My S3 Thread

Yeah true. Just worried the pattern ones would be **** haha. Not many options here really. No equivalent of GSF which is annoying...
 
Yep recently fitted Lemforder items from Euros. Decent quality so shouldnt go wrong any time soon.
 
I'll see how much the dealers want to bend me over for first and go from there.

Found this today. Proof the Cayennes fit under 17s with 334mm:

939ScP1C.jpg
 
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Ooh they sound very similar to my noise. Anyway new ones should be here in a day or two so ill try to fit them asap.
 
Got new drop links from VW, fitted them, only to find it's exactly the same as before. I can feel so play in the strut but needs some more diagnosis this weekend to work out if it's the strut itself or some play in the top mount. It doesn't sound like a strut that's gone though. It sounds like something is really loose. Subframe perhaps? ARB bushes felt tight but I have some 20mm super pro bushes on order so I think I'll attack the Tyrolsport solid subframe mounts (and new bolts), ARB bushes and Tyrolsport solid rack mount at the same. If they do nothing then it has to be the shocks. Strange they'd both go at the same time though. I've seen some people wrapping the part of the top mount that contacts the shell in electrical tape as there is a little movement there apparently. Might be worth a try.

In other news, my ECS 20mm spacers have turned up so I can try the wheel on over the weekend. My worry is that the guys that balanced the wheels have put the wheel weights right where the caliper would be (which is already tight on space!). I guess I'll find out tomorrow or Sunday.
 
Doh....sorry weren't the drop links after me banging on so much about them :(

Hopefully will get to the bottom of it soon :)
 
Mine's really bad though. I could deal with a slight knock but this sounds like something is seriously loose over small bumps. It's like a rattle over real bumpy stretches of road.

I've got the proper stretch bolts for the subframe as I read that people end up with knocking if the old ones are re-used. Not sure how true that is though.
 
audi upgrades
You probably missed it but I fitted IDF/USRST tubular (and rose jointed) front control arms last week. They themselves are tighter than a scotsmans wallet. The ground control adjustable top mounts went on with the new H&R RSS coilovers a few months back. I fitted them with new bearings. Some people have reported knocking with them but I'm not sure they could make this much noise. When I fitted the drop links I gave the top mounts a check over and there was no movement at all. Might take another look this weekend.

Have you changed the subframe bushes? Doesn't look like a hard job. Shame the ARB bushes didn't arrive today else I'd have been able to nail it in one go over the weekend. Ah well, there's always working from home ;)
 
I've been doing some googling and reading on what could possible cause a similar clunk/rattle/knock. Seems to be a common mk4 issue, with various parts being the cause. I've not considered tie rods and tie rod ends but according to a thread on vortex where the guy had the same symptoms, it could be those.

VWVortex.com - Clicking / Clunking / Popping from the front end

I got a quote to remove, rebuild/revalve and refit the H&R coiloverss of around $700. I really don't think it's those though, they're not that old. Also seems steep. It's $250 in the removal/refit labour. I could remove them and then take them but it's hassle. Not sold that it's them yet anyway.

Tomorrow I'll give all the nuts and bolts another once over at least and try on one of the new wheels. I'll wait until the ARB bushes are in and fit those along with the solid rack and frame mounts at the same time.
 
audi upgrades
Tried a wheel today. The caliper is *just* hitting the back of the spokes with the 20mm so I'll order some 25mm and potentially use the 20mm on the rear, or just order two sets of 25mm if the postage doesn't work out a lot more so it's at least equal. I was always under the impression FWD cars were better with wider front track but I could be wrong.

6698_10151499696096760_1483268654_n.jpg


Looks awesome though :) You can actually see the brakes now!
 
Forgot to add, they feel way lighter than the BBS rims. It'll be interesting to see what difference the lighter weight and 245s (over 225s) makes. I may have to fit 235s or 225s to the front eventually though, I think the extra 5mm + 10mm extra tyre is going to poke them out a little. Might have to raise it a touch for now.
 
Some pics of the wheel fitted to the rear. Love the inset spokes on the 9" version of the pro race.

wheel4.jpg


wheel3.jpg


wheel1.jpg
 
Cheers. Yeah, keen to get them on now. I was a bit worried the gloss black might not look great but they're not bad at all. Hard to get pictures of them though haha :)

I've just ordered new Meyle tie rods + ends, and some H&R DRA 25mm for the front (I have ECS 20mm already for the rear) and paid extra for express so should get them on Tuesday or Wednesday (more likely). Anyone had any experience of Meyle tie rods? I've seen mixed reports on their quality but they were like 1/4 of the price of OEM !
 
