2016 Skoda Octavia RS Hollow thud front right only when tu

[Patress11]

Hi,

I’m trying to track down a suspension noise that several mechanics haven’t been able to diagnose.

Car: 2016 Skoda Octavia RS
Mileage: ~170,000 km

Symptom

I get a hollow, dull thudding noise from the front right.

It only happens when all of these occur together:
• Turning left
• Driving over uneven/bumpy road
• At slightly higher speed over bumps (not crawling speed)

If I drive very slowly (10–15 km/h) → no noise
Driving straight over bumps → no noise

Steering feels normal, car is stable, no pulling.

The sound is not metallic — more like a body thud, as if something larger is knocking through the chassis.

Parts already replaced

To rule things out:
• Front right shock absorber
• Top strut mount
• Rear control arm bushing
• Stabilizer bushings
• Engine mount
• Brakes serviced (noise not brake-related)

Multiple inspections on a lift – nothing visibly loose.

Question

Since it only happens under lateral load + suspension movement, could this be something that only shifts when the suspension is twisted in a turn?

Has anyone experienced a one-direction thud like this that didn’t show up during a static inspection?

[E-bmw]

Patress11 said:

The sound is not metallic more like a body thud, as if something larger is knocking through the chassis.

Parts already replaced

To rule things out:
Front right shock absorber
Top strut mount
Rear control arm bushing
Stabilizer bushings
Engine mount
Brakes serviced (noise not brake-related)

Multiple inspections on a lift nothing visibly loose.

Jesus, who agreed to the firing of the parts cannon in case they accidentally fixed that?

If they didn't find a problem, why did they do all that unnecessary (and expensive) work?

An inspection "on a lift" is only going to find an issue that is accessible thereon.

Is the washer bottle behind the inner wing on that corner?

Has the headlight been ruled out on that side?

Is the battery in that corner?

Does that side have the longer (with a centre bearing/mount) drive shaft?

[Patress11]

Thanks — that makes sense.

I checked for loose body-mounted items on that corner (washer bottle, headlight mounts, battery area) and also tried twisting the car by hand with the bonnet open — no noise statically.

The noise only appears while driving, when turning left and the right wheel is moving up and down over bumps. It doesn’t happen when driving straight over bumps, and I can’t reproduce it just by loading/unloading the throttle on smooth ground.

Given that, I’m now leaning more towards something that only reacts under combined lateral load + suspension movement — possibly the inner CV joint on the right driveshaft, engine/gearbox mount under torque, or subframe movement under load.

Does that sound like a sensible direction to you?

[E-bmw]

As above, IF that side has the longer drive shaft then there will be a joint/mount in the middle, that is possible, but don't just change things without finding an issue.

It is an area to investigate further.

The sound you describe doesn't SOUND to me like a joint, more a physical mount.

Have a google & see if you can find a garage with a "shaker table" as that may help with diagnosis.