any ideas about noise?

[missmouse]

Ive started getting a nasty "clonking" noise when turning steering at parking speeds & when changing from forward to reverse from front suspension area.

In last 12 months ive renewed:
strut inserts for RS2,
strut top mountings , blue ones,
Both track rod ends ( & had 4 wheel tracking done)
wishbone bushes- powerflex items.
car sailed thru MOT last month so if there was a mega worn problem (like ball joints) I would hope they would have noticed!

ive not done a detailed inspection yet but i cant see any movement when missus shakes the wheel while im checking underneath.
I might be imagining it but i think I can feel something thru my feet (under carpet in footwell) while this noise occurs.
the only thing around that area is the subframe mounts. Could they give any symptoms like this? seems unlikely?

simon

[Acidburn]

What size wheels and could it be the spring not seated correctly?

[missmouse]

17",
but this problem has just occured & I last had the struts off about 6 months ago.
doesnt sound like a spring unseating. sounds more like a very badly worn bush!

simon

[Acidburn]

droplinks been checked/replaced lately?

[missmouse]

hmm, about 3 years ago. the ones they replaced were the originals ('93) so surprised if they went so soon. There again thing aint made the way they used to be!
Appreciate the suggestions tho.
ill have a really good look tomorrow.
have you ever heard of the subframe bushes going?

simon ( hic! getting beasted into a bottle of red now!)

[S2Ian]

could it be the bushes on the lower arms#?? if not check the lower front subframe, the holes for the lower arms could have become and enlarged and the bolts worked loose on the lower arms, this would cause this noise??!!??

[Error404]

check the track rods are bolted up tightly to the bracket on the rack, they can clunk when they are a bit loose. Renew the nuts if they are a bit loose

[johne]

When you replaced the bushes with the Powerflex ones, did you use to original Audi bolts or the regular 10mm ones Powerflex now supply with their kits?

If you used the O/E Audi ones, they have a smaller diameter than 10mm and allow play which gives a clonking noise.

My Powerflex bushes had the same symptoms as you until I replaced the Audi bolts with regular 10mm ones.

For the record, the Audi bolts have a diameter of 9 mm (but with a standard M10 thread), whilst all the holes in the bushes and subframe are drilled for 10 mm clearance, hence the play and & the clonking IMO

I refitted my bolts with star washers at each end just to try and be sure of no movement.

[missmouse]

hmm, cant actually remember! If I got new bolts with the kit then I would have fitted them otherwise the originals would have gone back on.
Ill check,
thanks.

[missmouse]

Hi Johne,
I had a look at the bolts & now im sure they are the originals.
Im getting 4 8.8 m10x75 shanked bolts tomorrow.
It strange how the holes in the subframe etc are 10mm but the original bolts are 9mm dont you think even with standard bushes there would be a clonking noise?
Ill give it a shot anyway as I cant find anything else worn!
cheers,
simon