[s-cars] front end clicking problem

[mike hartman]

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
Hello,

I have a 1994 s4 with around 100 miles.  I am experiencing similar symptoms=
 as in this earlier posting on this discussion forum:

http://www.audifans.com/pipermail/s-car-list/2003-July/018524.html

I pasted the text of this to the end of this posting as well.

This problem sounds similar to mine in a number of ways.  I have replaced b=
oth front struts with the oem bogie struts.  I had the driver's side shock =
tower strut assembly dissasembled and one of the studs welded to ensure tha=
t the assembly would be rigid.  The dealer where I got the car supposidly a=
lso had replaced both strut bearings at around 83k miles.  Before these whe=
re replaced, there was considerable shimmying in the wheel at highway speed=
s=2E  When the driver's side strut was removed, someone, likely a dealer, h=
ad siliconed the strut in making it an absolute nightmare to remove.  The n=
ew struts seem to sit securely in the towers.  It would be difficult to ima=
gine them moving around in the towers but anything is possible.

I was also wondering about the stearing rack issue that this last discussio=
n thread noted.  The technical editor on this site mentioned he had heard o=
f this problem and something to due with rack mount bushings.  The symptoms=
 are very similar to the ones noted in the thread.  I have a slight clickin=
g sound when turning the wheel back and forth.  When going over dips in the=
 road or driveway curbs you also can notice a noise.  I have new performanc=
e z tires and everything is balenced.  I have replaced one passenger side t=
ie rod as well.  Please let me know if anyone has any thoughts or ideas on =
this problem.

Mike
mhmustang at yahoo.com

text of original thread below:

[s-cars] (no subject) click/clunk in front suspension Kenneth Hayes abigliz=
ard at worldnet.att.net
Tue, 15 Jul 2003 12:50:47 -0600

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I found the part in Bentley.  It's called a bearing plate.  Item # 13 onpag=
e # 40-17 in the front suspension section.  Does anyone have an extralying =
around??Ken-----Original Message-----From: Kenneth Hayes [mailto:abiglizard=
@worldnet.att.net]Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 12:45 PMTo: lee at wheelman.com=
; s-car-list at audifans.com; Ron EinblauSubject: RE: [s-cars] (no subject) cl=
ick/clunk in front suspensionLee,I hear the clicking/clunking with the moto=
r running and with the car stoppedmoving the wheel back and forth (any time=
)=2E  However, I was also hearing thenoise when I would hit a dip, bump in =
the road, driveways occasionally whenthe load was on my front left.  Also, =
very occasionally under braking.  Ithought something was coming loose from =
having new struts put on the frontlast month.  My mechanic found an odd spo=
t on the new front left strut wherea weld on the new bogie strut was hittin=
g something (sorry I don't rememberwhat) in the suspension.  So he ordered =
a new  left front strut
 and newstrut tower bearings for both sides.  After installing them he stil=
l hears aclicking but it is greatly reduced.  When he took apart the left s=
ide again,he noticed the plate I was asking about was not seating correctly=
 and wantedto replace it also because of the corroded bolts.Ron,The 97 S-ca=
r has a beefed up steering rack mount, but still mounts to thefirewall (sam=
e as the earlier S-cars).  I'll have him look at it.  It can'thurt to doubl=
e check since we know these are weak spots for our cars.thanks.I tried to u=
se a link used by Gary Martin, but I couldn't get it to work.http://194.87.=
53.210/audivw/vag5.asp?subm=3D%CF%EE%E8%F1%EA&btsnr=3D407-10&cid=3D139Gary =
is this your page?  Is it still there?  If someone posted a link to afront =
suspension page I can identify the culprit.Ken-----Original Message-----Fro=
m: Lee Levitt [mailto:lee at wheelman.com]Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 11:44 A=
MTo: Kenneth HayesSubject: RE: [s-cars] (no subject)Ken,When do you hear th=
e clicking? I have a clicking
 noise coming from the topof my right front shock, and it may be the same p=
late.I hear the noise mostly after startup. When I turn the wheel left or r=
ight Ihear relatively rapid clicking sounds, and it sounds like it's coming=
 fromthe mount at the top.I'm running ECS camber plates, but I don't know i=
f they'd be making thenoise...Lee> -----Original Message-----> From: s-car-=
list-admin at audifans.com> [mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com]On Behalf Of=
 Kenneth Hayes> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 1:25 PM> To: 'Scar'> Subject: =
[s-cars] (no subject)>>> Gents,>> I'm having my front end rebuilt to get ri=
d of some clicking> (clunking) that> I've had in the front left suspension =
for some time.  My mechanic> said that> the plate that holds the strut towe=
r bearing should be replaced (he said> it's an uncommon part to need replac=
ing), but the threads on the 3 bolts> have corroded quite a bit and he has =
re-died them (tap & die) to clean up> the threads.  This is the part of the=
 strut assembly that is
 a plate that> has 3 bolts that go through the fender (strut tower).  The 3=
 nuts are> visible when you pull off the plastic cap on top of the strut to=
wer.  I> don't know what the part number is.  Could someone look it up and =
tell me?> What I do have is a fax from him identifying the part on an ETKA =
printout> that someone gave to him.  He has the stealer looking for it, but=
 they> haven't gotten back to him.>> The ETKA printout says> Model: a8q> Ye=
ar: 95> MG: 4> SG: 07> Illustration: 407-10> Update: 555>> The part that is=
 identified is # 33>> I'd like to locate this part if someone on the list h=
as a used one from a> possible upgrade when upgrading when they lowered the=
ir car.  I'm not sure> if when you upgrade the to 2B strut tower bearing if=
 this is an> item that is> replaced.  If you do have one and are willing to=
 let go of it> please contact> me.  I tried pulling one off a 100 from a ju=
nkyard and it didn't work.>> Thanks,> Ken> 97S6> Loveland, CO> 970-217-1521








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