Clunks

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

Well, my clunk-hunting expedition today wasn't as productive as I'd 
hoped - but was more productive in some ways.

The car: 1990 200, fwd. The problem: clunking on steering or backing 
up, then shifting into forward gear.

I checked: 

a)  Steering rack mount bolts - all seem tight.
b)  Rear motor mounts.  Both are still in one piece, although they're 
not as stiff as I think they should be.  Probably could stand to be 
replaced.
c)  Sub-frame bushings.  When jacking up the car and putting 
jackstands under the floor-jack points at each rocker panel, the sub-
frame does hang down perhaps 3/4-1" lower then when the weight is on 
the front tires.  But the only sub-frame bushing that I can *see* 
ANYthing wrong with is the LR - and it looks like it is slowly 
turning into that fine German crystalline mush that we all know.  But 
it appears to be in one piece.
d) Mounts for lower suspension arms from strut - both seem tight.

So I just don't know where that clunk is coming from.  Only thing I 
can think of is to get all the sub-frame bushings and both rear motor 
mounts, replace them ALL, and eliminate them from consideration.  A 
pain.

What ELSE did I discover?..............

The outer CV joint boots on BOTH front drive axles are split just 
next to the wheel.  The lube is coming out fast and has goobed onto 
the inside of the wheels and the brake calipers.

I can see inside the CV joints because the aplits are large, and it 
appears there is still a fair amount of lube in them...so I am hoping 
this is NOT the cause of the clunking, as it could be expensive.  
Right now, expensive is one thing I don't need.

I have parked the Audi until I can get it fixed.  I'm considering 
having a good local shop do this, mainly because I have a very busy 
week coming and I don't need the PITA...and I need the car running 
again SOON.  But I don't want to drive it farther than the 7 miles to 
the shop.

Any comments on clunks or outer CV joint boots?  Thanks.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Al Powell                           Voice:  409/845-2807
107 Reed McDonald Bldg.             Fax:    409/862-1202
College Station, TX 77843           Email:  a-powell1@tamu.edu 
W3 page - http://agcomwww.tamu.edu/agcom/satellit/alpage.htm

Saunders' Slant: "If it's worth doing, it's worth hiring someone
 who knows how to do it."