Front D3 Air Suspension Rattle
 

Hello folks.
I bought a 2006 D3 A8 a month or so ago, and it has a rattle from the front suspension. It is a lightweight continuos rattle over joints in the road, drain covers and cobbles. It doesn't really clunk, it just rattles up to several times a second. I don't really get the problem on the open road or motorway, just around cities. It happens at all damper settings/ride heights.

Are there any common weak spots for this?

On other cars I have had similar rattles from top strut mounts and anti-roll bar links but the latter don't look obviously worn and don't have balljoints anyway.

Thanks for any tips or experience. PS, the mileage is 180,000.

Wow some mileage!!

Probably the upper suspension arms. They are well known for cracking, not completely but small cracks and obviously arn't as stiff as they should be.

A quick bar in the joints at the bottom will tell you if the bottom arms etc. need doing. On Ebay you ca get pattern parts for them all really for a full front end set. At that mileage I would be.

Or maybe the anti-roll-bar links too, I had a rattle over bumpy roads and both needed done, not expensive. But at 180k, could well be needing a whole set of arms :)

Thanks, I'll probably take it somewhere with a lift. It all looks ok just lying on my drive with a torch. +++

Interested to know what you find. I have the same rattle/knock as you describe with brand new drop/C-links fitted.

Bex

Oh dear Bex, I just ordered some C-links.
I will let you know how I get on, everything else looks ok, so I suspect something internal to the airspring damper assembly if symptoms persist. :(

Pretty sure mine isn't the actual strut itself, just doesn't sound like that at all, I can also feel the slight rattle/knock from both the passenger and driver footwells, can you???

Bex

are you sure its not the exhaust knocking somewhere if you can feel it in so many places Bex?

Broken cat would rattle and that might be the source of engine problems you are having as well.

Well, I managed to get around to fitting these today using the Elsa manuals and some FEBI parts from ebay <£50/pr.
Problem solved, feels somewhat tighter and refined at the front too, the old ones where shot and bushings delaminated.
Thanks for all the tips. +++ I hope you find yours is something simple (and cheap) A8Chick.

I forgot to let you all know what my resolution to this issue was... it was the ARB. You have to replace the whole unit as the bushes are not seperate.

All rattles are cured though now :)

Oh Lordy!
Thanks for reporting back.
I have that problem now too but mostly in the cold/wet weather.
Fancy building the bushes into the whole bloody roll-bar! :hammer:
Now I know it's this I will just leave it for the time being as times are hard at the moment and the cost of 4 tyres looms.

Ditto mate.

Just for reference it is about £30 cheaper from TPS (even with my discount at Audi-going direct to TPS was the way forward.) +++

It's about £135+vat. Took 10 mins to fit +++

An opportunity for the poly-bush guys to step in and make some money

or something like these...?
http://www.frost.co.uk/automotive-mi...-kit-500g.html
scrub that, just seen the price.

I can't understand why they can't make the bushes separate, unless of course it's a money making scam. My Range Rover has the same set up :(

I have a similar knocking sound and feel from the front on our rough north yorkshire roads and there was an advisory re the ARB bushes at the last MOT. So I have to replace the ARB and bushes as a single unit? I thought I've seen bushes for sale seperately somewhere. Anyone had a droning sound as the speed drops through 60mph? Happens in 5th or 6th gear and also coasting in neutral, gear changes are smooth. I'm hoping it might be a wheel bearing?

JD

It depends if it's the bushes that connect ARB to subframe or C-link bushes that connect to suspension arm,

If the dronoing noise is present in neutral there is a good chance it is wheel bearing

Just back from having the C links replaced today, ARB bushes were OK. Mileage 90 000. Feels much more controlled at the front and the knocking has gone. No problem with wheel bearings, apparently could be the tyres (pilot sports nearly worn out) so the winter wheels will go on at the end of the week.

JD