Passat B6 - squeaky noises from front suspension?

[Old Navman]

Hi Guys,

My car has developed these squeaky rubbery noises from the front r/h/s suspension. The nose progressuvely got worse. At first, these noises were only evident when the car was first started/driven (when cold) in the moning. 2 months forward the noises seem to be there "all the time" - any small bup in te road and they can be heard. I've rocked the car up/down an the noises seem to coming frm the lower part of the front suspensin on the driver's side. I'm guessing that it's either the strut OR lower engine mount Can anyone help to further trouble shoot this more precisly? Thanks in advance.

[3C4M Guy]

What happens if you slowly run just the right front wheel up a slope such as a driveway? Can you hear the squeak or groan as the front suspension twists?

[Old Navman]

What happens if you slowly run just the right front wheel up a slope such as a driveway? Can you hear the squeak or groan as the front suspension twists?

Thanks 3C4M Guy, from memory - no noise but I'll try tomorrow and post result.

[Old Navman]

Thanks 3C4M Guy, from memory - no noise but I'll try tomorrow and post result.

Well, I tried with opened & closed windows. Driving slowly up the driveway with windows closed I thought I heard a very faint noise. With windows down there was a fair bit of engine noise and driving up at crawling speed I couldn't really hear the (any) noise. Driving at 60k over even smallest road undulations produces the squeaky rubbery noises.

[Old Navman]

Well, since this problem has apparently happened only to me I’ve bit the bullet and paid my local mechanic to give me a quick assessment on what’sgoing on. So, for the benefit of all and the next person with similar problems here is what the mechanic has reported.
The problem is the front r/h/s lower control arm bush. Having said this the rear one/s are also cactus. So are the front sway bar bushes.

The problem is what needs to happen to change the (especially the FRONT) control arm bushes? Since the car has DSG t/x the mechanic reckons either: the DSG t/x pan has to be removed – I’m not keen on that idea since the t/x oil was only replaced about 20K ago plus this would require a new t/x pan gasket? – OR the sub-frame has to be removed (with possibly the top engine mount bolts?)

I’ve seen couple of you tube videos where the guy just undoes the front bush bolt – yeah, but this is on “normal” not the DSG transmission. Does anybody have ANY ideas what is the best way to do this job? Also, I can’t seem to source the front anti sway bar bushes? There seem to be plenty around for the back sway bar.

[Brianbradford]

I've just bought an 06 wagon and it also makes similar described squeaks in the front. Certainly sounds like a suspension noise.
My front shocks seem to be a little lazier than my rears but I'm not planning to replace them soon.
My mechanic friend who works at a Volkswagen dealer has quickly inspected the car on their hoist and has mentioned that my front swaybar LINK bushes are stuffed .
I purchased cheap replacement ones on eBay at half the dealer cost price.
He's installing them on Friday so we shall see if it stops the squeaks.

I'll ask him tomorrow about the control arm replacement procedure.
Fortunately my control arms have been done already as he says they're a common fail point in these cars.

Has your squeak been resolved yet?

[Old Navman]

I've just bought an 06 wagon and it also makes similar described squeaks in the front. Certainly sounds like a suspension noise.
My front shocks seem to be a little lazier than my rears but I'm not planning to replace them soon.
My mechanic friend who works at a Volkswagen dealer has quickly inspected the car on their hoist and has mentioned that my front swaybar LINK bushes are stuffed .
I purchased cheap replacement ones on eBay at half the dealer cost price.
He's installing them on Friday so we shall see if it stops the squeaks.

I'll ask him tomorrow about the control arm replacement procedure.
Fortunately my control arms have been done already as he says they're a common fail point in these cars.

Has your squeak been resolved yet?

Yes, I've had the 3 lower control arm bushes on both sides replaced. I got my mechanic to press all of them out but if I had to do it again I'd buy new control arms with new bushes per-installed. It's a c@%t of a job to press them out and new ones in. I also changed the lower engine mount bushes (there are 2) in the sub-frame. I didn't change the dog bone link as it was still Ok.

I did change those sway bar end links but the Chinese ones are a bit different to VW as they use spanner on one side to tighten. Consequently, the holding area on the bracket (which is round) is smaller as they're saving on the collar material plus make an allowance for the spanner hold. It's a bit tricky to try to explain but if you compare photos on the bay to the original ones you'll know what I'm talking about.

I did end up changing the sway bar bushes, I was told they're the same ones as on B7 BUT unlike the B7? they're are NOT replaceable. My mechanic drilled them collared mountings out and after fitting the new bushes welded the old brackets around so they would hold.

My car has done nearly 300k now so I don't want to spend a lot of dough fixing it up. Having said that I wouldn't recommend this "procedure" to anyone else. But it would appear that buying a new complete sway bar with bushes installed is the only way. But my mechanic said my old one was perfectly Ok and it was obviously cheaper to do a backyard job on it. The car now drives well, no noises, no squeals, cornering has definitely improved. Now though I have the O2 sensors problems BUT ... that is another story.

Just one more thing, if you end up taking the sub frame off those (TTL) bolts are apparently single use. I splashed out on original VW bolts which ended up costing me about $100. Also if you take the sub frame off it's recommended you should use those sub frame "guiding studs" so you don't muck up your front end geometry. I had mine done afterwards anyway so I didn't bother, You can get them on the bay for about US$30 for 4?.

Cheers

[Brianbradford]

Cheap Chinese swaybar links did stop my squeaking noise.
But your info about their difference in design to the VW ones is notable.
Fortunately my mate is a VW mechanic and I paid him labour in cash to do it so I'd assume he did it right and carefully considering they're probably a little more fiddly to fit.

My car has only 122k kms so it drives fine for now, but I suspect in the future I'll have more squeaks as things wear.

[Old Navman]

Cheap Chinese swaybar links did stop my squeaking noise.
But your info about their difference in design to the VW ones is notable.
Fortunately my mate is a VW mechanic and I paid him labour in cash to do it so I'd assume he did it right and carefully considering they're probably a little more fiddly to fit.

My car has only 122k kms so it drives fine for now, but I suspect in the future I'll have more squeaks as things wear.

I think the squeaks would normally come from the bushes? Yes, the swaybar links would knock.