Vague handling at speed

[zorbs]

Hi All,

As I suspected a few weeks back, I think there's definitely something amiss with my high speed handling. The car needs a lot of minor corrections on the motorway and seems to move a lot on high speed sweepers making it feel quite unstable. It also seems to track cambers quite badly around the lanes.

Overall, it just feels very vague as if it's going to wallow so much it might cross itself up...

I'm on standard DRC suspension that doesn't appear to be leaking or significantly knocking ( I say significantly knocking because it does seem a little noisy over ripple bumps). Tyres are Avon ZZ3's

I intend to take it into the dealers for checking but don't want to be fobbed off so any advice on where I should be directing their attention would be welcome. Failing that, what specialists around the South London area could professionally check it?

[Revolution]

Hi Zorbs

Get it on a Hunter camera alignment machine and have it checked.

Were too far north so you should find one here:
http://www.alignmycar.co.uk/

Hope this helps but it would rule a lot out before you go to Audi.

Glenn

[sonny]

If you have checked Tyre pressures and are happy that the DRC is working, then would suggest you take it onto Audi and get them to check the front tie rod/steering rack, it can come loose and effect steering, do you sometimes get a knock on full lock?

Secondly get a 4WLA checked

[zorbs]

Cheers guys,

I had a 4 wheel alignment done a few weeks back so at least I can rule that one out.

It's really weird as the steering doesn't seem to want to return to centre very much which is why I have to correct it constantly. Plus the front and back suspension seem at odds with each other which combined with a corner camber change as well makes for an unsettling experience akin to piloting a barge!

I haven't any knocking but I have the sensation low level thunking over bumpy surfaces like the mounts are loose. I should probably trash the lot and get a decent setup

Car is booked in for Wednesday so lets see what happens...

ps no steering knock.

[sonny]

OK, where did you book it in?

Fancy testing her out at Brands Hatch next uesday?

[cz.Garry]

I have similar problem. My car seems to be unstable at cornering. It seems like tire presure is low but i checked it and pressure is ok. I haven't checked DRC. How bad working drc behaves?

BR

Garry

[zorbs]

Hi Sonny,

I'd be half tempted to give the car a few laps if it didn't handle like a blancmange on castors...

I was driving back down the motorway today and there's definitely something thunking (feels like a bush or top mount loose) over ripple bumps. It's booked in at Bromley Audi and just by chance they're testing a new technology on me where the customer can watch the mechanic on computer screen via a head mounted camera! Since I can communicate with him as well I'll have him looking closely at my susupension and steering components.

Failing that I might come back to you for a better dealer if that's ok?

[sonny]

Well thats interesting, Bromley Audi going up in the world.

When you got it booked in for?

you have PM

[zorbs]

Well, just a quick update.

Nothing was found to be wrong with the car's suspension or steering. I'm not sure if that's because there really isn't anything wrong, but to be fair they did get it up on the lift and physically check that nothing was loose. They also confirmed that there was no leakage whatsoever from any of the shocks.

So, that leaves me with a slightly vague handling car and no current explanation... Don't get me wrong, I can still corner quickly - it just takes a leap of faith on some roads!

My options from here would seem to be:- get a second opinion, try different tyres or go for aftermarket sway bars/suspension. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[sonny]

At what kind of speeds are we talking about?

The ARB/Sway bar wont effect your issues at high speed, only B road driving. The suspension yes, esp if coilovers, however as you know this will sacrifice ride comfort.

You may have a flatspot onthe tyre due to a skid (maybe before you purchased the car). however I cant see that effecting your walloing.

[zorbs]

Ok, I'm back again.

I was driving around some lanes again today and trying to home in on where the problem might be and noticed that the front is very soft and bouncy, which is what I feel is causing the vagueness. When I say bouncy, I really mean up and down!

None of my shockers are leaking, but bearing in mind the previous owner never pushed the car I doubt they'd have noticed the shocks going so is it possible they completely leaked out during that period (two years)? Is it possible to check the DRC i.e. check pressure etc to eliminate this possibility?

Any help appreciated.

[P_G]

You can have a pressure check done. You mentioned thunking before so could be low pressure in DRC. The other thins that caused a similar sensaton in my car was then one of the front cuffs has split and when replced improved handling. The other was that one of the arms had bent as well as a cracked hub which caused vagueness. This was only found when they stripped the front assembly down and is very subtle.

I can't exactly remember the diagnosis but it will be on here somewhere.

[Revolution]

Hi Zorbs

Its hard for us to advise accurately online but for safety's sake I suggest you get it booked in somewhere sooner rather than later to get to the bottom of your problem.
Dont want to hear that yourself or any members having an accident....

Glenn

[P_G]

Here it is:

http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... c&start=15

[zorbs]

Thankyou chaps, all advice well appreciated.

I'd say the front feels totally underdamped so am assuming that a drop in DRC pressure would cause that? Otherwise on smooth roads the car tracks fine and there's no knocking from the steering or obvious loose bits (very technical that...).

The problem for any Audi tech driving my car is that it's only an issue at 8/10ths so I can't really expect them to drive the car that hard! I think possibly the best approach is to actually pay to have the DRC pressure tested. That way I can't be fobbed off and if it's found to be low I should get refunded under warranty. If that approach makes sense...