs - fine checked each and every single bolt on the front suspension (all subframe bolts also..) at least three times - they're all tight ... Any ideas ? Just one more thing , i've notice that these base models have some sort of rubber bushes on the front side of the subframe (on the front two attaching points ..) it's part No.5 on the picture : http://www.stuartmcguire.co.uk/pug/GB/205F/3/35A20A.HTM Can it possibly be that which causes this banging and creaky sound when going over a bumps ?! Thanks ! Damir Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welshpug 1,657 Posted June 22, 2008 maybe worn out dampers? lack of or inconsistent damping can cause strange noises, sounds quite likely if you have a creaking noise from the R/H side. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DamirGTI 342 Posted June 22, 2008 Hi ! Maybe however i've fully dismantled both dampers and they're both dry around the shaft ... they're also gas dampers like GTi ones , but i dunno if this could be a sign of a worn damper - when i've dismantled the top part of the dampers (bearing , bush , caps etc.) the shafts on both the RH and LH dampers keeps sliding down without me pushing it with my hand so i ought to grab the shaft and pull it back up every time in order to refit the top part and tight the main shaft nut .. Does it suppose to be like that ?! i didn't notice this shaft down sliding behavior on any GTi damper Thanks ! Damir Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RossD 44 Posted June 24, 2008 If the shaft is falling like you say, they are either not 'gas' dampers, or the gas has escaped somehow. The first thing I thought when I read your message was "Subframe mounts" and then you mention them towards the end, I think these would be the most likely cause if you've eliminated most other things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DamirGTI 342 Posted June 24, 2008 Yes , could be the subframe mounts as i've replaced everything else (apart from the track rod ends , but they're fairly new , anyway i've check them and i couldn't feel any free play on the ball joints ..) so i really dunno what else could it be .. Thanks ! Damir Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy Seize 8 Posted June 24, 2008 Check the engine and gearbox mounts as well. A noise similar to the one you describe, got on my nerves recently. Turned out the engine mount had worked loose letting the engine rock back and forth. I also had the "creaking" which was the inlet rubbing against the strutbrace. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
