I found the source of the rattle.. While there is a similar rattle when I pound on the fuel tank from under the car, it's not what is making the sound while driving. I pulled this out from the base of the rear shock tower coil "seat" :

Crappy phone pic..



This could explain the uneven tread wear that is only on the tire at this corner of the car. Which would mean that the spring has been broken for quite a while.. Yeah yeah.. Get low, I know...

Thanks for your help anyways guys.

 

congrats on finding the problem yourself

 

Are you going to continue looking into the gas tank rattle that you replicated or just let it go? As I recall there was a full sport suspension in the classifieds not to long ago, can't recall the mileage on it though.

 

Well no because I can't hear it while driving. I'll just let it go for now. My car needs tires, badly, and I don't intend to put new tires on a broken suspension. I'm thinking I'll just get some neuspeed race springs and see how long the stock sport shocks can take em, then upgrade shocks by winter or spring. I need tires asap, but I my wife would kill me if I dropped $1k+ for new tires and suspension all at once. Especially because I just spent ~$500 on control arms, and wheel bearings and brakes all around. I don't mind having to tear back into it to do the shocks in 6 months or so.

What springs would you guys recommend that gives no more than a 2" drop? I'd prefer a higher rear end w/low front. I'm not sure if neuspeed race springs- being 2" drop for front and rear is going to be what I'm looking for.

 

H&R race springs ftw. 2" drop (roughly), read is a tad higher than front. Hiwords ran them for a year and a half on oem struts with zero issues. Send him a PM - he bought a 2010 A4 and traded in his B5 after demodding it. Last I knew those springs were available still.

 

thank you thank you

But my 2000 is front trak Pretty sure the rear springs are different.

 

I may have to ****** those up at the meet then lol. I had been planning to pick up some neuspeed springs this fall as well, seem to be good quality and ride height for the price. And sorry Jason, that sport suspension i saw for sale was Quattro as well, my bad

 

yeah i still got them and several other parts from my car. they make FWD race springs if that makes you feel better OP

 

eibach makes fwd springs. and they are fairly priced. http://www.summitracing.com/search/B...s/?Ns=Rank|Asc

but i do have to say <3 my H&R Race and Bilstiens.


off topic.. CCA4 your going to the meet coming up in august?

 

Why don't you just go for V-Maxx or ST? They're pretty well priced.