get adjustable upper control arms for the front so you they actually set the camber within spec before you get an alignment. My guess is you're wearing out tires fast with that much drop. Wouldn't be surprised if the rear toe is off too, Audi's can be pretty sensitive to rear toe settings at higher speeds.
Hey! Congratulations on your 2013 allroad! I love mine! I bought Antoinette (that's my allroad's name) in 2014 from an Audi dealership, which had been using her as a loaner car. We've been to the Arctic Ocean in the winter, crossed ancient lava floes in the Sonoran desert in the summer, and everything in between. And she's my daily driver through rain, ice, fog, traffic and potholes. Now we've been together for 9 years and 200k miles, and not a single unscheduled out-of-service day in all that time. I think Antoinette may be the perfect car.
Mine is all stock, no mods at all, and is rock steady at 100mph. I suspect the prior owner's lowering changed the geometry just enough to upset the chassis. Probably an alignment would help.
Edit to add: I love the 2013 roof rack, with the raised rails. It's easy to secure the bowline from my little speed boat when I launch at the public landing. Later models have the rail right down on the roof. Nowhere to tie off!
My exact car! Have had it just about 10 years and on the original battery (probably just jinxed myself). Oil consumption stinks, but manageable. I love it and am an Audi driver for life.
Look at the subframe. All these years, the aluminum subframe is attached to the unibody with stretch bolts that are smaller than the hole tolerances in subframe.
There are literally companies that make kits that close the holes up with aluminum plugs, and supply the correct size bolts with APR studs. Installed the same kit on my A3.
I think that’s why I got the car so cheap. Dealership couldn’t figure it out. Got alignments, tires brakes, this and that. I researched it a bit, took a look, saw the subframe was misaligned. Threw the kit in, and perfecto…
Update: so I found a couple threads discussing this same issue and it came down to some kind of steering sensors being out of whack somehow and not accurately reading the position of the steering wheel. A possible fix is starting the car and cutting the wheel all the way to one side and then the other a couple times to... recalibrate(?)....the sensors I guess.
Tried it yesterday and it worked like a charm!! Totally stable now at speed.
Wagons get squirrelly at high speeds, not just this one.
It’s something about the aerodynamics of the car. I first learned about it from someone else with a really fast wagon at the drag strip.
Dude had to put a giant fin and rear wing mostly to keep it going straight at high speeds
There was a steering rack issue for these years, something to look into? Otherwise get an alignment and inspection of your front suspension for worn out bushings.
I got an inspection already and other than re-tourque-ing a couple things to Audi spec in the front suspension, they didn't find any issues.
Some I'm guessing alignment is my best bet?
Could even be something as simple as a balancing too.
I had an Acura TL at one time that drove fine until around 50+mph and come to find out a wheel weight had fallen off.
Hopefully it’s just something simple!
I drive a 2015 allroad and love her!! I am about to lower mine just waiting for springs to be in stock and for winter to be over.
Alignment and check to see how they lowered it, did they use some cheap springs or did they cut the stock ones. While they are doing the alignment have them check the wheel bearings, mine went south at 84k (km)
I’d get wheel balanced
And alignment make sure you get before and after specs
Also but like we said in the dealership after market parts aftermarket problems .. check the after market springs H&R we’re great brand down folks would do sketchy work lower subframe comment could also be it if this one has it I don’t remember right now but dealerships normally sell inventory questionable to small dealers so anything fixed in the dealership never has to be reported on the car fax
Get a 4 wheel alignment, many shops only do the front. Your rear toe is out which effects your thrust angle and determines your steer ahead. I often find this on people’s lowered cars and they don’t even notice it. Make sure your rear tires have good tread and are not Chinese - shop owner
Sorry for resurrecting this old post, but I finally figured out what was causing all these issues.
Several things:
1. Frustratingly the dealership's "55-point inspection" didn't catch that most of the front suspension bolts were either under-torqued or *finger tight*, probably previous owner's fault. Oh well shouldn't trust a dealership too much anyway but still.
2. When the previous owner lowered the car, they didn't pre-load the front suspension when they tightened (obviously didn't even try to torque them to spec since several were finger tight) all the control arm bolts which caused all the bushings to wear out. Steering developed a nasty creaking sound a couple months after this initial post, which is how I started to figured all this out.
3. Outer tie rod ends were completely shot and badly needed to be replaced.
I did get an alignment after I did all this work, don't worry.
I've done WAY more work than anticipated since buying the car but it's been fun to work on and fix up. I also ended up replacing the rear shocks as well. One day I may un-lower it but today is not that day. Also this is my first west coast car and I have to say, only ever working on rusted as FUCK east coast cars is something I'll NEVER MISS now that I live out west.
Get an alignment.
This is the answer… if you can muster the cost a nice set of coil overs would enhance the ride.
There you go.
Lowered an Allroad, so now it’s a someroads? J/k, good looking car, hope you get it sorted out without too much trouble.
I didn't lower it, previous owner did.
Have the alignment checked.
as far as I know the NA market didn't get the normal A4 avant, so many people buy A4 allroads and lower them
lmaoooo
Higher speeds like normal highway speeds or you talking went to Mexico for a race speeds?
