99 a4 strut noise?
04-03-2004 | 04:32 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
99 a4 strut noise?
hey guys,
i have an annoying creaking noise coming from the front passenger side
when i brake to a stop or when going over bumps or turns. its is fairly
loud, the closest i can compare it to is when you torque a wheel bolt in.
that kreekkkk. i thought it may be a suspension bushing, so i lubricated
every one i could find but to no avail. could this be a bad strut? 99 a4
1.8t q
i have an annoying creaking noise coming from the front passenger side
when i brake to a stop or when going over bumps or turns. its is fairly
loud, the closest i can compare it to is when you torque a wheel bolt in.
that kreekkkk. i thought it may be a suspension bushing, so i lubricated
every one i could find but to no avail. could this be a bad strut? 99 a4
1.8t q
04-03-2004 | 06:24 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 99 a4 strut noise?
On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 16:32:54 -0500, "Dave Smith" <davewsmith@adelphia.net>
wrote:
>hey guys,
> i have an annoying creaking noise coming from the front passenger side
>when i brake to a stop or when going over bumps or turns. its is fairly
>loud, the closest i can compare it to is when you torque a wheel bolt in.
>that kreekkkk. i thought it may be a suspension bushing, so i lubricated
>every one i could find but to no avail. could this be a bad strut? 99 a4
>1.8t q
Unless ruled out you have to assume it's the dreaded control arm bushing
noise. And unless you actually drilled a hole in the bushing it's unlikely you
could have reached the source of the problem with your lubrication attempts...
hth
/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd
wrote:
>hey guys,
> i have an annoying creaking noise coming from the front passenger side
>when i brake to a stop or when going over bumps or turns. its is fairly
>loud, the closest i can compare it to is when you torque a wheel bolt in.
>that kreekkkk. i thought it may be a suspension bushing, so i lubricated
>every one i could find but to no avail. could this be a bad strut? 99 a4
>1.8t q
Unless ruled out you have to assume it's the dreaded control arm bushing
noise. And unless you actually drilled a hole in the bushing it's unlikely you
could have reached the source of the problem with your lubrication attempts...
hth
/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd
04-03-2004 | 06:39 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 99 a4 strut noise?
Very likely that it is the lower ball joint going dry.
Standard fix is replacing the lower control arm / arms.
Alternative is to use a needle grease injector to add grease to the
joint through the rubber boot protector. Worked for several friend's A4s
and seems to last.
Tony
Dave Smith wrote:
> hey guys,
> i have an annoying creaking noise coming from the front passenger side
> when i brake to a stop or when going over bumps or turns. its is fairly
> loud, the closest i can compare it to is when you torque a wheel bolt in.
> that kreekkkk. i thought it may be a suspension bushing, so i lubricated
> every one i could find but to no avail. could this be a bad strut? 99 a4
> 1.8t q
>
>
Standard fix is replacing the lower control arm / arms.
Alternative is to use a needle grease injector to add grease to the
joint through the rubber boot protector. Worked for several friend's A4s
and seems to last.
Tony
Dave Smith wrote:
> hey guys,
> i have an annoying creaking noise coming from the front passenger side
> when i brake to a stop or when going over bumps or turns. its is fairly
> loud, the closest i can compare it to is when you torque a wheel bolt in.
> that kreekkkk. i thought it may be a suspension bushing, so i lubricated
> every one i could find but to no avail. could this be a bad strut? 99 a4
> 1.8t q
>
>
04-03-2004 | 11:07 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 99 a4 strut noise?
thanks for the imput guys, im not good with locating suspension parts, any
links to a diagram of the control arm or front suspension. the noise seems
to be coming from something near/under the passenger side motor mount. the
noise is worst when creeping slowly foreward then hitting the brakes so that
the car bucks foreward, oddly it does not make the noise when you hit the
brakes in reverse.
links to a diagram of the control arm or front suspension. the noise seems
to be coming from something near/under the passenger side motor mount. the
noise is worst when creeping slowly foreward then hitting the brakes so that
the car bucks foreward, oddly it does not make the noise when you hit the
brakes in reverse.
