Contact at Volxgerman for repair work.

[HIS4]

I'm thinking I'm going to give VG another shot and take my car there for some needed repairs. Who is a contact there that I can talk to? I got some really bad clunking and grinding coming from the front of my car. I suspect either the steering rack or the CV joint because my suspension and control arms are relatively new and the grinding happens when turning the wheel even at idle. I also need to replace my alternator and my accessory belt tensioner but I don't know if I'll do that all at the same time. I just want to get the griding thing taken care of for now.

[Jesse S.]

808-593-0335 (Main #)
[email protected]

[PSYC0TIC ONE]

if the clunking is present while at a stand still, check your steer rack bolts (12pt don't remember the size)... I had a similar problem a few years back on my B5 S4, a dealer quoted me at $250 to tighten a bolt, I did it myself for free...

grinding may be your P/S pump, have you flushed it or had it flushed lately?

just an FYI to check yourself, ESPECIALLY if you've already replaced your control arms...

[AudiBoy808]

You can talk to Aaron or Desbie that's who I always talk to when I go there.

[Jesse S.]

Mine makes noises if I turn the steering wheel all the way.

[HIS4]

if the clunking is present while at a stand still, check your steer rack bolts (12pt don't remember the size)... I had a similar problem a few years back on my B5 S4, a dealer quoted me at $250 to tighten a bolt, I did it myself for free...

grinding may be your P/S pump, have you flushed it or had it flushed lately?

just an FYI to check yourself, ESPECIALLY if you've already replaced your control arms...

Thanks. I may try to check it out this weekend. I haven't had the PS fluid flushed but my PS pump has been making squeeling noises for years now. I've always made sure the fluid is topped of so maybe it finally bit the dust.

[HIS4]

if the clunking is present while at a stand still, check your steer rack bolts (12pt don't remember the size)... I had a similar problem a few years back on my B5 S4, a dealer quoted me at $250 to tighten a bolt, I did it myself for free...

Can you describe where the rack bolts are? I'm trying to look through the Bentley but haven't verified the location yet.

[PSYC0TIC ONE]

Can you describe where the rack bolts are? I'm trying to look through the Bentley but haven't verified the location yet.

i'm trying to picture it in my head...

for mine, the one that was loose was under the battery (removing it was the biggest pain about the whole process)...

the best way to test to see if you have a loose rack is to get the front wheels off the ground and grab a front tire at 3 & 9 o'clock and rock it back and forth, watch the tie rod, if it moves up and down, your rack is loose... side to side is suspension...

[HIS4]

i'm trying to picture it in my head...

for mine, the one that was loose was under the battery (removing it was the biggest pain about the whole process)...

the best way to test to see if you have a loose rack is to get the front wheels off the ground and grab a front tire at 3 & 9 o'clock and rock it back and forth, watch the tie rod, if it moves up and down, your rack is loose... side to side is suspension...

Crap! I actually already did that test to see if it was a tie rod or suspension issue. There was no play up and down or side to side.

[PSYC0TIC ONE]

Crap! I actually already did that test to see if it was a tie rod or suspension issue. There was no play up and down or side to side.

can you hear the clunk while doing the test? if there is NO play and you still here it have a buddy see if he can watch for "moving" parts up near your steering rack while you move the wheel...

[Thomas@TAI-VW]

dude its only going to get worse since you have 150K + miles now (?) Time to dump that thing and get something with less miles/more reliable.You are having a lot of hassle keeping a 250hp car on the road this long.Get a 2.0t B7A4,chip it and it wll be faster,better mileage,more reliable,cheaper for repairs/maintenance,and it won't have 150K miles!
S4's are money pits.....they can be made incredibly fast,but then the pit gets deeper.You are also still on original turbos right?Wait until those blow........sell it I tell you,best advice you will get right there....

[HIstateS8]

I loved my B5 S4 to death, but keeping it in tip-top shape took a lot of work and a lot of money and the sad thing is, it still gave me problems. I'm sad that I had to get rid of it. If you are planning to sell it, sell it asap or if you plan on keeping it, be prepared to dig deep into your wallet.

[HIS4]

dude its only going to get worse since you have 150K + miles now (?) Time to dump that thing and get something with less miles/more reliable.You are having a lot of hassle keeping a 250hp car on the road this long.Get a 2.0t B7A4,chip it and it wll be faster,better mileage,more reliable,cheaper for repairs/maintenance,and it won't have 150K miles!
S4's are money pits.....they can be made incredibly fast,but then the pit gets deeper.You are also still on original turbos right?Wait until those blow........sell it I tell you,best advice you will get right there....

I'm already shopping but I figured I'll need to get the really obvious stuff fixed before I try to sell it.

[LAS]

dude its only going to get worse since you have 150K + miles now (?) Time to dump that thing and get something with less miles/more reliable.You are having a lot of hassle keeping a 250hp car on the road this long.Get a 2.0t B7A4,chip it and it will be faster,better mileage,more reliable,cheaper for repairs/maintenance,and it won't have 150K miles!
S4's are money pits.....they can be made incredibly fast,but then the pit gets deeper.You are also still on original turbos right?Wait until those blow........sell it I tell you,best advice you will get right there....

telling it like it is. i take it from the guys already been through it...gino, brandon, jesse to name a few. i considered one after my b6 a4, but knew to make it worthwhile to enjoy the car, needed to set aside an extra 10k for it.

good luck.

[HIS4]

Thanks for the advice everyone. At this point, shopping for a new car seems to be the best but I'm not sure if I should just trade in the S or try to sell it. Selling it would mean I would need to fix it. Trading it in wold probably get me less money for it but I could also sell off the mods to make some of that up.

Here's the shopping list of cars so far.

BMW M3 sedan
BMW 535
Lexus IS350
Lexus IS-F
Lexus GS350/460
Audi A6
Mercedes C63 AMG

I have yet to drive any of these except for the IS350 and GS350 so I'll need to get out there and check them out so I can narrow this list down.

[PSYC0TIC ONE]

Thanks for the advice everyone. At this point, shopping for a new car seems to be the best but I'm not sure if I should just trade in the S or try to sell it. Selling it would mean I would need to fix it. Trading it in wold probably get me less money for it but I could also sell off the mods to make some of that up.

Here's the shopping list of cars so far.

BMW M3 sedan
BMW 535
Lexus IS350
Lexus IS-F
Lexus GS350/460
Audi A6
Mercedes C63 AMG

I have yet to drive any of these except for the IS350 and GS350 so I'll need to get out there and check them out so I can narrow this list down.

if you want to squeeze every penny out of the S4 sell it privately... If you are just trying to get out from underneath it, just trade it in...

[Erocko]

Thanks for the advice everyone. At this point, shopping for a new car seems to be the best but I'm not sure if I should just trade in the S or try to sell it. Selling it would mean I would need to fix it. Trading it in wold probably get me less money for it but I could also sell off the mods to make some of that up.

Here's the shopping list of cars so far.

BMW M3 sedan
BMW 535
Lexus IS350
Lexus IS-F
Lexus GS350/460
Audi A6
Mercedes C63 AMG

I have yet to drive any of these except for the IS350 and GS350 so I'll need to get out there and check them out so I can narrow this list down.

Looks like you're going VIP to me :)
BAGS and lip FTW!

[Jesse S.]

If you trade it in the dealer will give you half of what its really worth. I would go private party, then buy an M3

[HIstateS8]

Yup, buy the new A6 and bag it!