"Clunking" suspension?

[Robert Hearne]

Hi all,

I have a Jan 17 t6 150 DSG beach and am generally really pleased with it. My only real frustration is a clunking noise that seems to come from the front suspension when heavy breaking/cornering, mostly from drivers side but has now started on occasion on passenger side. It's only when slow sharp cornering e.g. Parking but in my mind it shouldn't do it at all.

I took it back to the vw dealer and they said something along the lines of "it's just a bit of movement of the spring in the suspension". I've had a t4 and a t5 van as well as other vw cars in the past and just wouldn't expect this.

Has anyone else had this issue, or any suggestions?

Thanks,

Rob

 

[Jabberwocky]

Interesting answer from your dealer. They have obviously had the same question previously!

I have a Feb '17 Ocean. I have had one occasion when what I think was the front offside suspension made a loud, not really a clunk but a metallic twang. I was turning left out of my driveway, so my speed was slow but on a reasonable lock travelling forwards. It happened during the first week of ownership but not since.

I have not reported to my dealer as I have considered it could have been a stone being squeezed out from under the tyre (There were some roadworks outside my next door neighbours house at the time. I will report to my dealer if it occurs again.

I have 1600 miles on the "clock".

 

[kave]

Its normal. I have it sometimes too, can't figure out when or what to do to make it sound. The german forums are full of these experiences as well, should be no problem,

 

[hirsty]

my front, particularly the offside, has started to make a more noticeable sound recently (c. 9,000m) than when new - particularly compressing & rebounding over one speed bump near my house.

going in for its first annual service on Monday & I'll mention it to them, but fully expect them to say "it's just the springs settling" or somesuch ...

 

[Robert Hearne]

Slightly reassured it's not just mine, although never had a car or van that's made the noise before. It's definitely more frequent as the miles are starting to rack up (2700) and more noticeable under breaking/turning/manoevering. I will raise it again when in for service although this won't be for a while (hopefully!!). I'd be interested to hear what the feedback is following your service Monday Hirsty!

 

[kave]

Search for Clunk and you will se you are not alone:
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/slight-knocking-from-front-wheels-suspension.8292/#post-73462

 

[daz60]

Hi all,

I have a Jan 17 t6 150 DSG beach and am generally really pleased with it. My only real frustration is a clunking noise that seems to come from the front suspension when heavy breaking/cornering, mostly from drivers side but has now started on occasion on passenger side. It's only when slow sharp cornering e.g. Parking but in my mind it shouldn't do it at all.

I took it back to the vw dealer and they said something along the lines of "it's just a bit of movement of the spring in the suspension". I've had a t4 and a t5 van as well as other vw cars in the past and just wouldn't expect this.

Has anyone else had this issue, or any suggestions?

Thanks,

Rob

Hi Rob, try undoing steering wheel rake and pulling in and out to move grease in steering column. I had the same on my van, it had to have a new steering column in the end. But see if that stops the clunk

 

[zerofour]

Interesting answer from your dealer. They have obviously had the same question previously!

I have a Feb '17 Ocean. I have had one occasion when what I think was the front offside suspension made a loud, not really a clunk but a metallic twang. I was turning left out of my driveway, so my speed was slow but on a reasonable lock travelling forwards. It happened during the first week of ownership but not since.

I have not reported to my dealer as I have considered it could have been a stone being squeezed out from under the tyre (There were some roadworks outside my next door neighbours house at the time. I will report to my dealer if it occurs again.

I have 1600 miles on the "clock".

I have also just experienced these symptoms on my March '17 Ocean except it's when I turn left or right on half to full steering lock – a metallic twang plus another undistinguished noise – more like a clunk or knock. It seems to be on the offside. My wife also reminded me that the van made a noise on full lock when negotiating the dealers car park on collection. My vehicle is going back to the dealer for lowering springs on Saturday so it will be an ideal time to have it looked at. To me the metallic twang sounds like a cable catching the metal 'brake disc cover/protector'. The clunck/knock is more worrying.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I have also just experienced these symptoms on my March '17 Ocean except it's when I turn left or right on half to full steering lock – a metallic twang plus another undistinguished noise – more like a clunk or knock. It seems to be on the offside. My wife also reminded me that the van made a noise on full lock when negotiating the dealers car park on collection. My vehicle is going back to the dealer for lowering springs on Saturday so it will be an ideal time to have it looked at. To me the metallic twang sounds like a cable catching the metal 'brake disc cover/protector'. The clunck/knock is more worrying.

Non of the noises are ideal! It shouldn't be that way but I suppose it reminds us that are beloved Calis are all built on a van base. I will be very interested to hear if all those noises go away when you have your new springs.....fingers crossed.

