Cab_and_Wagons

I'm new to the forum, but have found lot's of valuable info so far. My question is about the undercarriage clunk. We've got a 2002 Allroad that has an intermittent clunking sound. I've seen lots of postings on the subject, and I hoping someone can distill it down for me. The sound is like something "thumping" the underside of the car. It may coincide with braking, or with suspension travel. It may not happen at all, or it may happen a few times a day. I haven't been able to find any rhyme or reason as to when it happens. We've been to the dealer who blamed it on aftermarket brake pads. I'm no pro, but it doesn't feel like brake pads to me. Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance.

03Indigo

if the sway bar bushings need grease, they can give off a clunk type sound, and if the end links are shot, they might also the cause.

Not saying it is either, I would have to actually hear it to help narrow it down, but it will give you something to look at and rule out if they are fine.

arnick'02-6spd

Could be a ton of things, here's a fuzzy accounting of what I've seen/heard...

Loose belly pan.
Loose sound deadening panel inside belly pan.
Loose sway bar bolts.
Loose / shot control arms.
Loose subframe bolts
Mushybushingdrivelinelash.

Anyone else? beuler?...

allroad'Ed now

Some aftermarket pads will rattle int eh calipers if not a perfect fit, but the noise will always go away when applying the brakes.

I had two clunks at different times. Once was a bad right sway bar drop link, and the most recent was a bad control arm inner bushing, which requires the entire control arm to be replaced (very common on all C5 A6 cars).

girlroad

Beuler votes for tie rod ends

s4master1

drive the car close to a wall, like in an alley
when it does it try applying the brakes slightly and see if it goes away
very common problem with aftermarket brake pads
also check the ball joint in the lower front control arm in the right side

Audihaulic

<center><img src="http://shanewinter.com/audi/rollbarlink1.jpg"></center><p>...*should* have seen that. Just in case, here's a pick of mine (that rubber donut is supposed to be inside the metal link currently beside it), and I'd recommend starting your search for a good indy mechanic right about now; it'll save you tons of money if nothing else.

Cab_and_Wagons

We bought the car used after our 1996 A6 Avant was wrecked. While the car had a clean CarFax, we were told that there was a minor test drive "fender bender" that was repaired by the dealership. When I found broken glass in the sunroof track, I began to suspect it may have been more serious. A check of service history also shows a transmission replacement under warranty. I'll spend some time under it this weekend. It's a low sounding "thump" that sounds like a rubber mallet on the floorboards under the back seat. Thanks for the clues on where to start looking.

blackIIIroad

Where's the large outside washer by nut to prevent this?

Cab_and_Wagons

I've heard some good things about ECS Tuning in Ohio? I have a VAG and the Bentley, so I can handle some diagnosis and repair myself. I'd love to have a great local wrench twister.