Top Mount Plate Knocking

[Salty311]

Has anyone has a really bad top mount knock over constant light bumps?

I was hoping after a top mount change that it would go away but didn’t. I am an experienced mechanic but it’s one of those faults that require a lot of attention to detail. All ball joints on my 2.4RWD are sound and stiff no play. It’s had everything changed except the shocks, I’m thinking by fixing everything else it may be the damper/shock, and fixing everything else highlighted it.

Anyone here knows if you have a round metal plate that goes on the rubber top mount Before it goes into the shock arch?

[Punto443]

I vaguely remember there being some problems with the shocks, the inserts being loose inside the holders or something?

Could be remembering wrong though?

[ned]

Yes a round metal plate goes on top of the strut. N

[Salty311]

Wicked guys I will let you know the answer today. Here’s my mechanical theory.

I suspect if the shock isn’t working correctly, the spring may be allowed to rebound and shock load through plate to chassis. This would cause that horrible knock through the shock mount, whereas a correct shock would control the re-bound rate and prevent this.

Thank you for your replies.

[ned]

Mine was knocking abit before the spring snapped. N

[Brains_transit]

Mine is knocking so I think it's the shock as the spring is good and the bearing on the top can't cause it to knock. If it's a metal sound then the top shock nuts might be loose

[knobby1]

Mine is knocking so I think it's the shock as the spring is good and the bearing on the top can't cause it to knock. If it's a metal sound then the top shock nuts might be loose

Or the damper piston/rod inside the shock itself is fugged...

Lord Knobrot

[Salty311]

Right guys I have killed the problem.

It was the shock. So the damper piston on the RH shock had come off inside after cutting the shock open.

New shocks replaced with top mounts as good measures. I also used tiger seal on the Top plate (see pic post above) to cushion the metal on metal arch to shock plate washer. Before I tightened the x3 13mm nuts on my Mk6 top mount retainers.

Problem solved. Vans now nice to drive again.

I also did a bit of research and if a spring is not being dampened correctly it can lead to premature failure of the springs. One to note.

Please note in order for me to sort this out, I checked all ball joints etc first. I also cut away the carpet from the fuse box top so I can undo the passenger side top mount 13mm bolts. All in all 3 hours to do the job.

Thanks to all the replies. Hope this helps!