A4 Avant - Do I have a suspension problem ?

[nightmare101]

Hi there, this intrigued me as i have a similar problem with my A4. it's a 2000 registered A4 saloon 2.4 se, bought (admittedly much older than yours) last year with 100k on clock.

Recently i've developed 2 problems and one sounds similar, my car seems to dance around on rough surfaces (e.g. uk roads not lovely smooth european roads) and is borderline scary at motorway speed. The reason i'm posting is i feel like my suspension has turned jelly like, i had full geometry done and nothing showed up but at motorway speed and if the winds up i feel like she sails rather than drives!

New tyres, wheel alignments and geometry checks have told me nothing, i'm wondering if she's maybe lifting at the front or dropping at the back when at motorway speed ... e.g. the wind seems to get under me too

Also however i do have a knocking noise, seems to transmit through the accelerator pedal and floor pan when i hit a lump, speed hump or bump (but i think from reading other posts this may be an anti roll bar or suspension arm issue??).

Basically, heeeeelp! i can't afford to put new suspension on if the shocks aren't the cause. Don't know if the knocking over bumps is related or seperate but i know when i drive on the motorway in the wind it's scary and i don't like taking the family in it!

Any help appreciated, budget is tight and can't throw money at it... ps. not a mechanic, can you guess lol...

[00161wj]

If its an s-line then it simply the charachteristics of the vehicle, they will tend to do this due to the slightly bigger wheels and stiffer suspension setup.

[STAGMAN]

How worn are your front tyres? I had a similar problem and had to fight the steering as the car was all over the place on rough surfaces, the tyres were getting down to the limit. New tyres and all is fine.

[adamss24]

Hi there, this intrigued me as i have a similar problem with my A4. it's a 2000 registered A4 saloon 2.4 se, bought (admittedly much older than yours) last year with 100k on clock.

Recently i've developed 2 problems and one sounds similar, my car seems to dance around on rough surfaces (e.g. uk roads not lovely smooth european roads) and is borderline scary at motorway speed. The reason i'm posting is i feel like my suspension has turned jelly like, i had full geometry done and nothing showed up but at motorway speed and if the winds up i feel like she sails rather than drives!

New tyres, wheel alignments and geometry checks have told me nothing, i'm wondering if she's maybe lifting at the front or dropping at the back when at motorway speed ... e.g. the wind seems to get under me too

Also however i do have a knocking noise, seems to transmit through the accelerator pedal and floor pan when i hit a lump, speed hump or bump (but i think from reading other posts this may be an anti roll bar or suspension arm issue??).

Basically, heeeeelp! i can't afford to put new suspension on if the shocks aren't the cause. Don't know if the knocking over bumps is related or seperate but i know when i drive on the motorway in the wind it's scary and i don't like taking the family in it!

Any help appreciated, budget is tight and can't throw money at it... ps. not a mechanic, can you guess lol...

Replace all 4 top suspension arms on the front on both sides and that should cure the wallowy ride ! Please use genuine Lemforder ones or Meyle as generic brands wont last long ! I would also check the front top suspension mounts as well- the bearings on top of the shock absorbers , they only cost £15 from Euro Car Parts and they are known to fail on high milleage cars...

[ini]

In agreement with 00161wj, if you have a wider lower profile wheel & tyre than standard, the car will tramline and exagerate the 'feel' of bumps and ruts in the road.

Larger 'sportier' wheels also tend have a lower offset, which doesn't help.

[John140]

How worn are your front tyres? I had a similar problem and had to fight the steering as the car was all over the place on rough surfaces, the tyres were getting down to the limit. New tyres and all is fine.

I hope this is it for me also, my Dunlop SP Sport Maxx are at the wear limit and will be replaced in the next week, so fingers crossed.