Clunk when transitioning to engine driving and engine braking (on/off throttle)

[sambb]

so eddy, did you just ask for replacement LCA front bush bolts and they just gave you different ones to the original fitment, or did you have to specify that you wanted ones with a different shank? I've just ordered replacements from VW so wondering if I need to cancel the order in favour of slightly different bolts.

thanks
sam

[Eddy]

Hoyhoy.

I just went for replacements, so I would say that you will get the same as me, which took two weeks.

[Eddy]

Hoyhoy.

Folks have a read for two post of this shortcut...To Improve Me Polo. - Page 7

I had only a little bit of slop in the torque link, now she's much better & much smoother with take-off.
Ya have to think of all the forces acting against this one & only mount fighting to keep the whole engine in place, any free play will be felt.
It did remind me of the old Cooper S days, they were a sad case in this area.

[sambb]

Well I just picked up my VW LCA front bush bolts and they are the full length thread type that Eddy got. All I can say is that even with the full threaded version where the shank is larger outside diameter than the original fitment ones, the amount of free play within my superpro bush sleeves is ridiculous! Can definitely see how this could cause front end noises.

But from a performance point of view I couldn't agree with you more Eddy. You can wiggle the bush nearly through a degree on the bolt - each side that'd be nearly 2 degrees total which would be a hell of a lot of toe mm change under braking like eddy said. If you didn't have really stiff rear LCA bushes I reckon the wishbone would be squirming around all over the place. I haven't done this with the original VW bush though - maybe the superpro sleeve is larger I.D than the VW one - can't say yet.

I'm going to see about getting a new inner sleeve spun up for the bushes, to tighten up the tolerances to the VW full thread bolt. When I finally put it all back together the LCA will be fully superpro'd so if the clunking continues then it ain't the bushes!!

sam

[Eddy]

Hoyhoy.

CLUNKING NOISES, folks I have to say even with everything nice & tight I still have noises, may be I have things too tight, but with front spring ratings of 350lb & now going to 425lb, you do expect some noises, old age helps with this.
But the steering is a lot better, even with -3% camber she's steer's a lot better than ever.(toe alignment is a big thing also)
Also have to reconfirm my statement from post No-53 in this thread, zero free play in the torque link = much better.

[sambb]

Well I've done my LCA's with superpro rear and front bushes ( fronts have new VW bolts with full length thread and new tighter inner bush sleeves machined up to fit them with zero freeplay). Couldn't be happier with the result for the handling. I still have stock springs and couldn't notice any adverse change to harshness at all, yet it turns in and points so accurately now and has even more of that euro planted feel - super happy. Its a generally quieter front end now with less creaks etc
HOWEVER.. the clunking is still there and I'm now convinced that its inner driveshaft freeplay. When I had it apart for the LCA job, physically the freeplay didn't feel like that much but when you twist the driveshaft back and forth it generates a really audible clunking and I'm pretty sure is the same sound I'm getting when I drive. I just can't believe how loud it is - it 'sounds' like a real problem although I'm sure it will be fine.

My car had its driveshaft inner boots replaced before I bought it. Is there anything simple they might have buggered up that could be contributing to the sound, is this something thats inherent with these gearboxes/shafts or is mine an odd one out?

[pologti18t]

I had a similar noise... that got worse in warm weather.
After reading all these posts I lubed the rollbar bushes and droplinks.... and I also lubed (silicon spray) the hinges and strikers of bother front doors.

Result... noise gone. Was it the bushes OR the door hinges