[s-cars] Odd suspension behavior

[Alvin Labonite]

What I did with mine was I wrapped the bottom of the Bisltein insert tube
with duct tape  jsut enough to make it a tight fit to the housing to lessen
the play and vibration down there. So far it is quite.

On Wed, Mar 12, 2008 at 10:38 AM, Stott Hare <stott at gwi.net> wrote:

> My front Bilstein inserts would ingest enough water/leak enough oil
> whatever
> into the strut housing each winter that they would freeze up, giving teeth
> jarring pothole impacts until the fluid in the strut melted/slushed up.
>
> After my second annual warranty swap and complaining to Bilstein tech,
> they
> suggested drilling a small hole in the bottom of the strut housing to
> allow
> any ingested/leaked fluids to drain out.  When I removed the dead inserts
> to
> return for warranty, I did have a significant amount of fluid pour out of
> the strut housing.
>
> Not sure if yours is a similar issue, and it happening when warm not cold
> doesn't seem to jive, but another data point for you to consider.  Failing
> upper strut bearing?
>
> YMMV,
> Stott
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of yo-cello at comcast.net
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:10 PM
> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Subject: [s-cars] Odd suspension behaviour
>
> Well, the pot holes are exceptionally bad this year in northern VT.   As a
> result I'm experiencing some pretty jarring behaviour with my front
> suspension.
>
> The victim, a 95.5 S6 avant, does have Bilstein Sports and H&R springs.
> Stiff enough to begin with.
>
> What I'm experiencing is a clunk in the LF suspension. It can be heard,
> but
> also felt through the dead pedal. Not only going over rough spots on the
> road, but also when turning.  Pulled the car into the garage and
> everything
> appears to be in good shape, and tight.  Control arm bushings and ball
> joints look good.  The last time I experienced this, it was the the strut
> cap that attaches strut insert to the strut itself had come loose (the one
> that's supplied with the bilsteins).  Not the case here, it's good and
> tight. Next thought was the snapped spring issue I've been reading about
> with the H&R's.  They're fine too.
>
> Now here's the weird thing.  It was around 40 degrees when I first
> experienced this.  Monday and yesterday it was significantly colder
> (between
> 0-20 degrees), and the car rides fine!  Now again this morning at 30
> degrees
> it's back.  WTF?  Any ideas - could this be a bad shock and would the
> failure be temperature sensitive?
>
> Any insight would be appreciated!
>
> Paul
> 95.5 S6A
> 99 A6A
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