redneck truck
01-09-2013, 09:04 AM
I've identified a source of clunking, slop, and funny tire wear. Good thing, too, as I just put new tires on the front when the old ones separated on the inside.
I need the forwardmost upper control arm on the LF wheel. Does anyone have a good one sitting? Maybe someone who installed a whole kit but had good parts left over? Please let me know.
redneck truck
01-17-2013, 06:23 AM
Big thanks to the overwhelming response; not a lot of enthusiasts on here anymore, eh...
Bryan at AudiS4Parts.com came through again! Thanks a ton, and thanks for getting it here so quickly.
Also identified some slop in my tierod end on the same corner, so I replaced it with one of the solid steel ones I purchased from 034Motorsports back in 2010. Will do the other side tonight.
After pulling the tierod out, I couldn't feel any slop, but it was only minimal when on the car. While removing the old one, I heard what I thought to be a "squirt" sound and worried I may have popped a seal by whacking on the tierod end without supporting the suspension, as it was hanging down pretty far. However, it hit a limit and wouldn't come out of the spindle any further, and I realized it was binding up on the inboard sidewall of the tire. After loosening the wheel, the installation went much more smoothly, and I don't think there was any damage as a result of my methods.
I also noticed that the 10mm-head bolt sticking down into the tip of the tierod rotates the tierod once it's bound up, and it can rotate several degrees once the clamp bolt is installed.