Hey guys, I have something interesting, I have a 1996 Audi a4 with Quattro, and when ever I hit a small patch of snow or anything really I fishtail, not badly but I can feel it. I hadn't driven much in the snow, but the first time I did I slid pretty hard into a curb going side ways and ended up breaking my front cv joint (the boot broke) so I replace it, because it felt dangerous because it felt like it was floating. I thought this would fix it and it did make a difference, but now it still fishtails when I hit a patch of snow or something. I heard a couple different thing ie. back axle/cv joint, which I check on that side and it didn't look that bad. I really don't want to drop more money into it, I have already put $1,000 into the car since getting it in November. I love Quattro, but it seems odd that it does this, I am a young driver and this is my first winter, but it doesn't feel right. Could anyone help, please, I have Googled it and looked at this forum but I couldn't find a definite answer. Thanks

 

You can't really have a bad "axle" with these kinds of cars. The axle is really just a stick with two CV joints attached to it. The only way it can go "bad" is by snapping, and if it did that you'd damn sure know it. If you replaced the damaged CV joint(s) from when you hit the curb you should be good from that perspective.

Have you had an alignment since you hit the curb? If you hit a curb hard enough to break a CV joint I guarantee you broke/bent other suspension parts. Control arms, wheel bearings, sway bar links, etc.

Forgive me if this sounds harsh, but if you're a young driver and this is your first winter, I'd be more inclined to think you haven't quite mastered driving on ice yet before I'd assume there's something wrong with the car. If you're fishtailing when you drive over something slippery that means you're being too liberal with the gas. Quattro is an awesome thing, but it doesn't make you invincible.

 

Tires mean all too, the lady had new tires put on not long before i bought my car from her in july, they probably have 70% of the tread left, but they are sumimotos or some cheaper crap and they are horrible in the rain or snow. Quattro is the only thing letting the car move and keeping it on the road cause if you had these on a fwd or rwd you would go nowhere.

But i was driving it when there was about 2-3 in of snow slush on the road, and even if you a little faster my car would feel like its about to either slide to the left or the right of the road ( uneven ). So good possibility its your tires.

 

Originally posted by CCA4
Forgive me if this sounds harsh, but if you're a young driver and this is your first winter, I'd be more inclined to think you haven't quite mastered driving on ice yet before I'd assume there's something wrong with the car. If you're fishtailing when you drive over something slippery that means you're being too liberal with the gas. Quattro is an awesome thing, but it doesn't make you invincible.[/QUOTE]

I understand what you're saying about the young driver and everything, but I know cars well (not saying that will improve my driving) but my car shouldn't do this, I'm not accelerating or anything, I can have the clutch in going 25 and just a small patch of snow will cause it to fishtail a little, or even a sewage top. and I only replaced the front cv joint not the rear, and it is out of alignment, but not that badly. And the car wasn't doing this before, and I didn't assume it was the car until it kept happening, so I am not assuming, I am taking pretty sure there is something wrong, I am just not sure how severe it is.

 

The two rear tires were a little cracky, and have probably a little more than 50% tread, but I moved them to the front yesterday and I still feel it, although the tread on the other two tires are off, one has a lot more tread than the other. I plan on changing those soon, but a little short for cash so I was gonna wait a little while, I was just wondering how severe it is. Thank you for the insight

 

Have your control arms on the side that hit the curb checked out. It is likely some may have bent (I have personally experienced this). And bent control arms/improper alignment will cause this car to feel unstable.

 

How noticeable would it be? Should I be able to see the bend pretty easily? or will it take some investigating?

 

Well the front lower control arm is normally straight (the one with the shock and sway bar mounted to it) so if it's not straight then it needs to be replaced. The rear lower control arm is normally curved so it won't be easy to tell if this one is bent unless you are comparing it to a replacement. Both upper control arms have a slight curvature so this will be the same situation as the rear lower control arm.

 

Alright thanks I will take a look, also I noticed what looked like snapped metal above the front right cv joint when I was replacing, I looked and I believe it is some sort of shield, is that correct? I can take pictures of the control arms and tie rods as well as the snapped shield if that would help at all. Thanks for the help!

 

Jack up the corner in question. Grab the wheel at 12 and 6 and wiggle it. Then again at 3 and 9. It shouldn't move hardly at all. If you're getting a lot of movement, something is definitely broken.