OK, my car has turned into a maintenance nightmare!!..I am buried under gobbs of repairs...(longish)
07-06-2004, 04:52 AM
#11
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that is one of my problems, i dont have the time or money to be taking to car
into shops everytime i have a hunch about something, i have to try to diagnose it myself and decided whether i can do the work myself. I will check all the hangers and clamps myself today. Thanks
07-06-2004, 04:54 AM
#12
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well one thing got worse and another got better, that is the trade off...
and i check the tire pressure bi-weekly it is set at 40 all aorund now, which isnt the max pressure. Thanks
07-06-2004, 05:37 AM
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More thoughts...
Remember the exhaust contracts and expands significantly. Get the car on jackstands, or on a lift. Look at the clearances from the rear differential mount when cold, then go back and look at them after you've got the exhaust good and hot (don't burn yourself). With the S4's, some exhausts have a tendency to hit this mount, and a little grinding at a nub on casting will eliminate the issue. With the A4's I don't recall this being necessary, but keep it in mind as you survey the area.
Looks like you got the control arms and shocks pretty well sorted. The fact that you're saying the sound is coming from 6 different areas further suggests that the subframe bolts might be working their way loose. This could also cause alignment issues. I would work on solving this issue before you address any possible alignment issues. Bear in mind, once you address this issue, it will be likely that you'll need another alignment, possibly at a dealer. When the subframe shifts, you'll throw off left and right camber. I think the dealer needs to loosen the subframe bolts, and shift it until the left and right camber balance out. Most indepedent shops or chain stores might not be prepared to deal with this properly.
Looks like you got the control arms and shocks pretty well sorted. The fact that you're saying the sound is coming from 6 different areas further suggests that the subframe bolts might be working their way loose. This could also cause alignment issues. I would work on solving this issue before you address any possible alignment issues. Bear in mind, once you address this issue, it will be likely that you'll need another alignment, possibly at a dealer. When the subframe shifts, you'll throw off left and right camber. I think the dealer needs to loosen the subframe bolts, and shift it until the left and right camber balance out. Most indepedent shops or chain stores might not be prepared to deal with this properly.
07-06-2004, 06:06 AM
#20
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Wide wheels are trouble..
Wide wheels will play hell with your steering. Road contours/ruts/grooves/crowning will make it more difficult to follow a straight line. Stock wheels are 7" (I think) so going to 8.5 width is a huge change. It's probably too late now to take back your wheels but in the future be advised with all things there come compromises. Wide wheels will follow the crown of the road and force you to steer to the left - the wider the tire, the more pronounced this is. Sorry