Louder then a fat chick bouncing on your bed (UPDATED)

[VTAudiA4]

Ok, first of all let me say that I have searched. Now that thats out of the way let me explain the problem. I have notice this week some front end squeeking. It mainly occurs when I turn but it also occurs when the car bounces up and down. When the car is not in motion and you turn the steering wheel it also produces a squeek. Now from searching I found out that it could be a whole bunch of different things such as a ball joint, control arm, shocks, or a power steering leak.

I am leaning towards the power stearing fluid leak for 2 reasons.
1.) The car squeeks even when its not in motion while turning the steering wheel.
2.) There has been a small leak of pink fluid near the powersteering pump thats been there since I bought the car. But it only started to produce the noise this week.

How do I go about narrowing down my possible problems? What is the best way to go about this?

Much is appreciated as always.

[theskuh]

I wouldn't know what a fat chick bouncing on my bed sounds like.

Sorry

[VTAudiA4]

Please, keep posts on topic. Thanks

[theskuh]

Can't stand a little humor?

How can a power steering leak cause a squeak? unless you are dousing a belt causing it to slip. How many psi you running the system at? 11ty billion?

Squeaks while not moving are belts. Or bad pumps or steering rack whatever but probably not suspension.

Squeaks while moving are probably suspension.

Put your head down there and find it.Just make sure the person turning the wheel doesn't run you over .

[erikas3]

I'm in the exact same position. It is so ANNOYING!! Although I still didn't have it inspected, it will likely be a control arm.

[Mike@PureMS]

Don't rule out the control arms.
Pink fluid is coolant, not power steering fluid.

Push down on the suspension, does it squeak?
If you're turning, the ball joints are turning, and the control arms "lean" side to side. Could still be them even if you're not moving.

[theskuh]

Don't rule out the control arms.
Pink fluid is coolant, not power steering fluid.

Push down on the suspension, does it squeak?
If you're turning, the ball joints are turning, and the control arms "lean" side to side. Could still be them even if you're not moving.

True that. Just get your head down there and have someone push on the fender, turn the wheel whatever. It probably isn't something mysterious there is a lot of wear points and bushings in the suspension.

[djwimbo]

I am leaning towards the power stearing fluid leak for 2 reasons.
1.) The car squeeks even when its not in motion while turning the steering wheel.
2.) There has been a small leak of pink fluid near the powersteering pump thats been there since I bought the car. But it only started to produce the noise this week.

Jack the front end of the car up so the wheels are off the ground. Grab the wheel/tire and see if it "turns" or has play in the outer tie rod. I have had a handful of customer's w/ this complaint.
Some of the cars would actually make a different tone from bumps to turns. Same problem. If the boot is torn, replace the joint/tie rod as well.

It's worth 10 mins of your time to spray some PB-blaster or WD40 in those joints if the boots are torn. Quite often this will cure the noise for a week, until you get parts in, or the weekend rolls around.

If it is the tie rod ends and alignment will be needed after install.
The control arms/ball joints are a common failure point as well. Replace the pinch bolt at the top if you do need to replace these. An alignment is recommended after the control arms as well, though it's less necessary than with the tie rods.

[2nice4rice]

i have the same exact problem it squeaks when you turn the wheel even when stopped its usually worse when not moving best bet is to just replace all the control arms yourself its about a 2 day job but worth what you save in labor i was quoted 3 grand for timing belt and control arms did it all myself for 800 bucks.

[djwimbo]

i was quoted 3 grand for timing belt and control arms

Time to find a cheaper repair facility. We do timing belts on B5's for $750 or so P&L. I just did the 4 uppers and tie rods on a customer's car for $315 Labor + parts.
Add in an alignment and my work could've saved you almost a grand. That is if you chose to have somebody else do it.

anyways, to the OP. I'd almost bet money on it being one of the upper control arms or the tie rods. I'd lean towards the tie rods.

[01audia4]

Tie rods..and if the bouncing is a clunk its your upppers..

My car squeeks and creeks like crazy when i turn. Ball joints are dead on my tie rods

[VTAudiA4]

Ok, I will check to see if its the tie rods or control arms today. Thanks a lot for your help DJ wimbo and the rest. I have before replaced a tie rod on my old car so it should not be a huge deal. As for control arms, that will be a new experience. Also, I don't know if I can do this on the Audi but when I replaced the tie rod on my old car I did not have to do an alignment because I counted how many times I turned the rod to get it out. Then I just screwed the new one in just as many times and I had no problem.

[VTAudiA4]

Ok so today I jacked the front end up. Shock both the passenger and driver side wheels at 9 & 3 as well as 12 & 6. No movement from either side or either direction. I also did a visual check around all the joints and control arms. I did not notice anything in particular.

Where should I go from here?

[theskuh]

Did you have someone turn the wheel (while you listened and looked) so you could replicate the noise you heard when you turn the wheel with the car parked????

[VTAudiA4]

Yes, I turned the wheel myself and did not notice any sounds at all when the car was jacked up in the front.

[theskuh]

Put It On The Ground And Repeat Get someone else to turn the wheel (put a stick in it whatever) so you can listen and pinpoint the noise in the front. Make it make the noise then find it.

[VTAudiA4]

Im gonna have to wait until tomorrow when I will have more time. Thanks for the help.