So i have been a busy bee the best couple weeks in the garage. I put my audi up in storage mode for some summer repairs, and it is turning out to be quite a bit more of a chore(and quite a bit more expensive!) than i had originally planned. I have installed a testpipe because i am tired of dealing with the catalytic converter being clogged and being expensive to replace, the coolant flange replaced , and turbo is being rebuilt. The current project now is my steering, back in january when i first got the car i was being stupid, cough cough, and crashed the audi headfirst on a compacted snow bank, i dug it out no problem(i guess i was dug in to deep for the quattro to dig out) but when i started to go again i felt a shudder at speeds of 50+ mph, it can be seen has the whole car shakes visibly(you can see the pasenger seat vibrating pretty well) also the steering wheel is now offset to the left instead of center, any ideas what i broke and how expensive it is to fix? other point of interest is the cv boot on drivers side is torn, could that be related? where should i start with this repair? i am doing the work by myself and any help is much apreciated!

 

car is a 2001 audi a4 quattro manual 125k

 

Tie Rod end is most likely shot on the side that impacted the compacted snow. That is my best guess.

 

so it would be just the tie rods on that side? is there way to check and make sure? the reason i ask is cause i want to be sure its that before i go and drop money on a tie rod kit, is it possible the control arm is bent as well? i cant imagine snow would do that, but i have heard that the aluminum control arms on audis are not the strongest

 

They're not. One way you can do it is by grabbing it and checking it for excessive play. If they're already out of the car, move the ball joint around. If it's free and easy to move then it's shot. A good ball joint on a control arm should have some resistance in it's movement.