Annoying and possibly/probably dangerous problem with my A4.

citroen 19 16v front calipers have a handbrake IIRC, like mk2 golf rears rather than the internal drum/merc/bmw/porche thing

 

Mind you, I suppose that the Audi one was actually Porsche!

 

Couldn't see any witness marks anywhere - and it's only happening on one side. I'd expect it to catch on both sides! I'm going to check a couple of the spigot rings and check that one hasn't got squished or anything - though that wouldn't explain it stopping the knock when I brake.

 

The person in question should read the other posts properly, since it`s clearly a front wheel having the issue...

 

i would look at inner and out cv joint for damage, larger wheels putting more load on that area when coasting, when under acceleration and braking the play is taken up. Just a thought.

 

Now that sounds like a reasonable suggestion Rick.

 

cheers. And all typed on my phone! OS will be longer driveshaft as well, hope its not the diff.

 

checked wheel/strut clearance?

Lower ball-joint play? What model/year is the A4?

 

It's an early 1999 - so pre-facelift. Strut clearance is fine, CV joints inner and outer seem fine (no tears in the boots, no knocking on full lock). I'll try switching wheels around at the weekend, and if the front still knocks, dismantle it and burn it in some kind of pagan ritual.

 

wheel weight catching on a caliper mate?

awaits any silly comments

 

As requested:

Switch from 17" to 18".

Very thick wheel balance weights then Parz?

There's your answer!

 

Aye, the balance weights are about an inch and a bit thick? Is that a problem?
At the minute I'm thinking I am missing a spigot ring as the wheels are from a newer A4, will check over the weekend and get the verniers out!

 

Half-an-inch and a bit would be enough!

 

They are over-engineered.

 

Wrong bolts for the wheel - tapered head bolts on a radiused head wanting wheel. Still can't work out why that caused the knock though, and eventually (today) cause the wheels to loosen themselves to the point where I could easily rattle them by hand with it jacked up - several mm each way. Too small a taper? I have used tapered bolts on radiused wheels before with no problems for months, and had these UBER-tight yet the wheel (not the bolts) still came loose. Some evidence of minor fretting in the bolt holes, nothing major... Too small a taper for the wheel allowing the bolts to go in further than they should have?
All sorted now, back on the old wheels and on the hunt for proper bolts!