Clunking noise (follow-up).....so, my clunking noise is gone!!!!!...(see old post).....
01-26-2004, 05:45 AM
#1
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Clunking noise (follow-up).....so, my clunking noise is gone!!!!!...(see old post).....
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36810/wheel28-front27.jpg"></center><p>I found the problem and would love any ideas on how it happened to begin with.
The rubber piece (see pic - stolen from tech section) that goes on just prior to putting the nut onto the threaded part of the shock was worn. The hole in the rubber piece is metal...it was worn into an oval shape. When you put a lever under the wheel and lifted up and down you could actually see the top of the shock piston moving around a bit. When you looked down from the top of the rubber piece, the normal round opening was worn into an oval....this was allowing some movement of the top of the shock piston and causing THE worst clunk in history.
Anyway, the part needed to be ordered but we put a washer between the rubber piece and the nut as a temporary fix - the clunk is GONE.
I'll post some pics when the new part comes in, but, if anyone has a mystery clunk this may be worth looking at....
When you see the slight wearing of the hole making it an oval rather than the normal circle, you'll be amazed (I think) that something as minimal as this could have caused such a loud noise. I would not believe it myself if this $0.10 washer did not fix my problem.
I had bad control arms and a bad tie rod end (the car has 96,000miles on it) - so perhaps over time it allowed things to move a bit. Or perhaps the nut was not tightened enough the first time and allowed movement.
Regardless, the noise is gone....thanks for all of your opinions, I really appreciate it!
Jason<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/1523112.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/1523112.phtml</a</li></ul>
The rubber piece (see pic - stolen from tech section) that goes on just prior to putting the nut onto the threaded part of the shock was worn. The hole in the rubber piece is metal...it was worn into an oval shape. When you put a lever under the wheel and lifted up and down you could actually see the top of the shock piston moving around a bit. When you looked down from the top of the rubber piece, the normal round opening was worn into an oval....this was allowing some movement of the top of the shock piston and causing THE worst clunk in history.
Anyway, the part needed to be ordered but we put a washer between the rubber piece and the nut as a temporary fix - the clunk is GONE.
I'll post some pics when the new part comes in, but, if anyone has a mystery clunk this may be worth looking at....
When you see the slight wearing of the hole making it an oval rather than the normal circle, you'll be amazed (I think) that something as minimal as this could have caused such a loud noise. I would not believe it myself if this $0.10 washer did not fix my problem.
I had bad control arms and a bad tie rod end (the car has 96,000miles on it) - so perhaps over time it allowed things to move a bit. Or perhaps the nut was not tightened enough the first time and allowed movement.
Regardless, the noise is gone....thanks for all of your opinions, I really appreciate it!
Jason<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/1523112.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/1523112.phtml</a</li></ul>
01-26-2004, 06:57 AM
#4
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Glad to hear..
It's a very common problem for those doing the suspension themselves, when they don't have the proper tools to tighten that top nut.
Most people use an impact wrench, or vice grips around a socket. These work, but sometimes just don't tighten the nut enough, and you end up with just a little play, enough to made that hole into an oval.
Make sure to use the proper types of tools to tighten this with the new bushing, so it won't happen again.
There are an array of different tools you could use, here's just a photo of one in particular.
<img src="http://www.hazet.de/prod_db/061/061495ba.jpg">
Most people use an impact wrench, or vice grips around a socket. These work, but sometimes just don't tighten the nut enough, and you end up with just a little play, enough to made that hole into an oval.
Make sure to use the proper types of tools to tighten this with the new bushing, so it won't happen again.
There are an array of different tools you could use, here's just a photo of one in particular.
<img src="http://www.hazet.de/prod_db/061/061495ba.jpg">
)
01-26-2004, 07:29 AM
#6
AudiWorld Super User
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well, I did not do it - an Audi tech did and he used what is in your picture.....
I was watching the entire time....
anyway, I guess he did not tighten it enough the first time...
I only took it apart myself when I was at my wits end.....!!!!
anyway, I guess he did not tighten it enough the first time...
I only took it apart myself when I was at my wits end.....!!!!
01-26-2004, 08:27 AM
#7
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I had a similar problem but instead of a clunk, I had a rattle.
The top nut had loosened over time. I believe the shop that installed it simply used an impact wrench.
During diagnosis, how were you able to "see the top of the shock piston moving around a bit"? Were you looking from the top or bottom?
During diagnosis, how were you able to "see the top of the shock piston moving around a bit"? Were you looking from the top or bottom?
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01-26-2004, 09:06 AM
#8
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Well, no one could figure it out....I was at the dealership......
we had 5 techs gathered around trying to figure it out - basically, we jacked up the right front, I put the large handle of the jack under the tire (to use a lever) - I pulled up and down craeting the "clunk" - no one could figure it out - I have a new tie rod end in there and all new control arms - finally, one of the techs noticed some movement in the piston itself...
It was very subtle but you could definitely see it move (from the wheel well - so from the bottom) - at the top most portion of the piston, just before it disappeared out of sight.
It was very subtle but you could definitely see it move (from the wheel well - so from the bottom) - at the top most portion of the piston, just before it disappeared out of sight.
01-26-2004, 09:43 AM
#9
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I hope that this mess did not come out of your pocket. Seems to me that the tech did not properly
seat the nut down correctly and cause your headaches. Glad you finally got it all resolved.
01-26-2004, 10:04 AM
#10
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Thanks - no, it did not come out of my pocket (thankfully).....
The guy that did it is a really, really good guy and very close to me. The only thing I did pay for were the control arms - which, at 96,000miles I was not too upset about replacing anyway (I'm keeping the car for the long haul)....I did not pay for removal and re-install (multiple times).
We did do the control arms as a "guess" - as it turned out it was something else, but, again, I can't be too upset that I replaced the control arms - the ball joints were really, really, loose - I have no idea how long those things are supposed to last anyway.
Live and learn I guess - I learned a lot about suspension stuff and how to do it myself which was a positive.
As much as I don't like headaches, it is part of the process - I think we all mess with things knowing we'll end up with some headaches.
We did do the control arms as a "guess" - as it turned out it was something else, but, again, I can't be too upset that I replaced the control arms - the ball joints were really, really, loose - I have no idea how long those things are supposed to last anyway.
Live and learn I guess - I learned a lot about suspension stuff and how to do it myself which was a positive.
As much as I don't like headaches, it is part of the process - I think we all mess with things knowing we'll end up with some headaches.
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