Brake, turn, CLANK!

[warhead]

I was driving and had to slow down really quickly in order to turn into a driveway so I slammed on the brakes (this is the first time I've ever stepped on it this hard and I wasn't even smashing my foot down on it) and I might've started turning while the car was still braking (speed whilst turning was probably less than 25-30km/hr). And for a split second I heard a bit of a clank noise.

The clank kinda sounded like when you don't have the gears engaged properly. But I'm sure I had my foot down on the clutch before turning and I wasn't downshifting.

So besides having possibly messed up the wheel alignment, what else could have gone wrong?

Should I get the car looked at? (auto n00b here) If so, do I have to take it to an authorised VW service center as the car's still new (6000km on the clock).

[DaveMack]

Just drive it for a bit and listen for out-of-place noises. If you find any ... note them down and next time you're near your dealer ... drop in abd check them out.

These are robust vehicles and will stand some reasonably harsh treatment.

My .02c

Dave

[Tim]

ive heard a couple of people mention that they get an exhaust knocking under brakes. perhaps this was something like that?

[Mischa]

I was driving and had to slow down really quickly in order to turn into a driveway so I slammed on the brakes (this is the first time I've ever stepped on it this hard and I wasn't even smashing my foot down on it) and I might've started turning while the car was still braking (speed whilst turning was probably less than 25-30km/hr). And for a split second I heard a bit of a clank noise.

The clank kinda sounded like when you don't have the gears engaged properly. But I'm sure I had my foot down on the clutch before turning and I wasn't downshifting.

So besides having possibly messed up the wheel alignment, what else could have gone wrong?

Should I get the car looked at? (auto n00b here) If so, do I have to take it to an authorised VW service center as the car's still new (6000km on the clock).

i wouldnt be too worried... could have hit a bump or something on the road...

you should see what my car has gnoe through

[Greg Roles]

Dude, I'm like a day +1 owner, but did notice a mid corner clunk yesterday when I messed up a change, and it just sounded like the engine or gearbox moving under the stress and hitting the body somewhere. With how tightly the engines are packed in a Golf it wouldn;t suprise me if that's all it was.

Clunking is good, as it means the part is still attached!

[warhead]

Thanks for the comments guys... so I have nothing to worry about?

The car drives ok, but I dunno if it's just me, but I feel something is different.

[Bazzamon]

Interesting Username! Could it have been the ABS working? going clunk clunk clunk? Bazza

[warhead]

Oh that's a good point, this is the first car I've driven that has ABS, so I'm not sure what its supposed to sound like or feel like.

Previous car was a camry hahaha

[Greg Roles]

Go find a shopping centre car park one night when it's raining, and jam on the brakes. On my FPV drive day, they made us get to feel what the ABS, a slide, various conditions felt like, so we knew what to expect. It was amazing just how good ABS and traction control was, and steering under full brakes in the wet was possible. I figure the Golf will be similar.

I'll be performing some late night testing once the car is a little more run in.

[Blitzen]

It may have been your suspension bump stops hitting each other. As you were braking hard, your nose would have dipped down due to weight transfer, and you may have hit a bump in the road, causing you bump stops to knock together because of the greatly reduced suspension travel under braking...Just a theory.