Hi guys, just bought a 2000 A4 1.8T Quattro stick with sports suspension. It has 96k miles. I will be driving it 130 miles roundtrip per day. As soon as I got into it and drove I noticed a lot of steering play, I am used to the wheels responding to even a slightest movement of the steering wheel but this seems like I have to turn quite a bit before I get a reaction . Really bad out on the expressway with deep ruts (Oregon allows snow tires) I am just concetrating on trying to keep the car straight. Is there a way I can tighten this up, is this rack and pinion setup or recirculating ball?
Any help would be appreciated
Wagits

 

do you have the non-sport suspension? The steering feels like mush with that setup.

 

Tire aspect ratio differences can cause this sensation.

With engine at idle , standing ouside car , with open window, wiggle the steering wheel. See how the front left wheel responds.

 

Same year, same commute (actually 150 mi per day). 105K miles. Steering is tight with zero play.

 

do I tell, I have the Sports Steer wheel, 16 inch sport wheels. I thought since I get the wheels I also get the sports suspension (part of that Option Pack). I checked my springs, they are black in color. The steer play is too excessive. If the road slopes one way then my steer wheel sits at one angle, as soonas the camber of the road changes I have to quickly shift the steer wheel the other way and so on for the whole trip. This happens at low speeds and high. I checked for wheel play. There is a very slight movement of the tire as I go through the slack. I need to drive another one I suppose to check if its normal. It sure doesnt feel normal.

 

Checked it out, I have the non-lowered sprts suspension

 

If you mean 1 and 11 O'clock it is too much play.

 

Just checked the tires. My driver side inside tread is completely scrubbed out while the rest of the tire is at 80% tread left. The passenger is fine. Please tell me this Could be just an alignment problem. Anyone here from Oregon know of a good place to take the car to check this out.

 

there is no non-lowered sport suspension. You either have the stock non-sport, or the stock sport.
If your car came with 16" wheels, then I would bet you have sport suspension. The steering wheel will not tell you.

Yeah - odd tire wear could indeed indicate an alignment problem. You could take it to any respectable mechanic to get an alignment check. Though if you have any Euroshops nearby I would suggest you go there. Sometimes basic shops have trouble aligning quattro cars. Red shocks normally points to sport shocks as well.

 

Well, I eventually found out why my car felt like it required too much steering wheel effort to keep it in a straight line. The tie rod ends were shot. Bought some new ones for $90 and cost $300 to fit including the 4 wheel alignment. Unfortunately I was charged an extra $50 because of a siezed nut. The car feels so much tighter now, it was very enjoyable driving the 63 miles to work this morning. Just thought I would share this information in case anyone else out there had the same issue.