Creaky Suspension
Discussion
I've got an S3 with 120K on the clock. The suspension creaks all the time and is even louder when going over speed bumps.
After reading through some forums it sounds like the anti roll bar bushes probably need changing.
But, as the car is so old now (2001) does anyone think it's also worth changing the Anti Roll Bars themselves and the drop link arms all around the car?
What kind of bill could I be in for?!
After reading through some forums it sounds like the anti roll bar bushes probably need changing.
But, as the car is so old now (2001) does anyone think it's also worth changing the Anti Roll Bars themselves and the drop link arms all around the car?
What kind of bill could I be in for?!
Dont trust everything you read on internet forums and fix from guessing.
Take a look under the car and look at the antiroll bars. You'll probably find the collars will be cracked or will have come adrift that are next to the bushes. Thus allowing sideways movement and messing up your bushes. - Solution in new antiroll bars and bushes.
Whilst your there check the wishbone bushes on the front and jack the car up and check the front strut top mounts. All these are weak points on the S3/TT.
Take a look under the car and look at the antiroll bars. You'll probably find the collars will be cracked or will have come adrift that are next to the bushes. Thus allowing sideways movement and messing up your bushes. - Solution in new antiroll bars and bushes.
Whilst your there check the wishbone bushes on the front and jack the car up and check the front strut top mounts. All these are weak points on the S3/TT.
sounds like its time to replace the drop links and the rubber bushes around the car. if they are original and on 120k miles then you'll have definately had the best from them already.
Personally, i cant see what would cause you to replace the anti roll bars themselves??? after all they are metal and there is nothing to 'creak' on them. Of course if they are seriously corroded it would be worth a blast and re powder coat but even so, the originals wouldbe fine to slot back on the car once sorted.
HTH
David
Personally, i cant see what would cause you to replace the anti roll bars themselves??? after all they are metal and there is nothing to 'creak' on them. Of course if they are seriously corroded it would be worth a blast and re powder coat but even so, the originals wouldbe fine to slot back on the car once sorted.
HTH
David
What would happen if I continue driving without chaging them? I've already done at least 40K miles since the car has started creaking...
Reason I ask is that Audi main dealer today quoted me £750 (ouch!) to replace:
Front ARB bushes and bar.
Front drop links.
Rear ARB bar (they said no bushes on rear).
Rear droplinks.
As I've got a 40K service due anyway I'm thinking of delaying or even not doing the suspension work?
Reason I ask is that Audi main dealer today quoted me £750 (ouch!) to replace:
Front ARB bushes and bar.
Front drop links.
Rear ARB bar (they said no bushes on rear).
Rear droplinks.
As I've got a 40K service due anyway I'm thinking of delaying or even not doing the suspension work?
£750!!!! OUCH
Seriously thats pretty simple work and a major (but typical) VAG p**s take price.
Personally I'd find the cost of the parts then do it myself.
In terms of what will happen if you leave it....you'll probably go slowly mad enough to end up changing - either that or turn up the volume on the Bose ;-)
Seriously thats pretty simple work and a major (but typical) VAG p**s take price.
Personally I'd find the cost of the parts then do it myself.
In terms of what will happen if you leave it....you'll probably go slowly mad enough to end up changing - either that or turn up the volume on the Bose ;-)
s2driveruk said:
sounds like its time to replace the drop links and the rubber bushes around the car. if they are original and on 120k miles then you'll have definately had the best from them already.
Personally, i cant see what would cause you to replace the anti roll bars themselves??? after all they are metal and there is nothing to 'creak' on them. Of course if they are seriously corroded it would be worth a blast and re powder coat but even so, the originals wouldbe fine to slot back on the car once sorted.
HTH
David
TT A3 Golf anti roll bars.Personally, i cant see what would cause you to replace the anti roll bars themselves??? after all they are metal and there is nothing to 'creak' on them. Of course if they are seriously corroded it would be worth a blast and re powder coat but even so, the originals wouldbe fine to slot back on the car once sorted.
HTH
David
You have to replace the bar, because (as mentioned above) there is a plasic sleave on the bar that crack and then break off, so then with no sleave there is loads of movement between the bar and the bush this causes noise, creeking as teh sleve breaks up, then knocking once its gone.
Only propper fix is new bar and new bushes. Anything else is just a bodge.
New bars dont have the stupid sleve on them so the fault wont occur again.
We used to do roll bars on S-type jags because there wear oval, we never could understand how a rubber bush could wear out a metal roll bar, but they did.
Edited by Tame Technician on Wednesday 14th July 09:43
s3londonuk said:
Thanks for the responses so far...
Would I fail an MOT for worn ARB bushes, ARB bars or drop links?
Generally NO.Would I fail an MOT for worn ARB bushes, ARB bars or drop links?
There has to be a large amount of movement in the bar to fail an MOT, the typical ammount of movement we see in them, when people complain about knocking noises, isnt enough to fail an MOT.
s3londonuk said:
So if I continue to drive on worn ARB bushes/bars will I cause any long term damage or is it more of a comfort/ride issue?
The effects on the car if the anti roll bar bushes/sleves have movement would be.....Very slight effect on handling, when the car transitions weight from one side to the other, like on turn in. Not enough to be a safety issue in my opinion.
And the obvious noise, knocking over bumps and uneven roads.
The long term effects are it will just gradualy get worse, until there is sufficient movement for it to fail an MOT.
s3londonuk said:
Thanks Tame Technician.
So if I replace the worn parts the ride will also improve?
It's ridiculously hard at the moment, even for an S Audi.
No, not the ride. Spring and damper rates dictate ride quality.So if I replace the worn parts the ride will also improve?
It's ridiculously hard at the moment, even for an S Audi.
If there is knocking when you go over bumps, it will fix that, nothing more.
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