Front end vibrating (continued)
07-17-2008, 03:35 AM
#1
Front end vibrating (continued)
Recently made a post about my front end vibrating
(see link). I was hoping it was my strut mounts (which were in very bad shape) and did replace them with OEM mounts last night. Hit the highway this morning and it is still vibrating a lot. ball joints, tie rods, and control arm bushings look good. I know I am due for an alignment but it sounds like something is loose + I don't want to get it aligned and the have to go in there and then get it aligned again. Any ideas?
P.S. - do the springs make noise after they have been compressed? mine sound like they're clunking/popping on sharp turns and some bumps. Do they just need to settle?<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/9080/msgs/442265.phtml">Recent Post</a></li></ul>
(see link). I was hoping it was my strut mounts (which were in very bad shape) and did replace them with OEM mounts last night. Hit the highway this morning and it is still vibrating a lot. ball joints, tie rods, and control arm bushings look good. I know I am due for an alignment but it sounds like something is loose + I don't want to get it aligned and the have to go in there and then get it aligned again. Any ideas?
P.S. - do the springs make noise after they have been compressed? mine sound like they're clunking/popping on sharp turns and some bumps. Do they just need to settle?<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/9080/msgs/442265.phtml">Recent Post</a></li></ul>
07-17-2008, 04:45 AM
#3
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Sway bar endlinks could be causing the clunk...
I remember replacing my strut mounts due to a clunk sound, but it turned out to be the sway bar endlinks were totally shot.
07-17-2008, 05:03 AM
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Front springs set in the shocktower/strut bearing
Are you sure your springs are set up in the shock tower/strut bearing correctly? You could be riding in the struts causing the spring(s)to rattle around? With the car on the ground grab the spring and give it a couple good tugs. You may even want to try it with the wheel off the ground. Just an idea it shouldn't be a big hassle to try.
Also are you riding with after-market wheels? Remember they need to be hub-centric(sp?)or you will get that exact vibration you are speaking about. I am sure you already know this. Just thought I would put it out there. Keep us posted.
Also are you riding with after-market wheels? Remember they need to be hub-centric(sp?)or you will get that exact vibration you are speaking about. I am sure you already know this. Just thought I would put it out there. Keep us posted.
07-17-2008, 06:22 AM
#6
AudiWorld Senior Member
There's a Tech Articles Section:
...you can crib from. I can't seem to link to it directly but it's called:
"Suspension Noise Troubleshooting Guide"
It's in the GA section.
BSI (Before Spring Isolators) sometimes, upon strut re-assembly, I would get spring noise, & sometimes it would go away all by itself. It would happen exactly as when you have said; low speed, sharp turn & big suspension displacement. Boing!!!
I think the noise happens at that moment because you are rapidly in-putting the maximum change to the spring then; & it reacts by trying to re-settle.
I think my noise might have been due to the spring moving, primarily on the lower perch & if its re-installed a little different from what it was, it may be trying to work itself back into it's original "groove", literally. You may have seen that groove worn in the lower perch if you've had it apart.
I think this happened because as the spring was de-compressed, I didn't take enough care & work slowly enough to ensure it took up the exact old position. I have had some success in eliminating this noise by re-compressing the spring & re-positioning it slightly & carefully in the perches.
Did you lose any wheel balance weights?
Is it possible that any of your C/A bushings might have become damaged due to installation error, age or oil contamination? Have you driven through a particularly memorable pot-hole after which this issue appeared? Hard to detect while still installed, you may have torn a bushing internally during such an impact, or a succession of smaller less memorable ones.
If I tell my alignment shop I've got a speed & turning dependant vibration, they won't do the alignment till I or they can find & fix it. But your shop might steer you in the right direction if they knew you where headed their way.<ul><li><a href="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel.html">A/W Tech Articles: Brakes, Wheels/Tires & Suspension...</a></li></ul>
"Suspension Noise Troubleshooting Guide"
It's in the GA section.
BSI (Before Spring Isolators) sometimes, upon strut re-assembly, I would get spring noise, & sometimes it would go away all by itself. It would happen exactly as when you have said; low speed, sharp turn & big suspension displacement. Boing!!!
