audiRenner

Hi all, been a while since I've been here as life has been busy...

95.5 S6 avant

The passenger side of my front suspension is making a "clanking" type noise on every bump (small or large) that I hit. H&R and Bilsteins. This started sometime after I hit a massive hole or something in the road and heard a loud "boing" immediately after. Visual inspection found nothing amiss, suspension is still tight, straight, and handles great.

Cranking the steering wheel yields no noise from the suspect area.

If I jump a bit on the bumper (it sure is hard to move that sport suspension ) I can hear a bit of the noise coming from the spring/strut housing area.

Grabbing the opposite side wheel and shaking the car as much as I can causes some of the same noise from the suspect side.

If I grab the spring on the problem side and shake it makes a little noise, but I can't pin-point the exact source.

Took the wheel off and looked/pulled/pushed around but couldn't find anything blatently wrong. It did seem if I lifted up on the entire unit from below the brake disk there was a little play and some noise from the same strut area. The spring seems secure on both sides and doesn't appear broken. All the bushing/joints seem fine.

I haven't disassembled anything yet, but did check to ensure the bolts under the cap in the engine compartment where snug.

Thoughts? What should I check or start taking apart? Bad or loose strut cart? Any helpful advise is appreciated. Thanks!

turbos4audi

a thread or two you'd get a nice rattle that would prove hard to find.

rmccomiskie

Have someone turn the steering wheel side to side full lock and watch the center nut on the strut shaft. Look for excessive play.

Sloooo4esT

turned, also have a clunk in drivers side going over bumps, and the center nut turns

turbos4audi

The parts that turn are the strut housing, spring and lower strut (in the housing). If the nut turns, it is either too loose or the mount is broken. Both situations can cause a thump.

You may have to take the mount off to see if it is broken. That was the only way I found mine. It looked fine otherwise.

There are two metal sleaves built into the strut mount and the inner one seems to have problems with bonding (on Meyle mounts anyways). Especially if you do not have the pot installed (a large pot shaped washer under the mount).

Broken Meyle mount.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/146834/broken_new_strut_mount..jpg">

Strut mount parts, L-R. Pot, Mount, Washer, Nut.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/146834/strut_mount_parts.jpg">

Sloooo4esT

can I simply just remove the mount with car intact on ground? or is there more to it

turbos4audi

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/146834/strut_mount_assembly.jpg"></center><p>level and the wheels are straight forward. If you are taking the mount off it is a little easier if you loosen the top nut on the strut, while the mount is fastened to the car. But I would raise it up as is first to inspect.

once you have it up you can inspect the mount and move the strut around to see if there is play. If the strut housing cap is loose the strut could have play. Lateral or vertical. It should have neither. If you need to tighten the cap usually you can raise the boot up from the bottom and sneak some channel locks in through the spring. Do not raise the car up with the mount off. That would be bad.

To put the mount back down out the car, get one nut and washer ready in your hand and push down hard. If the holes do not line up easily you can move the steering slightly, sometimes that makes it easier.

Good luck

Sloooo4esT

thanks Chris

rmccomiskie

...mark its location (a Sharpie pen works) very precisely. That way you won't need to realign the suspension when it goes back together.

turbos4audi

YES, that is a very good tip. I have a piece of metal that I use as a sort of gap guide.