Front Suspension - "They all clonk"

[DickyC]

Understandably, there were protests when I said a while ago that I thought they all clonk.

So the new project isn't going to be a track day car, it's going to be the front suspension on the RS2.

For the MoT 2007 I had new top mounts and it was better. Not perfect but better. As time went on the clonks got worse, especially going forwards and backwards during parking manoeuvres as slack was taken up, and I was expecting bad news at this year's MoT.

Nothing. Apart from their valeter being too liberal with his jet wash, getting something wet under the bonnet and it coming back with a misfire gawd help us, it sailed through. [Look! It's clean! Leave it alone!]

So, top mounts again? Track rod ends? Surely the MoT inspector would have found those. Did I read somewhere that there are heavy duty top mounts? Does MRC's magic extend as far as the suspension?

So many questions.

I'm not sure this is relevant, but I have never been able to commit to a corner in the RS in the same way I could in my old Coupe Quattro, a non-turbo B3. Is there something loose in the caboose? Where do I start?

[DH79]

Mine was 'clonking' in manoevres similar to yours - just after I had my topmounts uprated to Pro Mount (speak to Corey). There was also a worrying change in the steering that went with the noise. Turned out the camber adjustment bolts had worked loose enough to allow movement when the 'correct' forces were applied. You may have a less drastic version of this fault as the clamping action of these bolts is all you've got restraining the front wheels in camber...

There are 3 bolts each side underneath and just inboard of the front hubs. IIRC they should be at 65Nm each and if they are loose, its obviously worth checking the tracking...

[DickyC]

Thanks for that, DH79! And it's true about the geometry changing; I didn't mention it because I was half afraid everyone would say I was imagining it.

I'll be having even more words with Audi if it's true.

"You give the car back to me with a misfire and the wheels hanging on by their eyelashes after a service and MoT."

Marvellous.

At what point do I abandon the nigh on perfect Full Audi Service History?

[VaudiGR]

there is a possibility that the clonk is coming from the struts rather than anywhere else.Supposedly the rs2 front struts have some kind of rubber stop at the bottom which gradually decays with years.So the movement of the shock within the strut may be the cause.I have all suspension parts replaced in front,and still get it at times,not so often then,and also bilsteins are a bit smaller in diameter so it tends to apear more often with them.

Try replacing the front bushes as well,and if there is still clonking noise then the struts is most likely the cause.

[DickyC]

Yup, that's good, thanks.

I'll check all these at the weekend but, to be on the safe side, is there a concensus on who is the RS2 suspension specialist? After the poor running debacle in the summer, I'm all for finding a specialist.

[DickyC]

I meant I'll check it at the weekend and not throw it at too many roundabouts before then.

[Lloyd]

Right, this has been a major obsession of mine since I've owned an RS2.
I can however confirm that it's possible to stop them clunking and for the car to ride nicely over crap roads. It's taken me a while but my car is running so good right now it drives as it should from the factory. No joke.

How many miles has your car covered? Do you have a service file? If so when were the ball joints and drop links last replaced? What sort of condition are the bushes in? If there's no record of them being changed I would do this right away. Drop links etc can be sourced from VAG Parts or even eBay.de if you know what to search for. Not expensive either.

I too switched to Pro-mounts from Corey and frankly think they're great. No problems there.

The other thing I would check is that your strut insert screw caps are firmly and fully torqued down in place. If you jack the front wheels off the ground you can get a pipe/monkey wrench onto the caps through the and in between the coils of the springs. Give em a nip up check they've not come loose.

After replacing those parts you are likely to have stopped the knocking.
If so great, go ahead and then get your 4 wheel alignment done.
If not you may need to look at replacing the dampers and then get your alignment adjusted.

I have just changed the dampers on my car thinking they responsible for the knocking when in fact it was due to a tired ball joint on one side.

Ho hum. I now have new Bilstein Sports all round, new drop links, ball joints and zero knocking/clunking.
(Pro-mounts and new bushes from 2 years ago)

For suspension work on these cars I would suggest APS in Brackley.
They have the Beissbath kit used by Audi main dealers and know a fair bit about the RS2 and suspension. My car is booked in with them this Thursday for the alignment.

I'm going for a slightly more fast road/track geometry set-up. Will keep you posted.

[DickyC]

Brilliant! It's done 140,000 and I have all the history.

Not tonight, my dear, I have important car stuff to do.

[rog893]

Hi Dicky C, Speak to simon44 he had his car totally rebuilt underneath by RS specialists near you, he has nothing but praise for them, hope this helps.

[DickyC]

Thanks, rog893. I'll PM him right now.

[Lloyd]

http://www.autops.co.uk/

[DickyC]

Thanks for the link, Lloyd.

Although the service book is stamped up, it turns out there's no detailed history before 1999 when the owner before me bought the car. I'll email him to check but as far as I can see, apart from last year's top mounts, the vast majority of the suspension is original.

The old girl has been well used, well maintained and has had a lot of money spent on her but, as she's done 140,000, it's hardly surprising she clonks.

[The Countess was reading over my shoulder as I wrote the bit about, "the old girl," as a consequence of which I may well be sleeping under the stairs with the dogs again tonight. It's nice and warm; it's just a bit smelly.]

[DickyC]

Right, I had an email back from the previous owner. It was as I thought but it was worth checking. There has been no work done on the suspension - front or rear - until I had the top mounts replaced for the MoT 2007.

So, do I carry on as before with the principal of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and just have a specialist find and replace the bits that are clonking, or is it a complete rebuild? Your views please.

It's not a money thing, it's trying to do the job correctly and sympathetically.

Just to recap, the car has done 140,000 miles and has always been serviced. It goes well, it stops well and I'd like to be able to drive round corners without crossing my fingers.

[venetors2]

Hi everybody!

I just had all my dumpers (front n rear) replaced with new BOGE oem parts everywhere in the web it's stated that the RS2s are equipped in origin with Bilstein but it's not true tehy're BOGE.
The front set was changed once in the car life the rear ones never been.
So after 300000km i think it was about time.
Car it's now a firm velvet driving!


Reading about banging knoking and so on in the front:
I change a year ago the steering shock absorber or dumper and that made a terrific change on the steering feeling i reckon a must do thing.

Part no is :
8A1425021 LHD
8A2425021 RHD

Stefano

[DickyC]

That's right, Stefano. I think the Bilstein dampers were on the Press cars and changed for the production cars.

Thanks for the tip about the steering damper.