Sharan 7N: Valve Block Crack Repair

"Recently, I've noticed a clicking sound coming from the front drivetrain when driving at low speeds."

1. When turning the steering wheel sharply without changing gears, for example, when maneuvering while parking.
2. When shifting between drive (D) and reverse (R), and also when turning the steering wheel sharply.

It sounds like a noise made when metal is relaxing.

Where can I start looking for this? The situation is not 100% reproducible at the moment.

Hi.

Is the dome light stuck?

Best regards, Rainer.

Yesterday, I inspected the Sharan on the lift, but I couldn't find anything that would explain the cracking noise. The wheels turn without any problems.

I replaced the stabilizer bars with Meyle HD ones this summer. These are noticeably stiffer and less flexible. Could it be that this creates more tension?

Are the strut mounts under stress when the wheels are not in contact with the ground?

They are under stress, but it's due to tension, not pressure.

Hi!

When I encountered such problems, I used the troubleshooting tools in a pit.

The car will then be in the same conditions as it would be on the road.

My father, despite his age, is a careful and clever person who, when in a car, will test things out – for example, he'll move the car forward, backward, steer it, and then engage the handbrake.
Only that person is not allowed to drive into the pit.

I then got down on the ground under the car and tried to listen for any cracking sounds.
Then I manually examined the suspicious parts.

I have always had a very good success rate with this method.

In this specific case, I would also check if the strut mounts are stiff or difficult to move under load, and if the springs are broken.

I would also generally view the strut mounts with some skepticism. Hopefully, they are properly installed.

Steffen G wrote:

I would also generally view the strut mounts with some skepticism. Hopefully, they are properly installed.

I didn't touch the dome bearings. It was the strut mounts (the parts that connect the strut to the subframe) that I replaced.

The springs are not broken. I have already inspected them. Since I don't have a pit available, it will be difficult to test them under load.

Interestingly, I'm not experiencing the cracking sound right now. Perhaps it's temperature-dependent.