[s-cars] Odd suspension behavior

[Mtgadbois at aol.com]

Hi,
 
I did mine with tape years ago and no noise so far.  FWIW, I recall  that 
Koni recommended (30 years ago)filling up the air space in the strut  with oil.  
Their reasoning was that the oil would facilitate shock  cooling.  I would 
think it would also help keep water out of the  strut. 
 
mark near Chicago

Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:55:49 -0700
From: "Alvin Labonite"  <alabonite at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Odd suspension  behavior
To: stott at gwi.net
Cc:  s-car-list at audifans.com
Message-ID:
<906bff800803121055uc6586bbm71d5457ccf96e97a at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

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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