MOT advisory suspension bush, pls help gotta sort this out.

[Quattro-Charlie]

Ok guys. I'm planning a bit of a road trip around the UK and some of mainland Europe so I've got to get this car in good condition before leaving.

The next problem I'm gonna tackle is a knocking/thudding sound I get when manoevering on a left hand full lock. The last MOT from 3 months ago said "Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush offside front (arms on the middle)".
The car drives lovely at all other times...haha well it's a Le Mans so pretty bumpy already, but apart from the expected low ride stiffness it's sweet. I have experienced very annoying road noise from driving a crappy cement portion of the M25.

I've used the search facility but didn't really find what I was looking for. B5nuts write up was very informative though. If We can ascertain what is the problem, does anyone know of a good write up with detailed instructions?
In 2014 the service history shows "Strip front suspension, free seized top mounting bolts, replace n/s & o/s top suspension arm. Links - rebuild"

The car's an 08 3.0 quattro Le Mans Avant with 168k. Any help you can offer guys is obv much appreciated thanks.

[B5NUT]

If you want step by step then get access to erwin https://erwin.volkswagen.de/erwin/sh...27.ASTPERWEU01 it costs around £7 a day, but you can print everything off and save to a PDF. However one thing erwin does not tell you about is the pinch bolt which is a sod to remove! It also tell's you about the special tools that a VW dealer will use, these tools will cost £££ so you have to either make them up or use cheaper alternatives.

[MarkTM]

I thought there were only top and bottom arms, haven't heard of middle ones?

If it comes to it you will have to replace both arms on the same plane, so if it's the tops and the pinch bolt doesn't release you'll end up using heat and a heavy hammer

[Quattro-Charlie]

Oooooohhh I don't really like the sound of that.....but needs a must! Without a Haynes manual to browse through I couldn't picture the suspension system.
So I guess there's lower and upper arms (no middle!!) and this pin bush would be on one of these arms? Mark you say "if it comes to it", does this mean that there could be a way of avoiding replacing the arms? Perhaps it's possible to just replace the bushes? And I'm guessing replacing just one isn't a good idea?
So would you guys agree that this clunking noise that I'm hearing when slowly driving forwards on full lock to the left, is probably the bush on the suspension arm?

And special tools.....mmmm well if I had a garage with tool making machines then yeah no problem, but I'm a driveway/private car park warrior...so no garage. Though maybe I'll splash out one day and buy a little marquee ��.
I could probably fashion a tool out of metal if needed... a bit McGuyver like..

[Quattro-Charlie]

Reg Erwin.....I've just checked and by Heck.....it's bloody £/€7 per hour and 30 for a day!!! I guess I'll just have to copy & paste or save to PDF fast then.....

[MarkTM]

QC, you could try soaking them for days before with Plusgas, which in my experience is the best release fluid.

No guarantee it'll work though!

Yes is possible to just change the bushes themselves if you get a decent bush puller set, can't recommend one as it may be the wrong one for the A6

[Quattro-Charlie]

Ok Mark thanks for the reply. So in your opinion, after hearing what the advisory says and that when driven there is some knocking and a bit of grinding noise from the o/s/f area... you'd say that it'll be the suspension arm that needs replacing and probably not just one but both on the front left side?
Does anybody know of anyone that has successfully replaced suspension arm bushes on an A6 c6? Obv it would be great to save the £££.
Reg replacing both arms.....they sound pricey, could anyone recommend where to get cheaper arms....maybe a scrapyard or would you all advise against that?
Lastly.....after whipping off the wheel is there a way that I can check the suspension arm bushes?

Sorry guys, I'm a bit of a novice with A6's but with instructions to follow I've no problem...so any help/advice/guides would be much much appreciated.

[MarkTM]

I would say more likely to be the drop/c-links than the arms, I'dd try replacing them first, as it's cheap to do and you don't need a wheel alignment afterwards (as you do with arms).

You can buy them cheaply (£20 up for the pair) and don't need special tools to change them.

[Scott K]

Mark is correct. Best doing the c links and then try the lower arms before the upper. C links are quick and easy to change.
On my c5, I took a grinder to the pinch bolt on one side, the other side came out easily!
Best to change both sides as if one has gone, the other will be too or not far behind.

[Quattro-Charlie]

Thanks Mark and Scott. Yes it would be much nicer if it was the drop c links and not the arms. I don't get any knocking when driving, at any speed...just when slowly manoevering left hand full lock...and then it's more of a slight knock/grinding feel and sound.

Once I get the wheel off is there a way of determining if the bushes in the arms or links have perished? Or is it just they're gone if look deteriorated and probably bulging?

Talking about replacement arms, I see there's quite a few brands for sale on eBay incl the much talked about
Lemforder. Obv I'd disregard the cheapo arms as I've heard that they're crap, but the middle of the road ones...can't recall the manufacturer ATM, starts with an M I think. Any thoughts on going for something other than Lemforder?

slightly off topic but whilst I have your attention, my A6 is at 168k miles and as far as I can see on the service history the transmission oil has never been changed... it's a 3.0 tip 2008 year. There's no problems with the box apart from when in first and slowly coasting in a regular London traffic jam, when I touch the accelerator peddle sometimes it jerks rather than smoothly pulling away. Is that usual?
I reckon that it's due an oil change....obv not according to Audi...hahaha... perhaps some fresh oil would get rid of the first gear jerk?
talking priorities now.....links and perhaps an arm or two, or transmission oil first?
And btw I don't drive often or far, just ferrying wife to gym and supermarket.

Thanks guys for your advice, no actually thanks ALOT!!!!