Are you using oem bearings with the top mounts mate like prawn and me?
 
Nah the Ground Control kit uses it's own roller bearing design. I think the top mounts tight, it's somewhere else. If I grab the wheel at 9 and 3, then wobble it, I can feel it clunk and hear the noise so I suspect the tie rods. Seems like a guy on vortex had very similar noises to me.

The guys at Ground Control were pretty annoyed about that company copying their design (at least for the upper part) haha :)

Should have a decent suspension spec when I'm done:
- H&R RSS Clubsport Coilovers
- Ground Control Camber/Caster Mounts
- IDF Tubular Control Arms
- Tyrolsport Solid Subframe Mounts
- Tyrolsport Solid Rack Mount
- Superpro front ARB bushes
- Gruvenparts Rear Control Arms with Mad Max polybush ends
- Whiteline 20mm Rear ARB + Poly bushes
- Haldex Blue Controller
- Vibratechnics Engine Mounts + VF Engineering Dogbone

Tie rods, rear trailing arm bushes and rear subframe mounts are pretty much the only bits I won't have replaced, suspension wise. This ****** knock...
 
That's a very impressive parts list dude!

And I really like those wheels goes awesome with the car!
 
Sam, grand job on thread there pal. I'm experiencing exact same problem your having with this stupid knack noise coming from front end. You've saved me a post :thumbup:

So I'll start knocking out possibles that where listed in thread, starting from cheapest & hopefully stop there before my pockets start to burn.

Seb.
 
Yeah, I'd suggest doing the cheapest stuff first. I've not really been systematic other than "oh, this guy had the same noise so maybe it's that". It's annoying because on axle stands I can't easily replicate the noise. I guess changing loads of parts means they won't need to be done again anytime soon and it should be mint in the end.
 
Got the tyres fitted to the other rims today:

wheels6.jpg


Looking forward to getting these spacers. I can imagine an after work wheel swap session :)
 
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Got the wheels on. I must say it looks hard as f*ck :) I always wanted it to look like a lairy Audi, and I think it's getting there. They're ****ty iPhone 4 pics so not great. Tinkered a little in Photoshop. Gets a few more looks now, mainly people checking out the brakes as before you could hardly see them when stationary.

wheelson1.jpg


wheelson2.jpg


wheelson3.jpg


And the best bit... Cayenne 6 Pots under a 17" rim. Certainly fills the wheel.

wheelson4.jpg


The 245s fit fine. The fronts do poke a little and they'll no doubt rub but for now they're fine. The rears have more room as I'm running ET15 front, ET20 rear. You'd probably be able to get a rizla in between the caliper and the wheel!
 
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Haha it's a bit close but the new suspension is so stiff it's hardly an issue. The old wheels were in the same spot and rarely rubbed. It's not the comfiest but I quite like a firm ride...
 
Yeeees finally! Looks epic!!

Touch more camber on the front to tuck them in a bit or is it at its limits with 2.5?
 
The ball joints are out as far as they will go and the top mounts are set for as much as they'll give too. It's probably as tucked in as it'll get. I could possibly wind out the control arm rose joint a bit but they said the adjustment was for getting the arms lined up with the subframe rather than giving extra camber. Worried about tyre wear though. The guy at the generic alignment place said it's "nearly 3" but I swore I saw 2.5 on the screen. I asked him to set minimal toe in, so he set it at 1mm or so I think from memory. It drives really nice, apart from the knocking which I hope is the tie rods rather than the dampers. Got ARB bushes (20mm) and tie rods to fit next.
 
Haha it should be fine. I've been running the BBS rims that sat the tyre in a similar spot (as they were ET10) and it only rubbed now and then over large dips in the road. Might look into getting them rolled but not sure what can be done and even if it needs to be done...
 
Thanks mate nare the calipers the same as the 6pot toureg ones?
 
Looks absolutely ace mate.

Do you have any room to go for a smaller spacer up front? It looks wicked but I fear it'll rub badly.
 
Prawn said:
Looks absolutely ace mate.

Do you have any room to go for a smaller spacer up front? It looks wicked but I fear it'll rub badly.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately due to the mega wide calipers I have to run 25mm. The front tyres will need to be replaced before too long anyway so I could try a 235 or 225. It pokes out the same as when I had the CHs on there and they only rubbed very occasionally over big dips but I imagine some proper heated driving might cause some rubbing. The suspension runs real high spring rates so its pretty taught. I can always raise it a little too if need be. Or look at getting the front wings pulled a touch.
 
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