Audi A3 Suspension Questions
I loved the Audi A3 when I test-drove a DSG A3. After being offered an A3 to test-drive over a weekend, I still thought it was great fun to drive, but I wasn't sure about the car any longer, because the ride was very rough on Philly's potholed roads. Any solutions to this problem, or is it just something A3 owners have to live with?
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They told me to ask a Dealer service department for that info.
?????????
Does anybody know what the travel is?
a myriad of variables. Even if you could find out what the "suspension travel" of an A3 was the figure would be meaningless but there's an easy way to determine whether or not it has enough suspension travel--pick your favorite bad road
and test drive an A3 over it.
Do you know the suspension travel of any car?
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
So Audi says visit dealers service departments to ask about the cars? Well, in LA, of 8 dealers I visited via web, 6 have no weekend service at __all__ and two had very short hours on Saturday only (one bragged about being open on weekends).
Interesting their service departments are open for so short a time.
Kurt, you're pretty funny. I always fly over train tracks at full speed, and giggle at the SUV drivers almost coming to a stop. Heck, i test drove an a3 here in chicago over some completely wretched roads, way worse than you will ever see in CA.
It seems you don't want an a3. Ok. But you don't have to rationalize why to all of us.
dave
Disturbing are lack of answers for basic questions, the USA car's first year glitches and the _short_ service hours for Audi dealers here in Los Angeles.
For those A3'ers with great AUDI dealers who back the product and smooth, winding roads to drive on, SALUDE!
Meanwhile, it'll be fun to see how the A3's brother, the VW GTI, and the new AWD Dodge Calibre, fares in our market!
For those A3'ers with great AUDI dealers who back the product and smooth, winding roads to drive on, SALUDE!
I own an A3 in Los Angeles (since September). I've driven it over all kinds of roads and drive it 85 miles round trip per day to work and back. I have the Sport Package, and I have NEVER had any issues with the suspension or tires over the "rough" roads of LA.
I have an Audi dealership 5 miles from work who offers rides between work and the dealership when I've had to drop it off for its scheduled maintenance. The dealership has actually been pretty excellent from a service standpoint.
I will echo the comments of others when I say you are crazy if you think the roads of Los Angeles are especially "rough". With the exception of some of the older freeways (especially the I-5 through East LA, and parts of I-10, the 710, and the 60) the roads aren't that bad.
And driving the A3 along Angeles Crest in "S" mode is incredible.
Can one fit an A3 with tires that are not low-profile?
That might help tame the ride(sources? C&D, CU, Edmunds, etc.).
I fear the A3's tires / suspension's designed for smooth, well maintained roads, not our worn out byways and highways.
Best Regards,
Shipo
2018 430i Gran Coupe
But then again, asking for things that seem impossible is what leads to innovation too. Maybe this inspires a razor-soft suspension!
As side note, there's a topic in STRAIGHTLINE discussing what Audi stands for.
There is a good solution to ride quality, even with the Sport package A3. It KONI FSDs, with a unique design that favors ride just as much as improved handling. A car with FSDs feels like you just "took the edges off" road imperfections like tar strips and coarse pavement. You can even pair them with Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs for an improved appearance.
A pity Audi does not offer those shocks as an option (though perhaps some of their their own shocks/dampers have a similar internal design).
What seems to be a factor is the wheel size. Reports testing Audis with 16" wheels don't criticise ride, while 17" (Consumers Union) did criticise ride.
And to respond to an earlier comment;
I like ride quality in that when you hit the bump, there is one thump and then it's over. VW, Audi and Subarus I've ridden in all do this. Not so most American cars which shudder or crash through to stops on bumps.
I __liked__ the general feel of the A3 3.2, _except_ when it had to deal with the kind of junk holes, warps, etc. that many of our roads have. Then the A3 simply runs out of suspension travel and starts slamming me around. This did not happen with the longer travelled and higher tire-profiled GTI I drove earlier. But the GTI's do not have AWD - therein lies the circular dilemma.
So I will be talking to my friendly Audi dealer today about finding a 3.2 with _higher_ profile tires.
The cars I drove that have less than 20k miles were great....wonderful feel, held the road, yada yada. I drove two that had 20k-plus on them and the experience was horrible. Road noise to the point where it was difficult to have a conversation inside the car (seemed to be eminating from the right rear on both cases, though it's always hard to tell), brakes that, while sharp as a tack, also transmitted a fair amount of noise and a 'grating' sensation up the steering column. Generally a car I would never buy.
Now I don't know who had those cars beforehand, how they were driven or how they were maintained. And I think 20k-plus miles in 10 or 12 months is a serious amount of mileage.
My question; does anyone think this type of road noise is typical for an Audi with these types of stats? The one I drove today had Pirelli P6's that appeared to have about 1/2 of their tread life left. One of the dealers said to me....and you'll laugh at this one...he said that on Audis you have this type of road noise when the tire has half its tread wear left. Personally I think that is a crock.
I'd appreciate any feedback anyone has. Thanks!
