Abnormal Sounds in Your Audi’s Suspension
by europewpadmin May 18, 2019Audi is a brand which exudes a luxury driving experience, producing quality, top-tier cars that are the envy of many. However, this feeling of superiority can be completely ruined by weird sounds coming from the suspension. In this article, we will take a look at your Audi’s suspension and what may cause it to become noisy.
How does Your Audi’s Suspension Work?
The suspension in your Audi is integral to ensuring a smooth and comfortable ride, as well as providing easy handling. We’ve all experienced vehicles which could only be described as “boneshakers,” and this is almost always due to a terrible or worn out suspension.
A high-quality suspension should make driving over varying surfaces feel as smooth as a freshly laid tarmac, with minimum bumping or jarring, allowing you to enjoy your journey. A suspension should also perform this task silently and ideally without the driver even noticing changes in road texture or terrain. There are many different types of suspension, but all kinds feature three key components. Let’s take a look at those.
Springs
There have been many different iterations of the suspension spring over the decades, with most modern cars using using a steel coil spring. This spring works reflexively with the wheel, contracting when the wheel moves upwards, such as when encountering a speed bump, and expanding when the wheel moves downward, such as when it hits a pothole. This keeps the wheel feeling level at all times, leading to a smoother drive.
Shock Absorbers
Where the springs are able to absorb the kinetic energy gathered by the wheels, the shock absorbers are able to take this energy and transform it into a less obstructive force, usually by the creation of heat. This prevents too much energy from being stored, as the shock absorbers are constantly breaking it down.
Anti-Roll Bars
These do exactly what the name suggests, stopping your Audi from rolling over when it makes even the sharpest of corners. The anti-roll bars achieve this by evenly distributing the vehicle’s weight as it turns, preventing all the energy from remaining solely on one side of the car.
Linked Suspension
Audi uses four different styles of suspension on their vehicles, which have between two and four link suspensions. What this means is that the suspension connects to the wheel with between two and four arms (known as links) which help to steady it and absorb some of the shock and bounce caused by driving. It is generally thought that the more links, the steadier drive, but this really actually depends on the design and purpose of your vehicle.
What’s that noise?
As the suspension constitutes parts that run the length of your vehicle, it is understandable that there are numerous potential causes for any noises that come from it. Below are a list of some of the most common reasons. However, it is important to note that the list is not exhaustive.
- Dry Parts – You may hear squealing or crunching sounds coming from your suspension because of unlubricated parts. The suspension uses oil to keep the various parts mobile, and reduce noise from parts rubbing together. However, if this oil has worn away, you may find that parts start to grind together, causing irritating sounds.
- Worn Ball Joints – If you notice our suspension is noise when cornering, then it is more likely the the culprit is the suspension ball joints. The ball joints are the points where the wheels and suspension can pivot, allowing for a wider range of smooth motions. If these ball joints are damaged or unable to move smoothly, you will notice turning becomes more difficult and much more noisy.
- Bushing – Bushing is made from rubber and is used to cushion all the joints of your suspension. Through cushioning, the joint’s excess vibration is absorbed, as is noise. If the bushing is in poor condition, you are likely to experience multiple suspension noises as well as a much rougher ride.
Seek Repairs
If you live in Allen, Dallas, 
Flower Mound, Frisco, Highland Park, McKinney, Park Cities, Richardson, Southlake, University Park, and Plano areas of Texas, and are experiencing noises in your Audi’s suspension, come in or call European Auto Tech. Our dedicated team of experts specializes in luxury European motors and will have you back on the road quickly and hassle-free.