So...
I just came back from a week long vacation (car was not used) and when I got in my car i notice that there is a loud squeaking noise front the front left wheel when turning or going over bumps. This noise also happens when I push the front of the car down. I'm fairly positive that the shocks are going out (86k). (2003 a6 2.7T). If anyone has any experience with this then is it a good idea to replace springs as well? And how difficult is this process? (I've done a set of shocks and srpings on a Chrysler 300m and Honda Civic). Thanks for any input.

 

Shocks??
No try front struts.

As for the squeak- there a mess of links in the front that might have worn out bushings

 

Upper control arm links to be exact. If you can hear the squeak when pushing down on the hood its always the upper control arms. You can buy a kit from www.ecstuning.com, and a plethora of other companies online.

 

If you spray the UCA bushings with PB Blaster every day for a week or two, it will at least quiet the creaking until you can replace the arms. I don't know about any of the other brands, but I had good luck with the febi/Bilstein kit from ECS Tuning. Take a look around the forum if you're going to do it yourself. There's a lot of great information. Good luck!

 

I recently collided into a parked car (it was heavily snowing!) and the bumper/headlight/bonnet were repaired on the driver's side. I have noticed a squeeky, grinding sound coming from the same side from the wheel. the mechanic assures me it is not connected to the accident but the wheel squeeks when turning the wheel and when going over bumps.

Could anyone advise?

 

1) Don't hijack someone thread hoping to get an answer, open your own
2) Jack up your car and try turning the offending wheel(s), any sounds?
3) take your car to another mechanic for another opinion.

 

Thanks for your reply. I actually tried to start a new thread but couldn't see anywhere how to do it. I appreciate your point, and more importantly, your suggestion re: the wheel squeak. My mechanic came to see the car yesterday and says its the steering rack, that it needs to be greased. Apparently the salt on the roads is causing this to happen to a fair few cars, especially those that have high mileage as it is.