Has anyone heard of issues with sway arms and bearings going out prematurely on '01 A4 models? I was told by one mechanic that the clunking noise heard in the hub was the tie rod, and by the dealer that it was the sway arm. Any ideas?

 

sway bar = anti roll bar and it depends on how hard you drive, bearings ?? there isn't any its a bushing

 

Thanks for the reply. So the metallic "clunking" noise we can hear when going over bumps (we don't drive it hard) could be either the sway arms or tie rods, then?

 

yep

 

Could be the CONTROL arms, or the tie-rod ends.

jack up one side of the car, grab the wheel on each side, and try to move it in and out. if there is any play at all, its the tie rod ends. You should no be able to move it.