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After lots of reading up on DRC failures I was 110% sure that my front driver side shock was on its way out, displayed all the usual symptoms, rattle going over bumps at slow speeds etc...Put the car up on the ramp to check the shocks and found no signs of any leaks. My mechanic did notice that a few of the bushes on the front arms were a bit worn and recommed i replace them anyway even though i was sure this wasnt causing the rattle.

Drove the car for another month or so and it got steadily worse especially in the cold. At this point I had resigned myself to coilovers and had started to hunt for the best deal. The front arms arrived in last week so I ploughed on and got them put in even though I didn't have the coilovers yet.

Collected the car last night and it feels like a completely new car and no rattles at all. The front end is so much tighter.

I replaced 6 front arms one lower and two upper each side and it completely cured my problem and made the car feel like new. An unexpected bonus is that on a full lock slow turn I don't get the (what I assumed was normal after a lot of research) 4wd type grind/hop

Moral of the story don't always assume the worst.

Mucho happy

Dal..

Result!

Had all top arms and bushes changed on mine this month, made the absolute world of difference to the feel of the car. so much tighter like you say!

Dal wrote:Moral of the story don't always assume the worst.

+1

Mine had similar symptoms earlier this year, so I naturally assumed it was DRC - was simply a loose anti roll bar fixing, a tweak with a spanner and all sorted. Any play anywhere in the steering or suspenders seems to create similar noises and gets us in a panic doesn't it!

What sort of money are we talking about to have this done?
I have no rattles but, as with all things in life, its not as tight in the front as it used to be.

i paid £435 to have all top arms and bushes replaced at Camberley Audi - with some goodwill from them

Cost 450 in total for 6 lemforder arms and fitting...

Ok thanks, sounds like a worthwhile investment.

How much miles had you done?

I know that is aimed at the guys that have had it done but I bought the car with just over 20k and no its just over 50k and have noticed the front feels a bit looser. More so after it was modded. No knocking though, just not as tight.

Guys have any one got part numbers or a link to what to buy?

brn7y wrote:How much miles had you done?

62k miles I can honestly say the car is completely different to drive, everything just feels better.Turns in more crisply etc...half thinking about doing the rear now even tho they looked fine !

brn7y wrote:How much miles had you done?

72k - the car just wasnt feeling right, a bit 'floaty' at the front so took it to Audi to have a look and all the top bushes were worn and split. now it's sorted and made such a difference.

Just one thing to add from experience. If anyone is thinking of changing the arms themselves make sure you order the bolt that holds the two top arms to the top of the shock mount as they sieze and bend in place and will snap the head off when you try to remove them. Soaking the old one with some wd before hand will help but only with removal of the old one.

Dal wrote:Cost 450 in total for 6 lemforder arms and fitting...

Is that the manufacturer? Is the geometry/dimensions/whatever the same as the one you replaced?