RE: A4Q creaks and grinds

["Jon Linkov" <njconn@email.msn.com>]

Front control arms. The bushings have gone. Common -- EVERY A4 has or will
suffer from it -- with the A4s. The arms have to be replaced, as the bushing
can't -- or at least won't -- just replace the bushing.

Cost is VERY expensive. You should get it done while under warranty. The
arms last approx 30k miles before they start to go.

Got to www.audiworld.com, go to the archives and search on "control arms."
You'll be amazed at the rantings and complaints about these faulty parts.

Jon
njconn@msn.com
'96 A4q
http://www.quattroclubusa.org/r/potomac

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-quattro@audifans.com [mailto:owner-quattro@audifans.com]On
Behalf Of Thai Tjen
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 1999 6:30 PM
To: quattro@audifans.com
Subject: A4Q creaks and grinds


hi all,

adding to the trouble list of my wife's lemon A4Q avant is
a creaking/grinding noise which appears to be coming from
the right front. typically the nasty noise starts when
the car has been driven in city traffic (hot brakes?).

it creaks as i apply brakes and again as the brakes are
let go. the creaks lasts for about 3-5 secs after the brakes
are totally released before the it disappears (once i pick
up speed). and the whole sequence repeats itself when i
step on the brakes to stop.

it's hard to describe the noise. but it almost sounds like
the sound of an automatic car when you release the brake a
little and let the car roll (but your foot is still on
the brake pedal).

has anyone heard this before? i brought the car to wagner
audi, but true to murphy's law, i can't reproduce the sound
once i get there. it doesn't help that the way to get
there is via the interstate and there's really no stop-and-go
traffic at all from the interstate exit to the dealership
(thus, relatively cool brakes). they took apart the front
right caliper and re-assembled it. but the noise is still
there in city traffic.

thanks in advance for any tip. i'm going back to wagner audi
next week to have it looked at again.

/thai