Golf III 20 years GTi Tdi. Cracks in the suspension

Hi,

I have been experiencing a very annoying, loud clicking sound in my suspension on the front axle (mostly when steering) almost every time I'm parking or pulling out. In den letzten Monaten habe ich beide Stabilisatorstangen, beide Antriebswellen, die Domlager sowie die oberen Stoßdämpfer und die Kugelköpfe der Stabilisatorstangen ausgetauscht und die Tieferlegung wieder entfernt (laut VW war der angegebene Grund für die defekten Antriebswellen).
Since then, my car is driving straight again, but the annoying clicking sound is still there. Also, I hear noises from the transmission when reversing.

Question: Does anyone know where the clicking noise is coming from? Could it be the steering rack? If so, how long can I drive with it before it fails? How susceptible are the gearboxes to the AFN engine, specifically the CYP gearboxes? (Mileage: 235,000 km).

Best regards, Jan

Remote diagnosis is difficult:

If the noise sounds like 'springs tightening', it's the domed bearing. Either it is defective or it has been incorrectly installed (loose, etc.).

If it's just a clicking sound, it could truly be the steering gear. Check the power steering fluid level and the transmission for any external oil leaks.

'Kugelköpfe Querlenker' doesn't make sense to me, did you mean the strut rod ends? If not, it's also a good idea to replace them, but ideally the entire steering rack so that the bearings in the steering gear can also be replaced.

What do you mean by 'ball joints of the control arms'? Do you mean the steering knuckle (connection between control arm and wheel hub) or the steering linkage heads? Let's have them checked out, preferably on a test stand with 'shaking plates,' for example, at a TÜV or DEKRA inspection.

My first idea would also be the CV joints. If they manage to {DEVELOP} effectively over time, they will be able to {HANDLE} even the most extreme steering inputs.
Forenheini's idea is quite good and more cost-effective than installing new ones and re-adjusting the suspension.

Hi,

Do the control arms also have bearings on the steering gear side??? I thought they were just screwed in and I only replaced the control arm heads. Yes, the two ball joints are also new. It only clicks when the steering is engaged and I reverse into it. And it's incredibly loud. Oh, and the TÜV (German vehicle inspection) is also recently renewed. No findings.

Hi, Jan

Of course, the steering rods also have bearings inside, the entire assembly must be able to flex without anything getting stuck. However, the inner layers rarely cross over to the other side.

Hi Smoking guns!

Do you already know what the key to solving it was?

I have that too!

Whether forward or backward, but only when the wheels are heavily loaded and only when starting.

Suspension components and strut mountings are new, steering knuckles are not.

The steering rack is approximately 2 years old and has 100,000 km on it.

TÜV has just completed its inspection and has noted in its report: 'Damage to the front axle, cause cannot be determined'; despite the vibration platform.
Even VW has no solution; except for systematically renewing all suspension components....

I've been having this problem since August... it's not getting worse, and unfortunately, it's not getting better either...

Hi,

Unfortunately, I received the same answers from the TÜV and VW as you did. I initially suspected the internal joints of the steering gearbox. I hadn't encountered this before, and I had also replaced almost everything else. But how many kilometers are on your drive shafts? After I replaced the faulty outer bearings of the drive shafts, a portion of the knocking noise has disappeared.
Does this noise also come from a faulty transmission?
But I haven't had the chance to replace the internal components of the steering gear yet. As soon as I learn something new, I will notify you.
Oh yes, my outer steering knuckles are new. It wasn't that.
I would have typed it myself, but since yours is only 100,000 km old, it's probably not the issue.
Best regards, Jan

Hello,

We discussed this in the forum: the clicking sound is typical for Golf and Passat models up to around 1997 and is caused by a slight adjustment of the wheel bearing when the steering is turned. I experienced this on my 85 and 95 models. After the wheel bearing was replaced, it was gone.

I have the same problem, but only on the left side. I have tried different lubricants, for example, WÜRTH HTS also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also


Best regards, Seppl

I have this too.

After a tire change, there's a shift in the sound from multiple small clicks to a loud CRACK. I mean (this usually happens when parking in a tight space, where I can feel my car being thrown off course, which is a shift in the lane I'm driving in. I'm just concerned about the overall driving safety.

The TÜV/Dekra inspection also remained unimpressed. I don't want to deal with the hassle of exchanging parts with the old car.

An expert stated that the suspension components were hopelessly overloaded with the wide tires (including the Jubi), and would not be able to withstand the large forces over time.

Mentioned the 'Knack' problem briefly in the 'ATU horror story'.

Please keep us updated.

Greetings

one possibility is to use a thin tube to pull over the first coil of the spring.

Best regards, Seppl




the diesel must smoke