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Mcwhit02
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2025
Posts: 6
Location: California
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 Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 12:43 pm Post subject: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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| 1972 Super Beetle. I get a thumping noise from what I am thinking is the front suspension on rough roads and bumps. What is the best way to diagnose/repair the issue? |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33155
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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Get front end up on lift or jack stands, and pry with long bar to look for loose part. Or let an experienced mechanic do that.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Mcwhit02
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2025
Posts: 6
Location: California
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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redhot
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2005
Posts: 526
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 11:45 am Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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If you are indeed sure of front suspension there are some easy checks/inspections that informs a lot. Such as strut bearing, wheel bearing, just knowing if balljoints and/or rubber bushings are very old or farily new etc.
Basically, looking at the diagram you will see a lot of possible culprits - while remember to include steering in addition to suspension...
Link
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Mcwhit02
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2025
Posts: 6
Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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| Thank you. Where did you get the diagrams? |
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vamram 
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 8056
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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I had a thump once when I was missing this bell-shaped metal bushing at that top of the strut. With it missing on a stock strut as in the manual pages above, you'll have like 1/2" of play that will thump. It's #5 in this page borrowed from the samba gallery:
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'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
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Mcwhit02
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2025
Posts: 6
Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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redhot
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2005
Posts: 526
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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| Mcwhit02 wrote: |
| Thank you. Where did you get the diagrams? |
| Mcwhit02 wrote: |
| Thank you |
The diagrams comes from the different documents available via the TheSamba technical archives. If you hover above the images with the points, you should be able to see the address/link and navigate according. I think these were the "what is new" for the 1971 year list/postings.
Here is the common link; https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/71vwprogram.php
And also; thanks for just saying thanks to any one of the repliers trying to help - not always people extend such curtoesy in general, so worth itself to comend  |
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Mcwhit02
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2025
Posts: 6
Location: California
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2025 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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| Thank you for the help |
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mrinnovation1
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2025
Posts: 86
Location: IL
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2025 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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| Tire belt separation will give you a thumping noise. Often it is not visible until the tire is taken off of the rim and you can see the inside. It happened to me some years back and was not always audible or felt thru the steering wheel. I could feel it on a right-hand turn. The tire was the left front. |
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Mcwhit02
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2025
Posts: 6
Location: California
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2025 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: Thumping Noise From Front Suspension |
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| I'll check that out. Thanks |
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