Pot hole woes:(

[KekseKaempfer]

The other half hit a rather big pot hole the other week, after my trip to work on friday, I noticed some new 'boinging' noises from the passenger side strut (the pot hole one) mostly when pulling away barely moving. Having done a search on the forums (and my suspicion) I think the spring is broken. Have not had time to have a good look just a quick torch above the wheel, I can't see anything obvious, no bits, is there anything else that I should check for in terms of bushes that may not be obvious to the eye?

There's what looks like a leak from the strut too, so if I replace the springs, I'll also be doing the shocks at the same time.

I'm considering an FK kit for front and back if it gets too expensive for original parts.

Chris

 

[spartacus 68]

My wife did the same thing a few years ago. Wrote off two tyres. Is the pothole on a local road or major trunk road? You could claim against the council, but to win you need to prove negligence - such as the road defect was reported at an earlier date. It's a funny old game, but call the council and they should send you out a claim form. A picture of the hole and damage to the car will be useful too. Keep all receipts for repairs. Check the wheels too just in case they're damaged.

Regards the car, if you jack it up at the damaged side, then use a torch to look at the ends of the coil spring. It normally breaks at the ends, and you may lose a little ride height. You can replace an individual spring, but ideally they need to be done in pairs.

If it's damaged, then probably worth renewing shock absorbers too. Importantly, fit new top bearings. Often these seize with age and could cause the 'boinging' noise you mention. Again to check, jack up both sides and turn wheel hard lock to hard lock. It will make the noise as the spring is being restricted as it rotates. There are coloured dots on springs, Audi will confirm the exact spring from car registration.

Repair is straight forward if you're mechanically minded. I'd also replace the drop links. You'll need spring compressors, etc. Driver's side is a pain as space is restricted and you need to move brake fluid reservoir to one side. Will need tracking done on completion.

I fitted BOGE shocks all round. If doing rears, then get yourself a set of new foam bump stops, as the old ones will disintegrate when you take them off.

Good luck with the repairs.

 

[KekseKaempfer]

Thanks for the reply.

The hole has been there a while. I'd spotted it and managed to avoid it every time. This time however there were oncoming vehicles and it couldn't be avoided, apparently. I hear what you are saying about claiming, but in the long term this type of action only eventually ends up with dearer taxes IMHO. Everybody ends up losing out including me. I'll have a good moan in a letter though ;-)

Chris

 

[KekseKaempfer]

Just got back in from inspecting the damage. It isn't the spring that is broken, which is both good and bad. Good in that I don't have to buy new ones, bad that I don't have to buy new ones. I won't be getting my Spax SSX kit

The trouble seems to be the top mount. I can grab the spring and give it a twist, which causes a jerky/juddering movement. The bearing is knackered. The shocks are also oily and leaking, so I'll need to replace these. With Bilstein B4s.

The driver's side looks like a proper ****** to do. I'm not looking forward to that, especially since it's been a while since I last did anything major on a car.

Chris