Clunking of Front Suspension when in Comfort Mode

[jpy1980]

Hmmm, can't really find anything on the search for front suspension clanking, only on the rear, but when I am on comfort mode and go over small bumps or bumpy roads, there is a clunking or clanking sound that makes it sound like something is loose on my front suspension. It happens mainly on the drivers side I think. This also happens mainly on comfort setting and hardly on dynamic. I have mag ride with ED springs.

Any thoughts?

My rears sound fine, I had those replaced under the TSB.

TIA guys!

[Audibot]

If it's new enough, it should not be doing that and I'd have Audi look at it and warranty it. Probably the strut mount.

[will13k7]

of course audi will blame the ED springs if they are up to their usual, but worth a try?

Apparently the subframe can shift, might be that, or something else, who knows:

https://store.034motorsport.com/mqb-...s3-tt-tts.html
"This kit addresses subframe clunk/pop/creak which presents itself when taking slow turns, entering driveways, coming to a stop, and starting from a standstill. These locking collars and new factory bolts are a permanent, affordable solution to address the fundamental issue with the factory subframe design."

[whamas]

I've noticed a similar noise primarily from the front driver side. I find it to be more prevalent from a cold start for some reason but haven't been able to pin point the issue.
I have an appointment with Audi in the morning. I just hope they pay enough attention while test driving it to catch the creaking/clanking sound.

[jpy1980]

My issue is actually pretty easy to reproduce. Just put the car in the comfort setting and drive over small bumps, like those bumps they have on rough roads. The odd thing to me is that the noise disappears when the car is in dynamic mode. Also, other than just going over small, staccato bumps, there is not clanking or clunking. Odd.

[whamas]

Just got a call from the dealer. They claim the clanking sound comes from the heat shield hitting the exhaust in the back of the engine bay.
I'll be testing it over the next few days to see whether this actually fixes the issue.

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[MkUrMark]

Interesting... I hear a clunk and I am completely stock. Mostly going on speed bumps... I have some really crazy speed bumps in my community-lol

I never put my suspension in anything other then comfort, on occasion I will have fun with dynamic but its almost always on comfort.

My issue is that my clunk is not as easily reproducible. I think it could sub frame or perhaps heat shield like stated above

[jpy1980]

Just got a call from the dealer. They claim the clanking sound comes from the heat shield hitting the exhaust in the back of the engine bay.
I'll be testing it over the next few days to see whether this actually fixes the issue.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk

Any updates on this?

I had Thomas at Emmanuele Design take a look at this and he said everything suspension wise was tight. Maybe it is time to take it to the dealer and find out if its the heat shield.

[jpy1980]

So there's a thread on this issue with some golf Rs as well. They suspect that the upper strut nut is not tight. Is there any procedure on how to tighten this?

[jpy1980]

Ok just got a call from the dealer. It's been there for 3 days and they finally figured it out. It's my brake pads!!! Wtf.

[JohnnyUtah787]

Ok just got a call from the dealer. It's been there for 3 days and they finally figured it out. It's my brake pads!!! Wtf.

What was it about the brake pads? I'm having a similar issue and had a sneaking suspicion it may not actually be the suspension.

[Nathing32]

What was it about the brake pads? I'm having a similar issue and had a sneaking suspicion it may not actually be the suspension.

Do you have upgraded front and/or rear end links? I had rattles coming from both when driving on rough pavement. No rattles above about 25mph and nothing over ruts or pacement joints. There is just enough play in the spherical joints that they will rattle if they start at a neutral load position. Doesn't matter how tight the bolts/nuts are either.

You can check this if you put the car on ramps and then shake the end of the sway bar. It won't work if the car is jacked and the wheels are not at a neutral (loaded) position. It doesn't do this with the OEM links.

[JohnnyUtah787]

Do you have upgraded front and/or rear end links? I had rattles coming from both when driving on rough pavement. No rattles above about 25mph and nothing over ruts or pacement joints. There is just enough play in the spherical joints that they will rattle if they start at a neutral load position. Doesn't matter how tight the bolts/nuts are either.

You can check this if you put the car on ramps and then shake the end of the sway bar. It won't work if the car is jacked and the wheels are not at a neutral (loaded) position. It doesn't do this with the OEM links.

No rattles. No upgraded links. Sounds like more of a pop. Like something is binding then coming undone. It occurs at low speeds. If I come to a stop, make a left turn, it then pops as I start to straighten out from the turn.

[XLR8 Craig]

Anti rattle clips on the pad/caliper maybe. Sub frame pop (like the Mk6) maybe. Strut mount/bearing? Maybe.

Glad the dealer could figure it out.

[JohnnyUtah787]

Anti rattle clips on the pad/caliper maybe. Sub frame pop (like the Mk6) maybe. Strut mount/bearing? Maybe.

Glad the dealer could figure it out.

Got an appointment with the dealer for Monday. I'll post whatever they determine the issue to be. For what it's worth, the noise is more prominent when the car is cold (i.e. after it's sat in a garage all night).

[drew4392]

I thought it was simply the dampers bottoming out given the soft (comfort) setting. When I am in dynamic mode, the clunk/noise isn't present

[JohnnyUtah787]

So not surprisingly the issue I'm having is with my springs, specifically the ED springs I have on. Under load (i.e. the weight of the car) at full lock, the springs twist up, and this twisting is causing a slight shift. As the car straightens out and the spring uncoils, it shifts back and I get the pop/thunk noise. In addition, when the car is up on the lift and no weight is on the suspension, there is some play in the front springs. As in, they can be moved, not easily according to the tech, but they do move around a bit with some effort. Not sure if that's normal or not.

One option would be to put the stock springs back on, another would be to try to re-install/are-align the ED springs, another option would be to swap the front springs and see if the problems moves, yet another option would be to put a whole new spring up there (in case maybe the one I have is a bit on the short side).

According to the dealer, the "shift" isn't something I need to worry too much about. Not sure what else to do at this point. Open to suggestions.

[Somejace]

Have the same issue, it's my front end sway bar end links. I need to upgrade them to adjustable.


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[a2oc]

Although mine is just a a3 1.8T with regular suspension, mine does have the same clunk since I got it and the dealer can't fix it too even with a new front anti roll bar. And it seems to get worse recently.............

[Spinnetti]

old thread, but I have the loud pop from the right front when I enter my drive... haven't figured it out yet.