04-04-2004 | 12:50 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 99 a4 strut noise?
We did drill a hole in my son's 98 a4 bushing but that didn't get it. In
three cases the dry ball joint has been the solution. BTDT X 3
Tony
daytripper wrote:
> On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 16:32:54 -0500, "Dave Smith" <davewsmith@adelphia.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>hey guys,
>> i have an annoying creaking noise coming from the front passenger side
>>when i brake to a stop or when going over bumps or turns. its is fairly
>>loud, the closest i can compare it to is when you torque a wheel bolt in.
>>that kreekkkk. i thought it may be a suspension bushing, so i lubricated
>>every one i could find but to no avail. could this be a bad strut? 99 a4
>>1.8t q
>
>
> Unless ruled out you have to assume it's the dreaded control arm bushing
> noise. And unless you actually drilled a hole in the bushing it's unlikely you
> could have reached the source of the problem with your lubrication attempts...
>
> hth
>
> /daytripper
> '00 s4 6spd
three cases the dry ball joint has been the solution. BTDT X 3
Tony
daytripper wrote:
> On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 16:32:54 -0500, "Dave Smith" <davewsmith@adelphia.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>hey guys,
>> i have an annoying creaking noise coming from the front passenger side
>>when i brake to a stop or when going over bumps or turns. its is fairly
>>loud, the closest i can compare it to is when you torque a wheel bolt in.
>>that kreekkkk. i thought it may be a suspension bushing, so i lubricated
>>every one i could find but to no avail. could this be a bad strut? 99 a4
>>1.8t q
>
>
> Unless ruled out you have to assume it's the dreaded control arm bushing
> noise. And unless you actually drilled a hole in the bushing it's unlikely you
> could have reached the source of the problem with your lubrication attempts...
>
> hth
>
> /daytripper
> '00 s4 6spd
04-04-2004 | 12:55 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 99 a4 strut noise?
The ball joint that I would grease is on the bottom of the strut very
close to the tire. If you get under there you can't miss it.
Again, I would bet on the ball joint. The bushing do go bad as well and
can be greased by drilling a hole but I would start with the ball joint.
Sometimes you can inject the grease and it still squeaks for a couple of
days until the grease works its way to the dry surfaces.
Tone
Dave Smith wrote:
> thanks for the imput guys, im not good with locating suspension parts, any
> links to a diagram of the control arm or front suspension. the noise seems
> to be coming from something near/under the passenger side motor mount. the
> noise is worst when creeping slowly foreward then hitting the brakes so that
> the car bucks foreward, oddly it does not make the noise when you hit the
> brakes in reverse.
>
>
close to the tire. If you get under there you can't miss it.
Again, I would bet on the ball joint. The bushing do go bad as well and
can be greased by drilling a hole but I would start with the ball joint.
Sometimes you can inject the grease and it still squeaks for a couple of
days until the grease works its way to the dry surfaces.
Tone
Dave Smith wrote:
> thanks for the imput guys, im not good with locating suspension parts, any
> links to a diagram of the control arm or front suspension. the noise seems
> to be coming from something near/under the passenger side motor mount. the
> noise is worst when creeping slowly foreward then hitting the brakes so that
> the car bucks foreward, oddly it does not make the noise when you hit the
> brakes in reverse.
>
>
04-04-2004 | 10:42 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 99 a4 strut noise?
one other thing i thought of, i live in ne pa. and every time it snows, we
get tons of salt and other dumped on the streets. after the roads dryed
up i would take the car to the carwash and blast the undercarrige and behind
the tires to get the salt off. could the pressure from the water have
blasted out the lubrication on something in the suspension?
get tons of salt and other dumped on the streets. after the roads dryed
up i would take the car to the carwash and blast the undercarrige and behind
the tires to get the salt off. could the pressure from the water have
blasted out the lubrication on something in the suspension?