I think the noise happens at that moment because you are rapidly in-putting the maximum change to the spring then; & it reacts by trying to re-settle.
I think my noise might have been due to the spring moving, primarily on the lower perch & if its re-installed a little different from what it was, it may be trying to work itself back into it's original "groove", literally. You may have seen that groove worn in the lower perch if you've had it apart.
I think this happened because as the spring was de-compressed, I didn't take enough care & work slowly enough to ensure it took up the exact old position. I have had some success in eliminating this noise by re-compressing the spring & re-positioning it slightly & carefully in the perches.
Did you lose any wheel balance weights?
Is it possible that any of your C/A bushings might have become damaged due to installation error, age or oil contamination? Have you driven through a particularly memorable pot-hole after which this issue appeared? Hard to detect while still installed, you may have torn a bushing internally during such an impact, or a succession of smaller less memorable ones.
If I tell my alignment shop I've got a speed & turning dependant vibration, they won't do the alignment till I or they can find & fix it. But your shop might steer you in the right direction if they knew you where headed their way.<ul><li><a href="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel.html">A/W Tech Articles: Brakes, Wheels/Tires & Suspension...</a></li></ul>
Last edited by Lago Blue; 06-25-2012 at 04:02 PM. Reason: further definition & clarity
07-17-2008, 12:45 PM
#7
Wheels were balanced 2 days ago
I originally thought it was my wheel because it wasn't that bad a few days ago. wheels was balanced and still shakes and is getting worse.
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07-18-2008, 06:37 AM
#8
AudiWorld Senior Member
Here are 3 more things to -re- check...
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/50102/tierods.jpg"></center><p>1. Previously, you mentioned that:
"...the control arm bushings look good (i replaced them a couple years ago)."
a.) Did you have the "weight on wheels" before you tightened the through-bolts? If not, this will cause them to fail quickly.
b.) Have you really levered on them to check their compliance?
c.) Have you pulled the control arms, just from the sub-frame, to do a visual & physical on thier (still fully bonded?) centre bushings?
2.) As you have said:
"vibrates like crazy (all of a sudden) at 60+ taking a very slight (almost straight) right turn on the highway."
I wondering, might it be:
a.) a lightly damaged tire (maybe a pot-hole?) that still balances (& still appears perfectly round?) but the slight damage makes itself evident only when loaded; at speed; & when you input a turning force onto it; or
b.) a worn or loose inner tie-rod steering joint (photo above)? I (like several, apparently) have found one of these nuts loose, mine was even the wrong style bolt (ordinary vs a captive stud!)
3. Even though this check-list is for "clunking"; not "vibrates like crazy" as you have said, see the link below, pay special attention to the last paragraph where it says in part:
"The part you dismiss due to "newness" may very well be your problem child."<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/9080/msgs/381239.phtml">Mance's good ol' Front end clunking noise check-list...</a></li></ul>
"...the control arm bushings look good (i replaced them a couple years ago)."
a.) Did you have the "weight on wheels" before you tightened the through-bolts? If not, this will cause them to fail quickly.
b.) Have you really levered on them to check their compliance?
c.) Have you pulled the control arms, just from the sub-frame, to do a visual & physical on thier (still fully bonded?) centre bushings?
2.) As you have said:
"vibrates like crazy (all of a sudden) at 60+ taking a very slight (almost straight) right turn on the highway."
I wondering, might it be:
a.) a lightly damaged tire (maybe a pot-hole?) that still balances (& still appears perfectly round?) but the slight damage makes itself evident only when loaded; at speed; & when you input a turning force onto it; or
b.) a worn or loose inner tie-rod steering joint (photo above)? I (like several, apparently) have found one of these nuts loose, mine was even the wrong style bolt (ordinary vs a captive stud!)
3. Even though this check-list is for "clunking"; not "vibrates like crazy" as you have said, see the link below, pay special attention to the last paragraph where it says in part:
"The part you dismiss due to "newness" may very well be your problem child."<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/9080/msgs/381239.phtml">Mance's good ol' Front end clunking noise check-list...</a></li></ul>
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