This is on an '03 A4 Quattro 3.0. It's not quite a squeak...it's almost exactly like the sound loose change makes in your pocket. It sounds like it's coming from both sides in the front and it's only when going over bumps. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? I was going to try replacing the original struts since the car has ~70k miles anyway, but then I saw that strut bearings are available as well. I'll admit that I don't know too much about this particular suspension setup and I've never had an occasion to replace a strut bearing before. Do these typically get replaced with the struts? Could the bearing be responsible for my noise? And finally, does replacing the struts necessitate an alignment to be performed? I'd appreciate any insight at all...thanks!

 

im experiencing the same thing lately. mine sounds like a consistent squeek everytime i hit a bump. cousin told me might be the tie rod ends. not sure though. someone else told me to lubricate the bump stops or sumthin like that

 

I have the same problem as well. actually i had this problem since the day bought my 03 a4 brand new at audi dealer. i came back to dealer day after. but they said the sound is normal... well.. i am now just live with it

 

spray all the rubber joints with silicon spray, the noise is rubber against rubber a common problem on the A4

 

I know exactly what you are talkin about and it is the rubber cup thing on top of the strut. When that gets worn you get play in the suspension that sounds like loose change or a small chain rattling.

Usually it starts on the front left and eventually the front right will wear as well.

Sorry I forgot the exact name of it but last months issue of Euro Tuner with the Avant and the A4 on the cover had a perfect picture of what a worn one looked like.

 

Thanks, that helps a lot! Is the cup you're referring to the strut bearing?

 

No its not a bearing. This should be between the strut tower and the strut. I have never seen it nor have I looked for it. I just know on my car, thats whats causing that sound. I was quoted 2 hours labor to replace both sides plus parts.

 

I have the same noise coming from both sides. I changed my suspension about one month ago and the noise still exists. I had the same problem on my 02 Maxima and fixed it by replacing the strut tops and strut bearings (both were relatively cheap parts).

 

Thanks for all the replies. I don't suppose anyone has a drawing/cutaway of the front suspension?

 

Sweet, glad I'm not the only one with this problem. I figured it was bushings going bad. I'll spray them with silicone and see what happens.