I have a slight bumping noise over small bumps at low speeds (ie when I go over the road repair lines at 30 mph). I replaced the tie rod ends last weekend, and the alignment shop said the noise was from "strut bearings". I can find no freeplay in the tires or the upper control arms. I have read nothing in this forum about strut bearings. From everything I've read, I'm thinking it should be the upper control arm bushings (but again, I can see no free play).

There is no noise at higher speeds, and it's a very slight "bumping" noise, like something is loose. My wife swears she can't hear it. Any ideas?

 

could be the upper or lower control arms.

 

older control arms make a "creaking" sound.

Other possibilities - cv joint, wheel bearing, the shock (also called strut) since they mentioned the strut.

Never heard of a strut bearing, but I'm no suspension expert.

 

my guess would be control arms

 

Also check your sway bar links. There are strut bearings but they rarely fail on the a model audis. And when they do, they usually squeak while turning. The wheel would have up and down play if they are loose.

 

A4 doesn't have strut, and doesn't have strut bearings.

It has a upper shock bushing, and the only reason that would make any problems with noises if it wasn't tightened correctly during a suspension change.

If you haven't changed your suspension lately, then it's most liikely the control arms, TRE's or sway bar links causing the problems.

 

If I grab the right side coil and shake it, I can hear/feel the slight bump. I'm guessing control arms. The bushings look good. Any other way to tell which ones are bad (upper or lower)?

 

i have the same problem buddy... i'm trying to find out the reason but i couldn't yet...
please let me know if you find and i'll if i find out before you do...

 

I also have the same problem.. but I do not have a sway bar link on my left front suspension yet and thats where the noise is coming from so it may be that.

 

O.K. I figured out the problem. I had a neighbor shake the strut tower while I held the control arms and the sway bar. The problem is the little half moon bracket that attaches the sway bar to the strut tower. I'm assuming it's the ball joints in the half moon bracket. Just wanted to run it by you guys before I buy the part. I'm assuming there is little chance the sway bar hole has been worn too large, and it must be the ball joints.

FYI- to you guys with the same problem. Holding on to each piece while someone put force on the system is the best way to diagnose the problem. It was very obvious to find the part that way.