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.