Stasis MS update for those of you with it installed
01-11-2009, 03:54 PM
#1
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Stasis MS update for those of you with it installed
<center><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u275/Stunners4/RS4repairmini.jpg"></center><p>
I have been having trouble with creaking noises emanating from the front right side of the car recently. This occcurred when turning the steering wheel from side to side. Worse on cold mornings, and progressively worsening over the past few months since fall.
Took the car into no less than 3 dealerships with varying opinions on the cause. My local dealership was very good to work with, so kudos to them. They made two wrong diagnoses until getting it right this last time. They were willing to work with me and tried to get it all fixed under warranty. In the end i paid myself to have the problem fixed as it was an issue with the Stasis MS product and install.
The upper stud on the front Ohlin dampers is apparently long enough to contact the body frame. I have now learned that during the install process (2 years ago at Stasis), the installers ground out part of the frame on the left side to accomodate this stud that was presumably rubbing against the metal body frame. They did nothing on the right side, again presumably because it wasn't an issue at the time. However, 2 years later and, 2 years of compression of the OEM upper rubber mount has led to the stud now contacting the body frame and the result is the creaking problem i was hearing. The audi service tech (pleasant and patient guy btw), installed a shim below the upper plate mount to lower the effective height of this stud so it wouldn't rub anymore. Creak is now gone and I am a happy boy once again.
So for all StasisMS owners, if you have a creak, then this might just be the culprit. Just passing along some information that might be useful and save someone else all the pain and headaches i have endured.
To be fair, I brought this to the attention of the Stasis tech department and they did their best I believe in diagnosing this problem over email.
I have since notified them of the solution to the problem and sent them a copy of my service receipt (3 days ago). No reply as of yet, but I do hope they make an effort to remedy this problem for other owners out there. A simple solution on their end would be to machine down the end of the damper stud so it wouldn't touch the body frame, but we'll see what they recommend if anything.
Stasis did have an unsolicited recommendation however:
"Given that your dampers are approximately 2 years old, please look over the
warranty policy for this kit (see attached). Since your dampers will have
to be uninstalled, I would highly recommend sending your dampers in for
service at this time. For your troubles, I can discount the service $25 per
damper and also include all updates and the new OEM upper rubber mounts free
of charge. Please let me know if you would like to pursue this option."
Does this imply they are using different upper rubber mounts for the installation? What updates are there for the MS kit, am I missing something here?
I have been having trouble with creaking noises emanating from the front right side of the car recently. This occcurred when turning the steering wheel from side to side. Worse on cold mornings, and progressively worsening over the past few months since fall.
Took the car into no less than 3 dealerships with varying opinions on the cause. My local dealership was very good to work with, so kudos to them. They made two wrong diagnoses until getting it right this last time. They were willing to work with me and tried to get it all fixed under warranty. In the end i paid myself to have the problem fixed as it was an issue with the Stasis MS product and install.
The upper stud on the front Ohlin dampers is apparently long enough to contact the body frame. I have now learned that during the install process (2 years ago at Stasis), the installers ground out part of the frame on the left side to accomodate this stud that was presumably rubbing against the metal body frame. They did nothing on the right side, again presumably because it wasn't an issue at the time. However, 2 years later and, 2 years of compression of the OEM upper rubber mount has led to the stud now contacting the body frame and the result is the creaking problem i was hearing. The audi service tech (pleasant and patient guy btw), installed a shim below the upper plate mount to lower the effective height of this stud so it wouldn't rub anymore. Creak is now gone and I am a happy boy once again.
So for all StasisMS owners, if you have a creak, then this might just be the culprit. Just passing along some information that might be useful and save someone else all the pain and headaches i have endured.
To be fair, I brought this to the attention of the Stasis tech department and they did their best I believe in diagnosing this problem over email.
I have since notified them of the solution to the problem and sent them a copy of my service receipt (3 days ago). No reply as of yet, but I do hope they make an effort to remedy this problem for other owners out there. A simple solution on their end would be to machine down the end of the damper stud so it wouldn't touch the body frame, but we'll see what they recommend if anything.
Stasis did have an unsolicited recommendation however:
"Given that your dampers are approximately 2 years old, please look over the
warranty policy for this kit (see attached). Since your dampers will have
to be uninstalled, I would highly recommend sending your dampers in for
service at this time. For your troubles, I can discount the service $25 per
damper and also include all updates and the new OEM upper rubber mounts free
of charge. Please let me know if you would like to pursue this option."
Does this imply they are using different upper rubber mounts for the installation? What updates are there for the MS kit, am I missing something here?
01-11-2009, 06:37 PM
#5
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One incident here, Bob. And the details here are unclear
sounds like the rubber upper mount that says it was lubed on this invoice was the problem, not the bolt. Bolts don't make creaking noises when sliding against things
This piece is allowed to rotate against the upper plate and is bolted to the shock rod. It's sandwiched in between the plate and the body. And is probably the culprit.
<img src="http://di1.shopping.com/images/di/6e/62/7a/56374f715162726f454c357534303138426367-100x100-0-0.jpg">
This piece is allowed to rotate against the upper plate and is bolted to the shock rod. It's sandwiched in between the plate and the body. And is probably the culprit.
<img src="http://di1.shopping.com/images/di/6e/62/7a/56374f715162726f454c357534303138426367-100x100-0-0.jpg">
01-11-2009, 07:06 PM
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Well your details aren't clear, there is no upper shock bolt that moves.
If your shock <b>rod</b> with the upper mount nut was coming in contact with the body, then I'd guess your upper shock mount is bad and in need of replacing. And is likely to only hit on impact to the suspension. There shouldn't be a need to cut a hole in the inner fender to clear that either. Was this assembly pulled apart before on the other two attempts?
<img src="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/pics/wheel46_smsf12.jpg">
<img src="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/pics/wheel46_smsf12.jpg">
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01-11-2009, 07:12 PM
#8
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And there are no details of cutting a hole in the upper fender to clear this
in the stasis instructions<ul><li><a href="http://www.stasisengineering.com/install_instructions.aspx">http://www.stasisengineering.com/install_instructions.aspx</a</li></ul>
