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The audi is up and running! Now just trying to get everything sound and solid! Every time i hit the smallest of bumps i hear a clunk in the front passenger side wheel well…its not a wheel bearing!!
I can stand beside the car, and grab under the fender, and lift up on the car and when i let it back down it will do the same noise
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Can you get someone to rock the car while you investigate?
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/diagnosing-noises-in-your-car
Jack up the front end nice and high and put it on stands. Get a pal to lift up and down on the wheel and check for any play in the control arm bushings and ball joints, upper and lower strut mounts and the tie rod end. If there’s no play any ware it could be the shock itself. If its the upper strut mounts – and they do wear out they can be easily done with using a jack. It is however a pain in the ass to torque the center bolt down without the correct tool. Some of them you have to holt the center with an 8mm hex key while tightened the nut down. A spark plug socket and wrench works on front ones pretty good. Some guys just zip em down with an impact. I prefer to use my torque wrench.
Whatever you find at fault replace all of them. EG if its the right strut mount aka strut bearing replace both L and R. If its control arms replace all of them. If you just do one another one isn’t far behind. Putting fresh suspension on those cars isn’t on the cheap side but it sure makes it drive a whole lot better!
A cautionary note if you have to replace the control arms. Install them but leave the upper bolts loose until the ball joint is fully installed and torqued. Then tighten the control arm bolts. The bushings give somewhat of a springy resistance feel to them when tightened up properly. You want them to be in a neutral position with them installed and the suspension extended because the car is jacked up. Its not a bad idea when its all installed to loosen and then re tighten the lower control arm mount bolts before it goes on the ground. If you don’t do it that way the bushings tear up in no time. Literally a couple weeks. You’ll also find those bolts can really seize in pretty good. Even though their “rust proof”. Use anti seize.
Ok, and another thing i have noticed is that the car drives very funny…it seems to have an alighnment problem, it pulls both ways! If i let go of the wheel to test it, depending on where the wheel was left it will pull hard in that direction…hard to describe! I can never get it to drive a true line, its constantly fighting left and right..
You’re correct, it’s not likely a wheel bearing problem. There is a detailed explanation as well as videos on finding noises like this in the article College man posted for you. I would suggest you follow those steps and do an inspection of your suspension to find the problem. Without hearing the noise it’s impossible for use to say what the problem is. Once you do the inspection I’m sure you’ll have a better idea of what’s going on.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/diagnosing-noises-in-your-car
Good luck and keep us posted on what you find.
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