[fergo]

Hi guys,
I have a knocking noise in the front suspenion of my A4 when traveling over rough surface, it is much more noticeable if the car is coasting and not in gear. I've replaced the following and still no sucess;
Front Anti-roll bar bushes
Drop-links
Front lower suspension arm
Front left shock absorber

Theres seems to be no play in the TCA ends,
Any ideas, should i continue to replace the remainder of the suspension links to solve by elimination, its doing my head in as you can imagine.
ferg

 

[si2252]

Jack the car up and check for any play in the drive shaft. I got the same problem and about to change my passenger drive shaft.

 

[Texas A4]

SI2252
do you hear the noise when making left turns??? I noticed a noise just recently... at first i thought my wheel was loose...not the problem.

 

[philbee]

There is a very well-known problem with the TOP ball joints of the front suspension on these cars. Had mine done three times on both sides over three years, at a local garage cost of £70. Shares the same suspension with the VW passat 1997-on, which is the car I had until recently. Not an easy DIY job - suggest you find a local independent audi/vw specialist.
Regards, Philbee.

 

[Volari554]

Originally posted by fergo@Oct 3 2005, 10:33 AM
Hi guys,
I have a knocking noise in the front suspenion of my A4 when traveling over rough surface, it is much more noticeable if the car is coasting and not in gear. I've replaced the following and still no sucess;
Front Anti-roll bar bushes
Drop-links
Front lower suspension arm
Front left shock absorber

Theres seems to be no play in the TCA ends,
Any ideas, should i continue to replace the remainder of the suspension links to solve by elimination, its doing my head in as you can imagine.
ferg

Quoted post​

Clunking noises over bumps are usually are the upper suspension links(do you call these drop links?)..the ball joints on the ends of the links get loose and clunk. So whichever side the noises are coming from, unload the suspension, and hit the top side of the links and whichever one makes a loose clunk noise, thats the bad link and you very well may have more than one bad. Also, the tie rod ends develope play as well, but they can easily be spotted when moving the wheel back and forth for play. I have also had bad strut mounts and struts, but the aforementioned are the most common. Good luck

 

[Mitchyboy]

check your wheel bearing. Easy to check, nightmare to replace!

This will be easy to spot tho as it gives off a rhytmic knocking normally, heard more by coasting/cornering.

When you're driving the engine winds up the front axle and sits the back of the car down (easily seen when pulling away hard) so the front suspension components are less loaded. When your coasting, the car sits more evenly so the front comps are loaded more, thus any noises are generally louder.
Cornering will load suspension parts up so noises are louder too.

 

[livingdj]

Check your ball joints, they are under tention and there is a special way to take the load off to check for play. As the control arms are of a softish alloy they seem to wear out, this is a common problem on these cars.

 

[darchinova]

Im not sure about your country, but in Australia we just got a recall for all B5's to check the front left suspension because there was a stuffed up link/part.. brought mine into the Audi Centre and all fixed up.

 

[bro67]

could be one of the front springs had the same problem had to change one of mine

 

[elvis12]

try the Front upper suspension arm,
that is what happend to my 98 b5
i had the same noise, 1 upper on one side and a lower on the other..

it fixed it right up

E