Problem, anyone any ideas?

[Sie!]

hi everyone,

Just had my '85 Audi 80 for it's MOT, passed first time, which is brilliant, but so do have a problem.

Around three months ago I noticed something strange on my suspension, I noticed what felt like a little clunk/notch type feeling when I braked heavily or set off quickly. Then I went down the motoway and had to shift rather quickly to let an emergency vehicle past, my wheels are usually rock steady and I have never had steerig wheel shake when going fast. But when I hit about 85 I felt some serious vibration, and heard a rather worrying knocking sound. As soon as I was out the way I slowed back to 70 and everything was as still as ever.

Things have progressivly gotten worse, and I still have the clunky feeling, but now you can feel it almost eveytime I set off or brake. Even if I roll my car out of the drive without starting the engine you can feel it. It appears to be whenever the car changes direction slightly. I presume this and the speed thing are connected, as both started around the same time.

I would have thought the MOT would have flagged the problem up, but all they said was that they found slight play in both tie-rod ends.

Well I've had them changed today and the problem still persists. Does anyone have any ideas? Any one ever had this before?

It's really annoying, and seems to be getting worse and worse, and it needs fixing ASAP.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - and sorry about the long essay!


Sie!

[ZermattGT]

Silly ass question. Are all the lug nuts tight and evenly torqued?

My previous car was at the body shop a while back and they failed to put a front wheel back on properly and it loosened, and felt progressively worse as I accelerated. It was so odd I had a hard time figuring it out.

[20vcqdriver]

Mine does the exact same thing, not found out what it is yet so will be following this thread with interest. One thought is that the wishbone bush bolts need tightening, will be checking this weekend...

[LYT4X]

strut-top mounts/bushes..............

[20vcqdriver]

Originally Posted by LYT4X

strut-top mounts/bushes..............

Not on mine, thought it was this so fitted uprated items from 034 EFi. No Change. Nothing on the transmission side as it did this before I fitted the 3B and 6 speed gearbox. So long as its not the chassis breaking up I can cope with it as I rarely go over 75mph to avoid stone chips and so long as I do not do much forward and reverse work it's liveable but would like to get to the bottom of it..

[LYT4X]

Next point would be the bottom ball-joints.

[john johnson]

i agree with Mr Clarke....even a slight bit of play can manifest itself at speed in tops and ball joints

[LYT4X]

Originally Posted by john johnson

i agree with Mr Clarke....

There's no 'e' on the end, and besides, few will know who you are meaning as I'm not as notorious/famous as you!

[5potnoodle]

Had a similar problem on my 87 Passat GL5 once though without the wheel vibration from what I can remember. Started off as a clunk then eventually manifested into steering play when steering round a bend. I would steer normally then I'd have to steer a bit more as some play came in... tuned out to be loose wishbone bolts causing the wishbone to slip.

Did have a problem with intermittent front wheel vibration on an Audi 100 once which turned out to be a partially seized outer CV joint knuckle.

[john johnson]

Sorry! Yeah I do have a bit of an iffy rep....!