[V8] Maybe the Audi gurus can help

[allanvega at comcast.net]

Most have that he already checked or replaced already Scott. 
I would look closely at the pinch bolt, like Scott mentioned. What I have found to happen, is this: 
Shop, or shade tree mechanic decides to replace lower control arms fro what ever reason. While reinstalling the ball joint, installer gets bright idea spread pinch area open (manual clearly warns not to do this by the way) to ease the alighnment of the ball join into strut. Installer then installs a no-hardened nut and bolt, and attempts to close up the pinch area of the strut. Two possibilities at this point, either the installer failed to tighten to the point the the pinch area closes enough, or the pinch bolt strips out before closing the pinch area (same end result BTW). What to do? run out to the dealer(or your favorite nut and bolt place, and buy the correct hardened nut and bolt, and cross your fingers. 

I have had six road going V8's (not parts cars) since joining this list nealy 10 years ago, and all of them had at least one side or the other that had this problem. 

Another area that may have been overlooked, is the retaining cap for the strut inserts. I have seen these make noise as well from either being loose, or if you have billstiens, the seal in the cap wearing to the pit that the chock actually moves in the strut housing. 

Allan 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott DeWitt" <sdewitt at stx.rr.com> 
To: "lanierpratt" <lanierpratt at gmail.com>, v8 at audifans.com 
Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 10:04:04 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [V8] Maybe the Audi gurus can help 

There is not much to the front end of those cars... 

You can also have bad strut bearings, 
bad stabilizer bar bearings (the stabilizer bar acts as a control arm as well). 
Control arm bushings 
The pinch bolt that holds the ball joint into the steering knuckle could be loose. 


---- lanierpratt <lanierpratt at gmail.com> wrote: 
> Hey guys, 
> 
> I love reading the amazing stories on this forum, keep 'em coming. The 
> reason I'm writing is that I'm in need of a some cross country detective 
> work. 
> 
> I've had my '92 V8 in to my local tool turner (not certified Audi). They've 
> done pretty well by the car, but have fallen short on identifying some 
> noises from the front end. They are identified to you all as 
> "clunk, clunk" when I drive over pot holes or entrances to parking lots. 
> Please help oh gurus of Audi. 
> 
> We've replaced: 
> 
> 1. Strut mounts 
> 2. Tie rod ends 
> 3. One sub mount bolt 
> 4. Steering stabilizer-3 years ago 
> 5. Lower control arms 
> 
> We've checked: 
> 
> 1. Strut bearings 
> 2. Other sub frame mounts 
> 3. Sway bar and bushings 
> 4. All hardware connecting all this crap together 
> 
> These guys are really good guys and generally great, honest mechanics. They 
> have just about given up on finding the noise. 
> 
> Ok, recap."clunk, clunk" with no discernible loose parts. Please oh gurus 
> of the 4 ring persuasion help me in my plight. 
> 
> Lanier 
> 
> '92 V8Q 
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