 

[zerofour]

So, after having the 30mm lowering springs fitted and the dealer giving the steering/front suspension 'the once over' he reported no obvious causes for the mysterious noises. After a couple of hundred miles this weekend I haven't noticed them again either.

 

[B J G]

I'd noticed it a few times on slow moving especially entering roundabouts with a bit of go then stop and thought it might be related to the DSG having to go back down a gear but too much traffic to enable looking at display to see if that was the case.
Not a frequent or easy to reproduce condition.

 

[Jabberwocky]

So, after having the 30mm lowering springs fitted and the dealer giving the steering/front suspension 'the once over' he reported no obvious causes for the mysterious noises. After a couple of hundred miles this weekend I haven't noticed them again either.

Lets hope it remains that way.

 

[phillme]

i had this problem on a pickup ... turned out to be the bump stop ... applied abit of grease to the said stop and all was good

 

[zerofour]

I'd noticed it a few times on slow moving especially entering roundabouts with a bit of go then stop and thought it might be related to the DSG having to go back down a gear but too much traffic to enable looking at display to see if that was the case.
Not a frequent or easy to reproduce condition.

My noises definitely weren't DSG related as I was crawling forward/backwards during parking/3 point turn maneuvers.

 

[sidepod]

Sounds to me like it's just the springs catching in the top or bottom seating when rotated on full lock.

It shouldn't do it but it's no biggy.

 

[Catje]

Looking for some advise...
I have a problem with my Cali.. It started a couple of months ago with a small tick from time to time. Definitely coming from the front side in the suspension area, but not sure about the last part.
The sounds worsened over the months. It occurs when driving down curvy roads and breaking, but also when driving (and breaking) across a roundabout (when turning from one side to the other). Have had it a couple of times when leaving the motorway, breaking and turning at the end. I brought the Cali to a local VW dealer here in beautiful Barcelona, but they couldn't find anything. Then brought it to a local Cali specialist. When explaining the issue, they recognized it as being a problem with the shock absorber upper front.. which was replaced last week. Picking up the Cali they told me the shock absorbers were a bit worn and need to be replaced at one point (not disturbing at the moment). Unfortunately the repair didn't take away all of the problem. Went back there today and they advised to replace the shock absorbers as a next step. I would be very helpful if someone recognizes the issue or could give some advise where to look. It's not that I mistrust the Cali specialist, but it feels a little like trial and error. Many thanks for all advise

 

[Hotel California]

@Catje , merged your tread with this tread as it is about thesame issue and hopefully you will find some answers here....

 

[Catje]

Thanks Hotel.. will have a look at it.

 

[zerofour]

As an update to my clunking noises, they have definitely disappeared since the lowering springs were fitted so I assume it must have been spring related.

 

[Ciki62]

This noise when cornering was very often on my t5 and was really from rotating springs. When it was annoying I go to service and they repair it.


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[Catje]

Had the shocks replaced now too. Didn't hear the sound for the first 100km. This Friday out for a long weekend,,, so let's see what happens.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

I'm another casualty of 'twang and clunk' from drivers side front. Started after about 1400 miles and in the short space of time to 1550 it happening a fair bit.
Some of the twangs (which is the release of stored enegry somewhere, so either by thermal expansion/contraction or movement of a suspension part) can be felt through the pedals. They are always provoked by undulations in the road but not necessarily undulations that load up the shock absorbers very much. For example I can go over sleeping policemen with no noises. Then many more smaller sounding clunks. All it takes is cornering either way (loading or unloading the front offside wheel it feels and sounds like its this side).

Any updates from people who haven't had the Cali lowered?

 

[GrannyJen]

I'm another casualty of 'twang and clunk' from drivers side front. Started after about 1400 miles and in the short space of time to 1550 it happening a fair bit.
Some of the twangs (which is the release of stored enegry somewhere, so either by thermal expansion/contraction or movement of a suspension part) can be felt through the pedals. They are always provoked by undulations in the road but not necessarily undulations that load up the shock absorbers very much. For example I can go over sleeping policemen with no noises. Then many more smaller sounding clunks. All it takes is cornering either way (loading or unloading the front offside wheel it feels and sounds like its this side).

Any updates from people who haven't had the Cali lowered?

It sounds abnormal, so something that the dealer should sort out under warranty.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Yes thats true and with my so so mechanical understanding (I do have a HNC in mechanical engineering and tinkered a fair bit in my youth) I think that the noise sounds more sinister than it is from an integrity point of view and bloody annoying hard to replicate. I just went out with my other half deliberately to replicate it and it happened twice straight away but nothing for the next 20 minutes... could be a long saga this.

 

[flying banana]

any news ? mines doing the same. a knock every now and then, often at high speed when road dips a bit. but doesn't always do it. sometimes nothing for 20 minutes or so and then a knock. I can feel it through the floor. sounds like an anti roll bar or a worn bush or something. nut only 17k on the clock ?