Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

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No More Landy
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Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by No More Landy »

I have quite a bad knocking at random times on the front suspension.

The steering box I have set, and all ball joints are new so not in the steering system

With the wheels off the ground There is no noticeable play when I grab the wheels and try and rock them in the Up-down direction.

Can someone recommend a suspension place in and around Cape Town that can check and repair and has Beetle Experience ?

I don't have any more time to spend on her myself and need to get a roadworthy soonest.


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Re: Front Suspension Know - Beetle

Post by Merlin »

What bug do you have? Very few bugs in this country have balljoints...

Is there any pattern as to when you hear the knocking? Hard bumps? Cornering in one direction? Etc.

Basic maintenance Q... Have you greased your beam? Everywhere?

Be careful not to tighten your steering box excessively,. You'll wear the components out prematurely. Steering boxes are generally the last component to go in the grand scheme of things.

If your grub screw is in the place, in the centre of the beam, your torsion stacks shouldn't experience any noticeable lateral movement.

Has your suspension been modified in any way?
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Re: Front Suspension Know - Beetle

Post by No More Landy »

Merlin wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2017 1:50 pm What bug do you have? Very few bugs in this country have balljoints... 1971 Bug - I know the steering tie rod ends as ball joints -
maybe wrong name ?


Is there any pattern as to when you hear the knocking? Hard bumps? Cornering in one direction? Etc. Straight or corners, sometimes slight bumps sometimes while steering also

Basic maintenance Q... Have you greased your beam? Everywhere? Yes, first thing I did when I bought her

Be careful not to tighten your steering box excessively,. You'll wear the components out prematurely. Steering boxes are generally the last component to go in the grand scheme of things. Have adjusted as much to eliminate most play in the normal size steering wheel - about 20 mm free play

If your grub screw is in the place, in the centre of the beam, your torsion stacks shouldn't experience any noticeable lateral movement. I see it is there but never knew what it does - I dont have any suspension experience, hence I need to take it somewhere

Has your suspension been modified in any way? wouldn't know but looks standard
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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by Merlin »

Tie-rod ends. :) In my experience, they're unlikely to be the source of knocks, even when badly worn.

Can you see any physical damage to any of the spindle components or beam? Any cracks, missing bolts, obvious bends, etc.?

Tip for everyone... It is normal to have slight play in your steering setup. If your steering now feels firm and has zero play, your steering is likely a little too tightly adjusted. 20mm is reasonable.

Your torsion stacks are tack welded. The centre grub screw holds them in place and lines them up. The control arms are fixed to the end of the stacks with grub screws too. You may have one, or more, snapped blades, in one or both stacks. If the car has been abused on rough roads, this is not unusual. In the past, removing blades was a cheap, easy and monumentally stupid way to lower cars and radically decrease your life expectancy. Broken or missing blades can definitely cause knocking sounds.
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, and oversteer, the rear.
Hp is how fast you hit the wall, and Torque is how far you take the wall with you."
sled wrote:well obviously the UK is wrong.
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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by No More Landy »

Do you know of suspension guys who can repair above for me ?

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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by Merlin »

Until the cause of the knock is found, we're making assumptions, at best.

As I do most of my own repairs, I'm not able to recommend a workshop through personal experience. That said, I have heard good stories relating to Grand Slam Auto, in the Somerset West area.
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, and oversteer, the rear.
Hp is how fast you hit the wall, and Torque is how far you take the wall with you."
sled wrote:well obviously the UK is wrong.
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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by retrovan »

Have a look at your Shock rubbers, and the bolts, as when your shock bolts are a bit loose, they will move at random times and make that same noise.

also have big washers to press against the rubber.

Take two spanners and really put force on them and see if that helps.

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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by Tony Z »

Check and grease your king and link pins. My first thought is that they are dry and you are hearing them pound when you hit a bump
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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by No More Landy »

Greased everything when I got her. Will check shock mounts too but dont have any more time on my hands. Need to send it to a reputable worshop if anyone can recommend.

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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by beetlepower »

If you grab from side wheel and move it laterally is there play? King and Link pins could be worn
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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by No More Landy »

beetlepower wrote:If you grab from side wheel and move it laterally is there play? King and Link pins could be worn
Nope. Nothing loose there

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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by 73type2 »

Why don't you just take it for roadworthy and they could maybe point out something obvious that you can have fixed and bring back for a free re-test within a two week period. I always repair as much as possible for the first visit to the roadworthy centre and the subsequent list of faults within the two weeks.
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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by No More Landy »

Good plan

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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by No More Landy »

So I happened upon a small little Suspension place in Maitland (Suspension City) - great bunch of guys from observing them work.

The owner took it upon himself to repair my beetle and he found two knocks.

There was one shock that had to be spaced away from the body slightly as it was touching at one point in it's travel and then also the suspension where it bolts to the body he loosened off some hard to reach bolts and re-torqued them all up and the knocks have disappeared.

Charge was also minimal and they did my alignment.

Really stoked as a knock is a terrible thing to have to drive with
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Re: Front Suspension Knock - Beetle

Post by 73type2 »

So have you taken the Beetle for roadworthy yet?
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