need help diagnosing suspension issues

yagovoz · 02-19-2012, 03:28 PM

Hey, I just need some feedback from ppl more familiar with suspension systems than myself.

I have an 01 audi a6 avant I acquired recently. When I drive on a road with some irregularities it bounces a lot more than most cars do, including other AUDI's I've driven. It's almost like I'm in a speedboat on choppy waters -- a little springy if you know what I mean. Is that due to shock absorbers going bad, or did someone just put some cheap ones on there? Any recommendation for shocks that will handle rougher highways without too much spring? I'd prefer more performance oriented shocks, but nothing too extreme. Comfort's still important. It's a quattro, so is it recommended to replace all four shocks at once?

One other issue: the front drivers side makes a slight pop/rattle sound on larger bumps. Which suspension component is most suspect? I'm not sure what to look for on failing suspension parts.

Thanks,

Prospeeder · 02-20-2012, 05:35 PM

what you need to do, is jack it up, and grab the wheel. Firmly try to move the wheel back and forth feeling for loose clunky pars. Then grab from the top and bottom, and firmly try to move it up and down, any play is bad. visually inspect all the ball joint rubber boots, also the tie rod end boots. Any joints with broken rubber boots are garbage. Check the sway bar to link bolts are tight. Put the car down, bounce the front of the car a good ammount of travel and then stop, it "should" just go up then down and rest. Not a few more bounces, not keep bouncing, If so, struts are no good. If its just the fronts, than just replace the fronts. Hope that helps

yagovoz · 02-21-2012, 04:34 PM

k, thanks. That gives me a good place to start.

02-20-2012, 05:35 PM	#2
Prospeeder AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 837	what you need to do, is jack it up, and grab the wheel. Firmly try to move the wheel back and forth feeling for loose clunky pars. Then grab from the top and bottom, and firmly try to move it up and down, any play is bad. visually inspect all the ball joint rubber boots, also the tie rod end boots. Any joints with broken rubber boots are garbage. Check the sway bar to link bolts are tight. Put the car down, bounce the front of the car a good ammount of travel and then stop, it "should" just go up then down and rest. Not a few more bounces, not keep bouncing, If so, struts are no good. If its just the fronts, than just replace the fronts. Hope that helps __________________ 1992 Audi 100 CS Quattro 1990 Audi 200 Avant Turbo Quattro 1991 Audi 200 Turbo 1999 Audi A6 Avant

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02-21-2012, 04:34 PM	#3
yagovoz Audiworld Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 28	k, thanks. That gives me a good place to start.