I have a 96 quattro with 60k miles on it.. since i got it last month, its had some sort of rattle in the passenger side front. it only happens when I hit a decent sized pothole or ramp into a parking lot. i had my mechanic look at it, and he said the suspension looks fine, nothing is loose. i haven't taken the car on the highway for extended periods of time until last night. i went snowboarding, and the mountain's about 2.5 hours away. on the way back, almost home, something else weird started. the same sound started happening everytime i applied the brake. then it stopped.. but it started again a little later. it sounds like metal on metal, and a vibrating rattle. could something associated with the brake be causing this? it doesn't happen when i push the car up and down on the fender, nor when i start and stop. i read that it might be an engine mount, but i tried reving the engine with the brake on, and nothing happens. i've made incredibly short stops and hard accels and i don't hear a thing. any ideas?

 

Check your springs ,I had the same problem in my 96 one was broken real hard to notice looked fine till i took it out!

 

but wouldn't that happen when i push down on the car? i can make it bounce a decent amount by pushing on the door frame... it doesn't really make any sounds that way.

 

check your glove box, lol, its a common rattle for a4's, its whack but i got an easy easy easy fix if thats ur problem

 

oh god i wish the rattle wasn't so alarming, otherwise i'd check.. but this is definitely related to the wheel and/or suspension