play on wheel a4 saloon 2001 1.8

[barrymorri]

hi, and a hello to all in forum.
i have recently noticed a noise that seems to be wheel - suspension area.
jacked up front end and found play , a couple of mm at least.
i was advised that its not bearings as there is no play top to bottom but only side to side.
any ideas very welcome.
thanks barry

[Crasher]

You will have wear in one of the four arm ball joints, the trick is determining which one but it is usually one of the upper joints. Get someone to wiggle to wheel in the 3 to 9 and then 6 to 12 positions whilst you feel each joint for movement. If you get movement in both the 3 to 9 and 12 to 6 it will normally be the wheel bearing, if only in one plane it will be a joint, usually the 3 to 9 shows the most movement.

[barrymorri]

thanks for your quick response .
i did not mention however that the movement is the same with both front wheels.
would that give more of a clue .
unsure wot you mean when you say
3 to 9 and then 6 to 12 positions whilst you feel each joint for movement. If you get movement in both the 3 to 9 and 12 to 6
thanks

[Crasher]

That sounds like the same wear on both sides (quite possible and something I see a lot) or wear in the rack, or rack arm inner joints, the former being not too much of a worry and the latter an MOT failure but easy to fix.

The “wiggle test” as we call it means (with the wheels off the floor) getting your fingers in the tread and with one hand opposite the other (either at 3 and 9 o’clock or 6 and 12 o’clock) and then tugging and pushing in opposite directions to generate movement and possibly play. The lower forward arm can usually only be tested with a large pair of adjustable jaw grips used to squeeze the ball together, often MOT chaps miss the play in these.

[barrymorri]

there is also what seems as a screck on the steering wheel ,nothing i can hear with radio on.
could that be nothing or could it be pionting towards the rack
barry

[Crasher]

Rack failure on those is not at all common, in fact they are very reliable. If you are unsure, you should have it inspected by a VAG experienced mechanic.