suspension knock

[beatle boy]

Hi all,
I'm new here so I hope this is where we post these questions,I have a 2000 mod Golf Mk 4 rally it has a noise in the front end when going over small bumps that I only hear at low speeds like 20-40 KM,I had it checked out and they suggested it was a combination of struts and LCA bushes,I was in luck with a really good set of complete LCA and complete struts and springs with mounts thrown in with the car by the owner as he told me it had this issue as the price to fix them really shocked Dad and I , we changed them over and low and behold the noise is still there,it feels like a knock under the front of the car, what I would like to ask is if this was a common issue with this model and what you suggest I look at, Dad has noticed that the cup that sits on top of the shock tower on the pass side seems to sit higher than the drivers side and when we jack it up the suspension goes to full travel and the gap closes,is this normal as we are just guessing now ?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and any advice is appreciated, Regards Kyle.

[dylan8]

if the strut top hats are different from one side to the other then one bearing or bush is installed wrong, or they need to be replaced.

things on a mk4 to check are strut top bushes, strut top bearings, control arm bushes, sway bar bushes or end links.

[blackers10]

the bits that stick up when the car is on the ground above the strut tower is normal, no more than 3/4" of gap is acceptable?

[beatle boy]

if the strut top hats are different from one side to the other then one bearing or bush is installed wrong, or they need to be replaced.

things on a mk4 to check are strut top bushes, strut top bearings, control arm bushes, sway bar bushes or end links.

Hi Dylan, thank you for your response, I will have to try and find an online workshop manual or at least a breakdown of the strut as I wasn't aware of a bearing in the top of the strut and I'm assuming the bushes are the large round rubber cushion that is held in with a nut and washer that touches the underside of the tower when the strut is inserted ? the control arm bushes are fine but I will look at the sway bar bushes as well, thank you once again.
Cheers Kyle.

[blackers10]

its not from the door area? mine has a knock under certain bumps/ hard braking that is the door hinge rubbing or somthing that goes away with silicone spray

[beatle boy]

I don't think it is from the door area but I will silicon spray just in case, dad is sure its from underneath and in the suspension but just cant pin point it, the gap on the drivers side above the tower is approx 6mm and the pass side approx 5mm, it looked like more the other day but I just measured it now.
Cheers Kyle.

[JustCruisn]

That strut tower gap changes as you turn the steering wheel, one side will go down as the other goes up. They are only ever even when dead straight on level ground.

[beatle boy]

That strut tower gap changes as you turn the steering wheel, one side will go down as the other goes up. They are only ever even when dead straight on level ground.

Thanks Justcruisn at least that inst an issue and we can look elsewhere, dad is going to see if it is an engine or box mount as he heard it knock a little as the auto geared down.

[JustCruisn]

It could be a ball joint, sounds like this and end links are the only thing you have not replaced.