2004 A6 Avant suspension problems

taximike

taximike

taximike

Associate
Joined
25 Dec 2009
Posts
615
In the snow I managed to hit the curb going about 15mph because I couldn't see where the curb was. It made quite a clunk. From that point on the vibrations at high speed started to get pretty bad - above 60mph ish.

I took the car to Canada Tire in Calgary today and they rebalanced the wheels. Vibration gone but a new problem - when I turn right on full lock the wheel hits a bolt attached to the suspension arm. I took the car back immediately and they agreed there was a problem but said it was down to me hitting the curb. The thing that I don't understand is why it never made the noise until today, when I hit the curb a good 10 days back. I accept their argument that all they did was balance the wheels.....

Now they have pointed it out there is something quite badly wrong. The left-front from sits about 1.5inches back from where it should.

They think about $2000 of suspension components needs to be replaced.....

Worried - anyone else have a similar car with similar issues? Can anyone think of anything they could have done to mess up the suspension? Must have taken quite some force!
 
i smacked a kerb the other week aswell because i didn't see it
i too have vibrations at high speed. they need rebalancing, but i hope that's all :/

sorry i can't be of any help, but at least your original problem seems to be mine, i thought it could be the CV joint or something..
how can clipping a kerb knock the wheel out of balance anyway?

have you tried a dealer, or only Canada Tire?
 
Welcome to the world of bent lower and perhaps upper control arms, please bend over and expect pain because good quality VW / Audi suspension parts are quite expensive.
 
mjt said:
i smacked a kerb the other week aswell because i didn't see it
i too have vibrations at high speed. they need rebalancing, but i hope that's all :/

sorry i can't be of any help, but at least your original problem seems to be mine, i thought it could be the CV joint or something..
how can clipping a kerb knock the wheel out of balance anyway?

have you tried a dealer, or only Canada Tire?
Click to expand...

I think smacking the sidewall of a tyre fairly easily knocks it off balance - happens a lot around here. Tyre balancing is big business!

Car was actually at Audi today as well for an 85k service - they didn't even notice the wheel was off balance. In the morning I took it to Canada tire, then straight to Audi, noticed the clunking of the wheel on the way to Audi and didn't tell them because wanted Canada tire to sort it, took it back to Canada tire - probably should then have gone back to Audi.... but didn't. Might go back next week.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Welcome to the world of bent lower and perhaps upper control arms, please bend over and expect pain because good quality VW / Audi suspension parts are quite expensive.
Click to expand...

Trading car in on the 11th of February. Worth telling dealer or should I let them discover it for themselves? Just hope it manages the 3500ish miles I have to cover between now and then.
 
I'd jack that front road wheel up and give it a good shake make sure its not going to come off or something silly like that.

Is the steering wheel off centre, does the car pull to one side whilst driving / braking?
 
Firestar_3x said:
I'd jack that front road wheel up and give it a good shake make sure its not going to come off or something silly like that.

Is the steering wheel off centre, does the car pull to one side whilst driving / braking?
Click to expand...

Everything works perfectly apart from it catching on the suspension arm at full lock. 1mm off full lock and no problems.
 
Sounds like hitting the kerb has pushed the wheel backwards by bending the control arms, if it drives ok i'd be tempted to put up with it and trade it in at your planned time.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Sounds like hitting the kerb has pushed the wheel backwards by bending the control arms, if it drives ok i'd be tempted to put up with it and trade it in at your planned time.
Click to expand...

That does seem the logical explanation... however I know for a fact it wasn't making the noise 2 days ago, which was after hitting the curb. I was having lots of fun doing quattro snow donuts in the Sunshine village car park.... or maybe that bent it more?? :pI noticed it clunk literally as I was turning out of the Canada tire car park which just makes me think maybe they did something.

Could taking the weight off the suspension for the first time in a while have allowed it to bend the way it had been wanting to bend for a few days? I know that makes little sense but it's a little odd how events have unfolded.
 
Could be a now broken and bent bush knocking, or when they let the weight off the suspension the now twisted arm jumping back into position when its got load on it.

Thing is I would expect a broken bush to knock all the time, if it was a proper clunk i'd say it was a whole arm jumping back into place after being caught up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom