2001 audi a6 2.7t ...

I've had a totally mysterious rattle comming from the back of my car for some time.... I have a lift in my garage and have been trying to figure out just what the hell was loose for MONTHS! I think I finally found it so hopefully this helps somebody.

Basically, mid last year I had really bad shaking, and ended up replacing the whole front suspension. It took some work, but overall not too bad of a job... and I only paid $500 from purems.com for a complete febi kit.. fit perfectly. I *thought* that would end the rattling I was hearing as well, but it didn't....

At low speeds, with the window down, there is a ~loud rattling from the rear, it happens over even the smallest bump / 'road-inconsistency' ... I think it also happens at highway speed but it's harder to identify. Like I mentioned I've had her up on the lift over and over again, poking, shaking, hitting, punching anything & everything... no rattles. I had obviously looked at the bushings through all this, and they looked fine! Well, the bushing on the lower end of the strut can't really be seen very well, and using a mirror to check it out it did look a little warn.

SOOO I pulled the wheels / caliper / top link / strut, and find the following (attached)... its pretty obvious that the bushing is worn enough that the strut is actually bottoming out inside its bracket in the lower control arm! I'm hoping this is the only rattle I have, but it is one for sure...

It looks like the bushing is not sold indivually... Anybody have any ideas of an oem replacement for the 01 2.7t ? stealer wants $150, it looks like they can be had for $90 at various stores but I'm nervous about fit & many of the sites seem to list on strut as compatibile with lots of models (too many, it feels like) such as 2.8 4.2 & avant...

I re posted the pics below... for some reason 'error' was comming up.. the first two are self explanatory, and the third is a close up for the lower control arm. You are looking down, from right next to the half shaft, and the holes that are sort of visible on either side are where the strut bolts in. some marks around the area are surely from me twisting the strut around to get it out, but the main damage is pretty obvious. Note the small circle of paint which remains on on the strut, and probably corresponds to the matching hole in the control arm ...



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If you click on the 'error' pic above it does link to the actual picture...

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I made it out to the stealer today... despite their rediculous prices, they (mainly the parts guys) can be really helpful. Bellevue Barrier Audi is closest to my house.

Joe, the lead @ parts apparently has a higher mileage 2001 a6 2.7t as well. He has been having the same problem. Also has the same sort of remarks from the lady, basically "whats wrong with your car. why haven't you fixed it. Why don't you take it to someone (who knows what they're doing" ...

I spent some time talking with him, and he ended up calling over the shop manager - neither of them had 'ever seen' such a problem. I honestly wasn't too surprised, though. I have been reading about others with similar cars to mine having unexplained rattles. A common theme is that to an observer outside the car it seems to be comming from the center of the rear wheel(s), and in the cases I've read the dealers cannot diagnose the problem.

stealer wants $160 per shock... Napa wants $90. I was able to determine for sure that a) there was a 'sport' option offered on the a6's in 2001 b) it differs ONLY in the spring & damper properties, which amoung other things results in a 20mm lowering and c) my car did not come with that option, so the std stuff napa is selling should be just fine.

 

now that I have the strut off, it is clear that I need something special to remove the shock nut. I posted a new thread about this, it just seemed like a) a different problem then here and b) something specific that others must have also run into in the past...

After some thinking, and looking at what was avail, i am going to grind down a 17mm deep socket as in pic3. pic1=vag special tool 3017A, pic2= the hazet version I found for sale ($90!!)


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