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Banging my head against the proverbial at the moment.

Ever since fitting my KWs and Hotchkis ARBs, the car has squeaked and rattled like an old Lada. Hotchkis since removed and replaced with OE front ARB and OE RS4 rear ARB, but still noisy. All bushings seem OK. KWs still on but thinking about pulling them off and just sticking with original shocks, aesthetics be dammed.

Had a few suspension bits replaced over the last few months as certain areas were showing serious wear and tear. It's been to the local Audi specialist so many times I think they're sick of seeing me, especially as they rarely find anything wrong and probably think I'm a bit nuts by now. I reckon I've been lumped into the "when it's your own car you always notice the rattles" category.

Doesn't help that it's worse in the morning (when cold) but by the time they get hold of the car, even by mid-morning, it never seems to sound as bad. Or maybe it's the state of the roads around where I live… Christ knows.

Sound is mainly from the front. I don't think it's engine mounts (had a few replaced last year so I know the sound of a knackered one), more bushings… but they seem OK visually. Perhaps I need uprated bushings all-round, but then I've been told that polyurethane bushings will be even noiser after a few miles.

I know it's impossible to diagnose something like this unless you're sat in the car and driving it, but any suggestions from anybody? Maybe something I or the mechanics have missed but which may be known by others to be a weak spot on the model?

Anything at this point will be helpful as seriously considering chopping it in, which would be a shame with all the money I've spent on the damn thing...

what a nightmare.. sorry i can't help with the rattles, altho i feel your pain as my r32 was the same after suspension mods.. i decided as it was me who did that to the car, that i should put up with it untill i sold it!

maybe i can ease your pain by taking the hotchkis arb's off your hands???

ping me a pm if you want to sell them, as i've been thinking about getting some for a month now (are they the s4 or rs4 ones?)

cheers,

goose

Jack it up, smear grease all over the top cone shaped part of the bumpstops, all it was on mine was the front bumpstops catching slightly on the mounting and squeaking like something important had failed, bit of grease and it's never happened again. Also dont go too low as the KWs get very crashy if too low

I had the exact same aggro when I fitted my V3s and Hotchkis ARBs and it took ages to track it down and I'd actually ordered new arms to try and narrow it down

@goose: I'll bear that in mind... although might hang onto them for now and see if xyber's advice does the trick. If it does, back on they may go. Have to say though, already been through two rear bushings with the Hotchkis in little under 3000 miles and they were installed correctly (i.e. weight on wheels). Have some fresh ones in case I return to planet Lateral Rigidity (gravitational pull: minimal) because the drive was ace.

@xyber: Shall give that a go, thanks. Hope it's as simple as that. There's a lot of grease under my car already though (anybody unfortunate enough to fall under it at speed will shoot out the rear end like a lubed-up Pop Tart) but not sure if it's there at the moment. Will try!

Lubrication of bump stops did the trick. Only been a few days so will see how it pans out. Happy for now

Must admit, Xyber rarely gives out bad advice! Been helped out on more than one occasion by his past experience. Exactly why these forums and the people who frequent then are invaluable.

Hope you all have a happy New Year and lots of trouble free driving.

xyber wrote:Jack it up, smear grease all over the top cone shaped part of the bumpstops...

I've had creaking suspension since the cold snap so took the car into my dad's workshop this weekend just gone to try your advice.

I assumed you were talking about the top of the suspension (that's where it sounds like the creak is coming from) but I couldn't see anything with the inner arch there so just greased up the lower components (around the wishbone area) and it's made no difference.

Did you mean to remove the inner arch too?

The actual bumpstop/rubber sleeve on the strut. Abit like this. Smear grease on the top domed/coned area

do you have to remove the inner arch to get at them?

Nope. Just stick your fingers through the spring. It does sound like the noise is a lot higher up where I think it echo's up the bulk head

xyber wrote:The actual bumpstop/rubber sleeve on the strut. Abit like this. Smear grease on the top domed/coned area

I am sure I have seen some of those in high def on certain websites going boldly where they shouldnt...

lee_whitehead wrote:

xyber wrote:The actual bumpstop/rubber sleeve on the strut. Abit like this. Smear grease on the top domed/coned area

I am sure I have seen some of those in high def on certain websites going boldly where they shouldnt...

..... Then straight in her gob, the dirty rotter haha

xyber wrote:Nope. Just stick your fingers through the spring. It does sound like the noise is a lot higher up where I think it echo's up the bulk head

I'll go exploring then. Many thanks.

xyber wrote:Nope. Just stick your fingers through the spring. It does sound like the noise is a lot higher up where I think it echo's up the bulk head

Right, I've confused things - the OP was referring to the front suspension and I didn't actually mention mine was coming from the rear.

I jacked it up and sprayed grease on to the little bumpstop at the top of the spring and randomly sprayed into the bottom of the coil (I couldn't actually get my head at an angle to see any rubber at the bottom) yesterday.

Unfortunately, the creak is still there this morning. Assuming I did actually lubricate the intended components, is there anywhere else I should try?

Rear diff mount worn? The KWs and ARBs are stiffer so the next softest/worn component in the chain takes the brunt of the increased harshness

When the rear ARB was fitted, were the mounts tightened with the car on the ground with it's full weight down on the suspension? Very important with the Hotchkis kit apparently to stop it twisting and tearing the rubber bushes/mounts apart