S3 2008 with problems .. help please :)

Hi guys

New to the forum but have recently purchased a nice s3 8p 2008 3dr manual with 57k on the clock.

Now as my Mrs works for audi she has run a few checks over the car to find out the history within audi etc .. we found the car has already had a new steering rack and full service history including water pump and cambelt.

The car has thrown up a few niggle problems I wish to share with you before she gets the technicians to have a look on Tuesday.

1st one is when stationary or driving slowly on flat roads .. if I jig the steering right to left very quickly I hear and feel a knocking coming from down in the footwell area .. sounds like a loose ball joint or drop link but this forum leads me to believe it might be the rack ! .. which has been changed already.. surely with 57k it won't have gone again ??

2nd problem is I think the wheels need balancing as above 70mph there is a lot of judder but when braking it goes away. Standard audi wheels with new tyres all around.

3rd problem is the engine/turbo hesitation.. I thought it might initially be a boost leak but say for example.I give it some through all the gears the turbo seems to come on really strong then stop all of a sudden then come back later on through the Rev range .. but sometimes it will pull hard through all gears and not stop.. I listened to the turbo spooling earlier as I drove along and there's the initial spool sound when it comes on then with the accelerator pedal still full pressed I hear a fluttering noise and the turbo stops spooling .. but then spools back up later on through the Rev range .. very strange to try and write what it sounds like but it's almost as if I'm letting off the pedal but I'm not.. when the turbo spools up and stops It feels as though I'm driving a normal 2ltr car .. but then it kicks in again a few seconds later in the same gear and comes on strong again.

What the hell could.it be ??

Sorry for the essay and thanks for any help you guys give me

Lee

I have stock everything and I can hear the turbo spool and flutter during acceleration .. going to check the diaphragm in a bit to make sure it's not split etc.

Having just removed mine (5 minute job with engine cover left on) the diaphragm is fine with no splits or cracks .

Driving home it's very clear that the turbo spools up and you begin to get the pull then just stops when my foot is still on accelerator fully .. then comes back on about 2 seconds later.. you get more pull again and then off again .. when it stops it sounds like an old kettle when it's ready lol

Any ideas ? It's very annoying now

I've checked for boost leaks too and can't see any visible ones. From top of engine bay.

Im sure I have the old one .. the brown/orange diaphragm inside. It seemed all OK when i took it off and inspected it earlier. The spark plugs haven't been done since 2011 according to the service book so would this cause some flat spotting ?

Its like it wants to pull hard then thinks about it for a few seconds then starts pulling hard.

Thanks for the link.. will look to change to the d version very soon then. After driving it again last night no matter how hard or soft I accelerate there is a flat spot between 4k and 5k in every gear can't seem to get any power or pull between these revs.