Mysterious Clunking Returns?!

[Beatty, Robert]

Alex,

I am working one a mysterious CLUNK myself in my 5ktq.  I have replaced
nearly everything in the the entire front suspension.  The last thing I have
to do is fix a bolt on the sub-frame.  The front left bolt has stripped the
nut inside the frame horn, so I will be inserting a 12mm nut in there and
tightening it down to the correct torque and hopefully that will be the
solution.  Have you check the tightness of your subframe bolts?  I had
another one loosen up slightly as well.

Good luck

Rob


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Alexander van Gerbig [SMTP:Audi_80 at email.msn.com]
> Sent:	Monday, October 30, 2000 12:12 PM
> To:	quattro at audifans.com
> Subject:	Mysterious Clunking Returns?!
> 
>     Well I had a front end clunk for two months back during the summer.
> It
> was rather annoying, seemed to associated with my transmission swap and
> custom tranny mount.  The clunk started after I had new subframe bushings
> installed and the car aligned.  After the alignment the steering wheel was
> always just a little tilted to the left, but the car traveled straight.
> The
> clunk would happen when I started moving, then when I braked it would
> clunk
> again, only in that order.  I could feel the clunk in the steering wheel
> as
> well.  I never sourced exactly where the noise was coming from.  I checked
> everything and tightened everything, nothing changed the noise.
>     I had bearing noise in the front right of the car, so I brought out
> mister breaker bar, jack arm extension, and axle socket.  I gave the right
> side axle nut a good torquing, it moved a very small amount, almost
> undetectable.  Though after that the clunking disappeared.  Also when I
> did
> this the steering wheel straightened out.  Front bearings replaced which
> had
> no effect on anything except it made the car feel tighter.  No clunking
> for
> a month or so.
>     Two nights ago I was ripping around Burlington.  The roads are pretty
> nasty bumpy and I was being less than gentle as usual.  The clunking has
> come back and the steering wheel is cocked to the left again.  What the
> hell
> is going on?
> 
> I have replaced: wheel bearings, engine mounts (twice), braking equipment,
> all suspension components up front
> 
> TIA,
> 
> Alexander van Gerbig -- '88 80
> 
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> 
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