So I'm driving my 2001 A6 2.7t home, and I start to feel something a little funny through the steering wheel when I hit the brakes. I've recently done work there, so I figure something's loose or got caught in the caliper, but it doesn't feel too bad, so I keep driving.
Get off the highway, and start noticing that when I come to a stoplight, the car pulls to one side. Not severely, but I can tell.
I finally get home, and as I turn into the driveway, I hear a "clunk" from the front end. Every tiime I hit the brake, or let off the brake, I get this noise. So I park it and figure I'll look at it over the weekend.
Saturday I jack the front up, remove the wheels and start looking at things. Brakes look fine, nothing hitting or caught in anything. Then I stick my head under the driver's wheel and what do I see?
(Below)
Anyone else ever have this happen? Is this something to check routinely?
I checked all the other arms, and none of them are loose. Also, this is the only one which looks new - Shiny silver and pristine boots. I'm thinking whoever changed it didn't tighten it up to spec? I've owned the car about 2 months, driven it less than 500 miles, and the PO drove it for 16,000 (it has 217K total) since it's last major service (no records from the PO though...)
Got a 12x1.50 Nylock nut, cleaned the surfaces and put it back together. Torqued it to specs, and it drives fine now...
Additionally, I noticed quite a bit of cracking in the rubber bushings in some of the other arms - is this normal or an indication that they need replacement? None are loose or missing chunks, but how do you tell if they need to be replaced? (preferably before they come apart...)
Jim

 

Cracking in the other rubber boots is normal after awhile or salt, etc. eventually the bj will b contaminated and wear enough that te all can pop out and you lose the carrier. It generally takes awhile though.

 

And BTW...I'd go over EVERY fastener on your suspension. It looks like someone was less than careful on torquing everything.