Marc
I bought a NEW leftover 06 A3 last Oct...i put alot of miles on my cars..30,000 a year...i have 20,000 on it right now, and i have the Pirelli P6's...the road noise at this point is horrible, i'm seriously thinking of replacing them very soon....the noise is really bad, never had a car with so much tire/road noise.I've heard some complaints from other A3 owners with the same issue.
Anyone out there with any suggestions on a good handling QUIET tire to buy???
don
Back in February I took the car in for the first detail of the EPP program I purchased and to have the knocking behind the glove compartment fixed (they had to replace a part under warranty)
They kept my car for like 5 days to try and figure out what the vibration and noise was coming from only to end up with "Your wheels are out of alignment and now your tires are feathered" So I paid the $150 for the alignment with the understanding that it wouldn't go away immediately because I needed to wear down the feathering.... but at this point 5,000 miles later it has only gotten worst to the point where it's driving me nuts in the car!
During those 5 days I had an A3 loaner with the Sports packages (different suspension and larger tires) and the loaner car had the same problem as mine so I know it's not just my car. They have said the A3's are suceptable to wheel alignment issues but I have never had this much noise and vibration from another car before...I don't think constant wheel re-alignment is the answer.
Does anyone know how to fix this problem and prevent it from happening again?
Ummm, are you sure? IIRC, the S-Line (nee. Sport Package) equipped cars do in fact have a different suspension and tires that (typically) have a summer rubber compound, however, the all versions of the A3 sport 225/45 R17 tires. Yes, no?
Best Regards,
Shipo
Am relocating to Oregon which has __very__ worn roads compared to other areas of the country (some of them look like they are gravel on top of concrete). Not sure how an A3 would fare on those.
don
So back to the tire issue...I had P6s on the car new. At about 20K the road noise was so horrible and the tires were so cupped, they had to be replaced. Audi said 20K was about right for tire wear, but Pirelli and I tried to get them to own up that they have a tire that doesn't have a warranty on the A3. It's the only size that doesn't have a warranty. So I bought a set of Yokahamas. Car has been amazingly quiet since then. And the new tires have a tread warranty for 65K miles. They also seem to handle fine. The tire dealer said that Audis, Porsches and some Benzes have some pretty aggressive suspension settings that cause the tires to wear prematurely. We'll see how long the Yokahamas last. Maybe I'll switch to the Bridgestones next time.
You could also go to 235/40R18's (with new bigger rims), but still, no 245/40R18's!
Is this correct?
Last time i visited my closest audi dealer, there was a guy there with an A4 Quattro...(i have an 06 A3, my first set lasted 20,000)with 20,000 miles his tires were shot.
I'm told by some local mechanics "Audi's" are know to chew up tires! I don't think the awd subaru's are prone to this.
Help us out guys!!!!
don
However, they have fantastic grip and traction, especially on wet roads, it's almost like rain is irrelevant to my A3's handling with these tires. I believe most A3's came with Continental Performance tires which don't rate nearly as well from reviews I've read. I can't complain about 20K miles from ultra high performance tires, I think thats about right with my aggressive driving style to boot.
However, due to a special deal I am purchasing Falken's FK-452's in 225/45R17 size (just like the OEM size). These are AA traction rated, Y speed rated, and 94 load factor just like the Dunlop Sport Maxx's, but for a lot less money.
The only real complaint about my OEM tires is that I thought they had too much road noise develop when roads were not ideal. With smooth freshly paved roads however, they were quiet.
It's now march 2008... How do you like the potenza's?
I need to replace the pirelli but i can't decide on a make.
Thanks for your help
Well then, suggest to them that it *might* have something to do with the rear suspension, which is further compressed with rear passengers.
That's what it was in mine, and I haven't heard it since I adjusted the seat belt buckles on the belts.
Falken ZE-912. Man, that made a big different and the noise is gone.
That is a bunch of crock. The A3 has some sort of issue with the suspension where at approx 5-7,500 the tires start "cupping". As a fed up A3 owner I hope they come up with a solution because I can't buy tires every 7,500 miles.
Larry
Cupping is usually associated with a weak suspension BTW or at least a very active one that's doing a lot of hopping around.
I have an Oct 87 A3 Sportback which was fine until about 3 months ago then it developed a noise like spanners rattling loose somewhere and with the window down at low speed it was even louder.
Having checked behind trim panels and in the spare wheel well I found what I thought was the problem, fastened under each suspension arm is a plastic cover to keep dirt off the suspension bushes etc.
At its first service I asked the garage in France (as I am over here at the moment) to investigate. The solution! they removed the covers, they told me its a common fault, they serve no useful purpose and they always remove them.
The noise has gone but I checked with audi Uk who say they would never remove them they should have been refitted correctly. Hope this helps
To try to explain the problem better, imagine feeling a continual and rhythmic "bump" alternating from right to left even on smooth roads, and it continues up until around 50 MPH where I no longer notice it (or when making turns). If anyone has a similar problem or idea, please share.
BTW, unfortunately, I am in Italy driving a US Spec car and finding a helpful dealer/mechanic is a nightmare.
Tony---2008, A3
Tony
Tony
Can anyone advise regarding the question of suspension adjustment or modification to alleviate this issue?