Okay, I'll try to make this short. 98 Audi A6 Q 2.8L

This problem has been going on for about 3 years now. Only happens in the summer when it's hotter than 85F out. When turning the steering wheel righ or left you hear a groaning sound. Also, when going straight and upon accelerating and braking.

what I've done so far:

1) Replaced all front control arms twice! Once with OCAP arms (piece of crap parts as the noise was worse with those on) and now with Febi's and Meyle's.

2) Replaced front struts and assosicated hardware.

3) Replaced outer CV boots.

4) Outer tie-rod ends replaced about 4 years ago.

Again only happens when it's hot outside....hence why we've milked it because once fall and winter hits, she's quiet as a mouse.

It's getting very frustrating and I'm getting tired of throwing money at this issue. My indie tech is stumped, says he's worked on tons of Audi's and never experienced this problem. This saturday we're going to tear the whole front end suspension apart to see what we can find.

Has anyone experienced this before?!?!?!

I hope newer Audi's don't have these wierd suspension problems or I may just be sticking to Bimmer's and Benz's in the future.

thanks in advance.

end of rant.

 

It's possible the groaning is not where you think, but in the steering pump or rack. I would start by changing the steering fluid and see if the groaning goes away or changes. If it still does it, get help isolating the sound. The fact that it is temp related really points at the power steering.

 

Yeah, i've also read around that some people have had clunking/noise from the rack and pinion steering. Doesn't look live you've gone down that route.

 

I have the same car, same year and a similar issue. Mine turned out the be the drivers side control arms. I ignored it 2 years ago in the summer and last summer I replaced the control arms. It only made the noise when it was hot out. Sounds like you have already replaced the control arms though.

 

UPDATE****

After several hours of trouble shooting with the car on power lift and using several jacks, the noise was pinpointed to the passenger side front lower control arm (the straight arm).

My mechanic had an old original Audi one laying around so he installed that one in and BINGO!!! no more noise!!!! I'm happy once again!!!!

It appeared that the straight arm has a bushing where the strut arm connects to. This rubber bushing on my Febi control arm was flush with the steel part of the arm which we hypothesized that with the heat this rubber expanded rubbing up against the strut arm connection causing the noise.

The original arm's rubber bushing was not flush with the metal of the arm thus eliminating the noise.

Will replace my driver's side straight lower control arm on Monday.

 

From what I've read the lower control arms are a frequent problem and actually have a recall out on them.

 

Yeah. Doubt that.