Suspension Question

**paulfokus** · 11-26-2008 06:49 AM

Hi Everyone,

My first post to this forum.

I purchased a 2005.5 Audi S4 from a dealership in Pompano Florida from a Mercedez Benz dealer. Brilliant Black and had Ruff Racing wheels on it.

As soon as I got the car off the delivery truck and drove it I knew something was bad. The car had a very weird shake in it. I immediately took to firestone to have wheels aligned and balanced. During that visit I discovered the wheels had spacers. I bought a set of RS4 replica wheels from a friend of mine, and the shake got substantially smaller but it was still there. I had to buy new tires and rode on them for about 2 months. In the last week the shake started getting worse until yesterday the car was buzzing. Took the car to discount b/c I thought a rim was bent and it turns out the left front tire was starting to come apart, bubbles all along the inner wheel well. For the third time though a different tire place told me the wheels on the car were straight and balanced fine.

This makes me think there is something wrong with the suspension. I didn't mention it but Audi covered about $2000 of damage to the suspension caused by the non factory wheels. I forget the parts they replaced but it was the same part on the left and right side and I think they said it was split.

Does anyone have any idea on where I could take this car in Austin to have the suspension really looked at. There is a small shake to this car that shouldn't be there and I want to find out what it is. If someone has a set of factory OEM wheels I can borrow and then take the car back to the Audi dealer that would be great! ;-)

They keep blaming it on the new wheels and I can't tell if that is the cause.

Any thoughts guys? i apologize b/c I am not a gearhead. I just love my Audi S4!

Thanks in advance.

Paul

**Mike@PureMS** · 11-26-2008 08:13 PM

Check in regional forums.

Aftermarket wheels shouldn't cause any problems to your suspension any differently than stock wheels, unless they're very very poorly fitting.

You can try swapping wheels yourself from the front to rear, and see if that changes anything. That would at least help to determine if it's the wheels or something else.