04-04-2004 | 02:29 PM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 99 a4 strut noise?
well, i pulled the passenger side wheel, the source of the sound and pin
greased the ball the 2 ball joints closest to the rotor and 2 other ones in
the area. still creaking, it will even creak when i jump into the car, when
i was jacking it up it made the noise and it seemed it was coming from
something very close to the wheel. where/how exactly do you drill into the
bushing to lubricate it?
greased the ball the 2 ball joints closest to the rotor and 2 other ones in
the area. still creaking, it will even creak when i jump into the car, when
i was jacking it up it made the noise and it seemed it was coming from
something very close to the wheel. where/how exactly do you drill into the
bushing to lubricate it?
04-04-2004 | 03:00 PM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 99 a4 strut noise?
I doubt that the water pressure would be a problem. Time is the problem.
Tony
Dave Smith wrote:
> one other thing i thought of, i live in ne pa. and every time it snows, we
> get tons of salt and other dumped on the streets. after the roads dryed
> up i would take the car to the carwash and blast the undercarrige and behind
> the tires to get the salt off. could the pressure from the water have
> blasted out the lubrication on something in the suspension?
>
>
Tony
Dave Smith wrote:
> one other thing i thought of, i live in ne pa. and every time it snows, we
> get tons of salt and other dumped on the streets. after the roads dryed
> up i would take the car to the carwash and blast the undercarrige and behind
> the tires to get the salt off. could the pressure from the water have
> blasted out the lubrication on something in the suspension?
>
>
04-04-2004 | 03:09 PM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 99 a4 strut noise?
If you got a lot of grease in there I would give it a few days to work in.
If that doesn't get it:
The bushings that need to be drilled are on the inner end of the lower
control arms. These run from near the ball joint that you greased
inwards. Where they attach to the frame you will find the bushings that
can also be involved.
The back control arm has a nylon part that can be drilled with a small
(1/8 inch or so) drill. Use a pointed grease injector for this. The
pointed injector is about a 60 degree point that you push inwards on as
you inject the grease.
The front control arm bushing has always defied my attempts to grease
it. All steel and I don't think it would be safe to drill it and
possibly cause it to weaken. If that is the problem (which I doubt) you
will probably need to replace the arm.
http://www.audiquattroparts.com/blau1.htm
or
http://www.ecstuning.com/
Tony
Dave Smith wrote:
> well, i pulled the passenger side wheel, the source of the sound and pin
> greased the ball the 2 ball joints closest to the rotor and 2 other ones in
> the area. still creaking, it will even creak when i jump into the car, when
> i was jacking it up it made the noise and it seemed it was coming from
> something very close to the wheel. where/how exactly do you drill into the
> bushing to lubricate it?
>
>
If that doesn't get it:
The bushings that need to be drilled are on the inner end of the lower
control arms. These run from near the ball joint that you greased
inwards. Where they attach to the frame you will find the bushings that
can also be involved.
The back control arm has a nylon part that can be drilled with a small
(1/8 inch or so) drill. Use a pointed grease injector for this. The
pointed injector is about a 60 degree point that you push inwards on as
you inject the grease.
The front control arm bushing has always defied my attempts to grease
it. All steel and I don't think it would be safe to drill it and
possibly cause it to weaken. If that is the problem (which I doubt) you
will probably need to replace the arm.
http://www.audiquattroparts.com/blau1.htm
or
http://www.ecstuning.com/
Tony
Dave Smith wrote:
> well, i pulled the passenger side wheel, the source of the sound and pin
> greased the ball the 2 ball joints closest to the rotor and 2 other ones in
> the area. still creaking, it will even creak when i jump into the car, when
> i was jacking it up it made the noise and it seemed it was coming from
> something very close to the wheel. where/how exactly do you drill into the
> bushing to lubricate it?
>
>
