Creaking Front Suspension/steering

[srafferty]

I have a May 2001 Ghia 1.9 tdi. I've had it since new. Came with Dunlop 2020s. My neighbour had a 2003 Zetech 1.9 tdi fitted with Michelin Pilots. I have mine from new. I don't remember it ever being as good as his. Another neighbour has a 2005 Sharan. I would say it is identical to his Gal and ditto for another mate with an Alhambra.

 

I was dreading your first answer and hoping would say "buy new valve caps"

 

I just don't understand why mine is soo different to three different variants which I woould say all drive better than mine?

 

Of course I may be mad! :blink:

[sparky Paul]

I have a May 2001 Ghia 1.9 tdi. I've had it since new. Came with Dunlop 2020s. My neighbour had a 2003 Zetech 1.9 tdi fitted with Michelin Pilots. I have mine from new. I don't remember it ever being as good as his. Another neighbour has a 2005 Sharan. I would say it is identical to his Gal and ditto for another mate with an Alhambra.

First of all, the Dunlop 2020Es are a noisy tyre, so that may account for your increased road noise. I suspect later cars were fitted with better engine bay sound insulation too.

 

Assuming all the cars are on 16" rims, there must be something else affecting the ride quality, as all the Mk1/2 Galaxys are essentially the same suspension, bar for the spring rates. How many miles has yours done? I know you said that you can't ever remember your car being as good, but in my experience you don't notice the gradual changes in the behaviour of the car as things wear out.

 

Now my Galaxy has new front suspension, it certainly feels very different, and much softer - and it's taking a bit of getting use to.

[srafferty]

When I first noticed it, the car had done a whole 50k !! The other Gal had about 60k. After 8 years I'm still only @ 68k

[sparky Paul]

I wouldn't want to worry you, but mine had done 90k when both front springs snapped... :blink:

[srafferty]

Thanks again. I'm not worried. I don't mind throwing a few quid at her (I use the female form as she defies logic) to sort her out. Can I check this by visual inspection?

 

(OMG I sound like a kerb crawler)

[sparky Paul]

The spring rates generally only differ for engine/gearbox/ancilliary combinations, so I wouldn't expect yours to be much different to the other later models of similar spec. I haven't had much experience of other Galaxys/Sharans, so I don't know if they vary much in ride quality, but I wouldn't have thought so.

 

Thanks again. I'm not worried. I don't mind throwing a few quid at her (I use the female form as she defies logic) to sort her out. Can I check this by visual inspection?

 

(OMG I sound like a kerb crawler)

 

:lol:

 

You can put your hand up into the suspension turrets to feel if the springs are intact. No part of the springs should be touching the actual body of the car, they should fit neatly into the cups at the top and bottom of the suspension strut. No spring coils should be touching.

 

Another thing to look for is the front suspension being lower than normal, and the drop can be slight if a spring has only lost the top coil. A broken or damaged spring on one side will also pull down the other side of the car, because of the effect of anti-roll bar, so the car would not necessarily look lop-sided as you would expect.

[the-boss]

i would say top mounts most likely or worst a broke front spring?

2 days ago my car developed a loud creaking from the nearside front suspension/steering area, this came on quite suddenly.

 

Whilst driving even on the smoothest roads there is a creaking from the Front N/S corner, it disapears when stationary (as you would expect) but then if you steer whilst stationary the creak is apparent constantly (whilst steering).

 

I replaced the ARB drop links a few weeks ago and when I crawl under the car theres nothing appears to have play in it, theres no leaks from suspension or steering that I can see and the Mrs is at work so I have no one here to work the steering while I crawl underneath!

 

Anyone got any pointers?

[tiny]

i would say top mounts most likely or worst a broke front spring?

2 days ago my car developed a loud creaking from the nearside front suspension/steering area, this came on quite suddenly.

 

Whilst driving even on the smoothest roads there is a creaking from the Front N/S corner, it disapears when stationary (as you would expect) but then if you steer whilst stationary the creak is apparent constantly (whilst steering).

 

I replaced the ARB drop links a few weeks ago and when I crawl under the car theres nothing appears to have play in it, theres no leaks from suspension or steering that I can see and the Mrs is at work so I have no one here to work the steering while I crawl underneath!

 

Anyone got any pointers?

 

Cheers, however the problem was the ARB links (cheap nasty ebay ones) and I cured it nearly 3 years ago on a car that has long since left my possesion. :lol:

 

Never mind, it wasnt you who breathed life into a long dead post!

Edited April 22, 2009 by tiny

[gregers]

all of a sudden it seems to be happening a lot :lol:

[bluenosebryan]

Hi i seem to be having the same problem with suspension creaking,i have changed the rubber mounts at the top but still the same but what i did notice before and after the mount change is that the cup at the top of the suspension(the one with the nut on)that theres a gap of about one and half inch from the cup to the body surely this gap is to big and what will i have to do to close the gap,any help would be really appreciated guys

[sparky Paul]

Hi i seem to be having the same problem with suspension creaking,i have changed the rubber mounts at the top but still the same but what i did notice before and after the mount change is that the cup at the top of the suspension(the one with the nut on)that theres a gap of about one and half inch from the cup to the body surely this gap is to big and what will i have to do to close the gap,any help would be really appreciated guys

There's quite a gap between the rubber on the top cup and the suspension turret, it does look odd... but the gap is usually around half to

Edited August 12, 2009 by sparky Paul

[bluenosebryan]

cheers for that info sparky paul but i have ordered some coil spring compressors off ebay so i might aswell change the bearing while i take off the suspension leg and if my correct way of thinking is will i have to crack the bottom ball joint to do this cheers..