# Suspension knocking sound.. blown strut? **URL:** \ **Category:** Shift518 Automotive\ **Created:** [June 28, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997 "2010-06-28T20:45:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ender](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ender/32/6367_2.png) [@Ender](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Ender)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/1 "2010-06-28T20:45:57Z")
The left rear of my car is making a knocking sound… At first I thought it was my exhaust tapping against my diff when driven on less than smooth roads, but it has gotten worse and more frequent. Imagine that sound though… I’m assuming it’s the strut because I went ghetto setup with H&R springs on stock struts. I knew it would happen, just want to make sure. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![justin2386](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/justin2386/32/6496_2.png) [@justin2386](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/justin2386)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/2 "2010-06-28T20:54:32Z")
probably…lol ---
**Author:** ![Ender](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ender/32/6367_2.png) [@Ender](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Ender)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/3 "2010-06-28T20:56:12Z")
Haha yea, this was a dumb question. ---
**Author:** ![justin2386](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/justin2386/32/6496_2.png) [@justin2386](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/justin2386)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/4 "2010-06-28T20:57:58Z")
now…what do ya think is wrng w/ MY car?? :lol ---
**Author:** ![cazwrx187](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/cazwrx187/32/6388_2.png) [@cazwrx187](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cazwrx187)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/5 "2010-06-28T21:00:57Z")
Could be an axle but most likely your struts ---
**Author:** ![Vovchandr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vovchandr/32/6275_2.png) [@Vovchandr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vovchandr)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/6 "2010-06-28T21:05:42Z")
Check to see the shock mount, it’s common on germans to have the top go through the rubber mount and it will make a knocking noise against the rubber every time you hit the bump. Open it up so you can visually see the top of the shock/strut in the back and press on the bumper to compress it. Also check your sway bar link kits in the back to see if one snapped. If there is no oil on the shock it’s unlikely that you’ve blown it that bad. Check the bounce on that side, blown shock won’t do much for the heavy car like yours on that side and will the travel will be clear. ---
**Author:** ![Ender](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ender/32/6367_2.png) [@Ender](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Ender)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/7 "2010-06-28T21:57:29Z")
I’ll check all of those. What makes me question it is that it doesn’t make the sound when I bounce the back of the car when it’s parked, but will knock when I go over small imperfections in the road at low speed… And the weird thing is it doesn’t _feel_ shot, just sounds shot. There’s no top hat assembly in the rear either, the strut goes into a housing which is bolted to the body. Lower are rears: ![http://www.audizine.com/classifieds/data/49/IMG_00531.JPG](http://www.audizine.com/classifieds/data/49/IMG_00531.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![88slowmarro](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/88slowmarro/32/6339_2.png) [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/8 "2010-06-29T04:56:12Z")
cntrl arms …are far more common than struts ---
**Author:** ![Wayne64SS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/wayne64ss/32/6365_2.png) [@Wayne64SS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Wayne64SS)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/9 "2010-06-29T04:58:29Z")
> [@Problem with my AC, The Clutch Will not engage....](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problem-with-my-ac-the-clutch-will-not-engage/33114/6): > > cntrl arms …are far more common than struts this!!! or sway bar end links. ---
**Author:** ![Boxersix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxersix/32/6327_2.png) [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/10 "2010-06-29T05:23:55Z")
> [@Problem with my AC, The Clutch Will not engage....](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/problem-with-my-ac-the-clutch-will-not-engage/33114/6): > > cntrl arms …are far more common than struts This is the likely culprit, you own an S4 so be prepared to replaced them in the future if not bad now :lol ---
**Author:** ![Ender](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ender/32/6367_2.png) [@Ender](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Ender)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/11 "2010-06-29T06:30:12Z")
So likely one of these bushings? Or possibly endlinks ![http://www.audiworld.com/tech/pics/wheel28-rear7.jpg](http://www.audiworld.com/tech/pics/wheel28-rear7.jpg) Bentley manual says to tighten this with the suspension under load to avoid preloading, which i forgot to do on this side… ![http://www.audiworld.com/tech/pics/wheel28-rear3.jpg](http://www.audiworld.com/tech/pics/wheel28-rear3.jpg) And here’s the lower: ![http://www.audiworld.com/tech/pics/wheel28-rear5.jpg](http://www.audiworld.com/tech/pics/wheel28-rear5.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ender](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ender/32/6367_2.png) [@Ender](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Ender)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 6:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/12 "2010-06-29T06:52:43Z")
Also, problem side has probably an extra 1.5-2 degrees of negative camber than the other side. ---
**Author:** ![Boxersix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxersix/32/6327_2.png) [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 9:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/13 "2010-06-29T09:40:46Z")
Endlink can make that noise, but I’d check the top inner bushings on the wishbone(upper arm) these audis have their typical suspension issues. Just a good idea to go around and check. ---
**Author:** ![tdi\_logik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tdi_logik/32/6310_2.png) [@tdi\_logik](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tdi_logik)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/14 "2010-06-29T09:44:10Z")
99% control arms ---
**Author:** ![Ender](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ender/32/6367_2.png) [@Ender](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Ender)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/15 "2010-06-29T10:14:53Z")
Thanks everyone, I’ll check everything tonight ---
**Author:** ![ninety1two40](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ninety1two40/32/6332_2.png) [@ninety1two40](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ninety1two40)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/16 "2010-06-29T10:38:29Z")
Upper spring bearing flange bushing endlink locking nut. Happens all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Ender](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ender/32/6367_2.png) [@Ender](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Ender)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/suspension-knocking-sound-blown-strut/252997/17 "2010-06-29T12:03:05Z")
It’s a real common problem on these cars. So slather it with sweet baby rays and torque to 1000 ft lbs?