[s-cars] Suspension Problems in 94 S4

[theringmeister at triad.rr.com]

I've been having a nasty clunk on my driver's side as well, and my front suspension was done over back in Nov.  I don't know if it's the control arms, upper strut mounts or bearings, or what, but it's only on the driver's side.  One thing I haven't looked at is the motor mounts, but they look to be in decent shape, not collapsed or anything that I can see from the exterior at least.  

For that matter, the rears creak like crazy, and I'm not sure what it could be but it almost sounds like the top of the shaft of the shock scratching the inside of the bodywork....could a bad rear upper strut mount (compressed or just collapsed from age) be enough to cause that?  Cody took the driver's side apart (the worse of the two) after installation and couldn't find anything readily apparent but it sure sounds like it's coming from that area as opposed to any of the swaybar or control arm bushings or links.



--
Wylie Bean
TheRingmeister at triad.rr.com
90 cq
91 90q20v sport
92 UrS4
01 allroad


---- Mark Turczyn <mkturczyn at verizon.net> wrote: 
> Rob-
> 
> This has happened to a few S's on the list-- when changing over to new
> struts if you forget to install the load washer on top of the shock rod
> before you slip it into the camber plate bushing all of the load goes into
> the rubber bushing.  Eventually it tears out the bushing and the shock rod
> goes through- in some cases into the hood.
> 
> Perhaps this is not the root of your particular situation but it is one way
> these bushings tear out.
> 
> 
> On 6/23/08 12:49 AM, "Rob Pecsar" <rpecsar at pacbell.net> wrote:
> 
> > Angelo,
> > 
> > After installing my suspension setup 4 years, I also had the front
> > suspension clunk when I'd go over a pothole, but on the driver side. I
> > had ruled out subframe bolts, suspension bolts, etc.
> > 
> > I didn't find anything, but this weekend that changed. In the engine
> > bay, I noticed the driver side shock tower cover was sticking up more
> > than the other one. When I removed it, the shock bushing (grommet?) that
> > would normally be under the custom camber plate was torn and the shock
> > was sticking up an inch or more. I can send you a pic if it would help,
> > but check out yours.
> > 
> > Any BTDT out there?  I am not sure what if anything that I did wrong on
> > the install, but would appreciate any word of wisdom...I think I'll have
> > to pull the whole strut assembly out again....what were those
> > recommended percentage to revalve the front Bilsteins?
> > 
> > Rob Pecsar
> > 95 S6, RS2'd, Eibach, Bilsteins and '92 sway bars and rear subframe
> > 
> > Angelo A wrote:
> > 
> >> Hello all,
> >> I think this topic has been written about many times on this board but I am
> >> coming back to it because this is a problem that does not want to go away.
> >> 
> >> Over the last 5 years since lowering the S4 this has always been a
> >> problematic area in the car. Especially the passenger side. I get this really
> >> weird clunking sound coming from that side of the car. I have taken note that
> >> it happens when going over things like potholes and such. If I am going over
> >> a bump in the road there is no clunk. It also happens when turning either
> >> left or right and hitting a bump or pothole. Now, I have changed the
> >> Bilstein's twice and now removed those and put in Konis. The problem is still
> >> there. Everything else including bushings, bump stops, blah blah are close to
> >> brand new and the car has the Igor solution to the alignment issue.
> >> 
> >> Does anyone have an idea as to what may be causing this problem?
> >> 
> >> 
> >> AngeloAA
> >> 94 S4
> >> 83 urq
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
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