clunking noise on front end over bumps

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

I get a metal to metal noise when I go over bumps, but when the brakes are appllied, I don't get the clunk or it's greatly minimized. It was suggested that I may be missing the retainer clips on the front brake pads. I checked and they're there. Can a bad strut bearing do that? Would braking stop the clunk on a bad strut bearing mount? Is there an easy way to check it without disassembling it?

[truckinwagen]

honestly sounds like a front wheel bearing, jack the front end up and wiggle the front wheel to see if there is excessive play in the bearing

[neimis]

Other things to inspect - lower control arm bushings, especially rear (my 2 year old Febi were trashed! maybe defective...) antisway bar bushings (inners and on links), ball joints, all strut parts (had wear on the upper spring plate once, caused clunking) Unfortunately most of this requires disassembly.

[burn_your_money]

Are your calipers loose? Like flopping around loose?

Ball joints would also be highly suspect as well as anything else in the front end.

[Jettage1]

Also, what's the noise like?  High pitched screech, or more of a thunk / clunk?  And is it only timed / heard with the impact of the bump, or is it heard other times too?  Rhythmic, increasing with speed, or unrelated?

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

Not high pich or screech but an impact metal to metal like a clasp hitting each other, timed with hitting dips or bumps  in the road. While under braking, no clunk over bumps or dips.

[Kanzan]

Check the lower steering column bearing. Mine did the same thing, the plastic ring that holds the lower bearing in dries out and allows the bearing to fall out. Push the bearing back in, push the plastic ring in after it and use a 1 3/16" split collar to hold it all together. That got rid of lots of rattles in my Caddy.  Kanzan

[Kanzan]

See this thread.  Kanzan

http://www.vwdieselparts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9663

[Jay]

Is it lowered much?

[vwjones]

Check the lower steering column bearing. Mine did the same thing, the plastic ring that holds the lower bearing in dries out and allows the bearing to fall out. Push the bearing back in, push the plastic ring in after it and use a 1 3/16" split collar to hold it all together. That got rid of lots of rattles in my Caddy.  Kanzan

how do you get to that bearing?  is it way up under the dash?  i've looked myself and it wasn't obvious

[Kanzan]

Not up under the dash, look down by your feet. Slide your drivers seat as far back as possible. Where the small steering shaft comes out of the larger steering column tube. Kanzan

[gldgti]

I get a metal to metal noise when I go over bumps, but when the brakes are appllied, I don't get the clunk or it's greatly minimized. It was suggested that I may be missing the retainer clips on the front brake pads. I checked and they're there. Can a bad strut bearing do that? Would braking stop the clunk on a bad strut bearing mount? Is there an easy way to check it without disassembling it?

the padretainers may be there but not working..... if they are just old or have been very hot, they eventually are under no tension and do nothing to prevent the pads rattleing around. very likely. had this on all my dubs with gti or later calipers. if your easy on the brakes (so your pads are ancient) its likely the problem.

[Black Smokin' Diesel]

I had a similar noise in my old NA golf. The brake pads were "clicking" on every bumps. A little high temp silicone solved the issue.

I my B3 I had a clunk on large bumps. Turned out to be the swaybar endlink's nut not being tight enough.

It can be a LOT of things. Raise the car and check everything that might be loose.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I hope gldgti 's suggestion is the correct one, that the old pad retainers are not working. When I did look at them (without knowing what they should be like), I thought they were kind of odd because they were just floating around and not exerting any tension on the pads. I just called the dealer and ordered a set of pad retainers and will see if it get rid of the noise.