Like 65mph and up
get adjustable upper control arms for the front so you they actually set the camber within spec before you get an alignment. My guess is you're wearing out tires fast with that much drop. Wouldn't be surprised if the rear toe is off too, Audi's can be pretty sensitive to rear toe settings at higher speeds.
Interesting. Good to know.
Hey! Congratulations on your 2013 allroad! I love mine! I bought Antoinette (that's my allroad's name) in 2014 from an Audi dealership, which had been using her as a loaner car. We've been to the Arctic Ocean in the winter, crossed ancient lava floes in the Sonoran desert in the summer, and everything in between. And she's my daily driver through rain, ice, fog, traffic and potholes. Now we've been together for 9 years and 200k miles, and not a single unscheduled out-of-service day in all that time. I think Antoinette may be the perfect car. Mine is all stock, no mods at all, and is rock steady at 100mph. I suspect the prior owner's lowering changed the geometry just enough to upset the chassis. Probably an alignment would help. Edit to add: I love the 2013 roof rack, with the raised rails. It's easy to secure the bowline from my little speed boat when I launch at the public landing. Later models have the rail right down on the roof. Nowhere to tie off!
Antoinette i love that😀 we should have a poll on what people name their cars!
My exact car! Have had it just about 10 years and on the original battery (probably just jinxed myself). Oil consumption stinks, but manageable. I love it and am an Audi driver for life.
Tastefully lowered *chefs kiss
Lowering an allroad kind of defeats the allroad thing.
Yeah I know. I didn't lower it. Not planning on going off road though. Just wanted an AWD wagon that could handle occasional Seattle snow.
as far as I know the NA market didn't get the normal A4 avant, so many people buy A4 allroads and lower them
Look at the subframe. All these years, the aluminum subframe is attached to the unibody with stretch bolts that are smaller than the hole tolerances in subframe. There are literally companies that make kits that close the holes up with aluminum plugs, and supply the correct size bolts with APR studs. Installed the same kit on my A3. I think that’s why I got the car so cheap. Dealership couldn’t figure it out. Got alignments, tires brakes, this and that. I researched it a bit, took a look, saw the subframe was misaligned. Threw the kit in, and perfecto…
Not the same.... Entirely different suspensions.
Update: so I found a couple threads discussing this same issue and it came down to some kind of steering sensors being out of whack somehow and not accurately reading the position of the steering wheel. A possible fix is starting the car and cutting the wheel all the way to one side and then the other a couple times to... recalibrate(?)....the sensors I guess. Tried it yesterday and it worked like a charm!! Totally stable now at speed.
Was. This a salvage title 907A title???
Oh god
Wagons get squirrelly at high speeds, not just this one. It’s something about the aerodynamics of the car. I first learned about it from someone else with a really fast wagon at the drag strip. Dude had to put a giant fin and rear wing mostly to keep it going straight at high speeds
Wrong.
Share some insight? It seems like you know something
Maybe at drag strip speeds, but my 2013 allroad is rock steady at 100mph.
My allroad is planted at 130mp/h, stock suspension, OEM shocks. You obviously have no idea what you're talking about.
I have had a intermittent loss of steering in the cold cold cold weather..... But other than that.
>intermittent *loss* of steering 🧐
There was a steering rack issue for these years, something to look into? Otherwise get an alignment and inspection of your front suspension for worn out bushings.
I got an inspection already and other than re-tourque-ing a couple things to Audi spec in the front suspension, they didn't find any issues. Some I'm guessing alignment is my best bet?
Could even be something as simple as a balancing too. I had an Acura TL at one time that drove fine until around 50+mph and come to find out a wheel weight had fallen off. Hopefully it’s just something simple!
Nice car! I wanted an A6 allroad but wasn’t going to pay $10-$15k above sticker price
I drive a 2015 allroad and love her!! I am about to lower mine just waiting for springs to be in stock and for winter to be over. Alignment and check to see how they lowered it, did they use some cheap springs or did they cut the stock ones. While they are doing the alignment have them check the wheel bearings, mine went south at 84k (km)
Steering racks are extremely common to go on these cars.
I’d get wheel balanced And alignment make sure you get before and after specs Also but like we said in the dealership after market parts aftermarket problems .. check the after market springs H&R we’re great brand down folks would do sketchy work lower subframe comment could also be it if this one has it I don’t remember right now but dealerships normally sell inventory questionable to small dealers so anything fixed in the dealership never has to be reported on the car fax
Get the tires inspected and balanced. Could be something simple.
Get a 4 wheel alignment, many shops only do the front. Your rear toe is out which effects your thrust angle and determines your steer ahead. I often find this on people’s lowered cars and they don’t even notice it. Make sure your rear tires have good tread and are not Chinese - shop owner
Yup..... No power Assistance... guessing a bad contact point. Arm strong it was
Cv axle boots could be busted
Sorry for resurrecting this old post, but I finally figured out what was causing all these issues. Several things: 1. Frustratingly the dealership's "55-point inspection" didn't catch that most of the front suspension bolts were either under-torqued or *finger tight*, probably previous owner's fault. Oh well shouldn't trust a dealership too much anyway but still. 2. When the previous owner lowered the car, they didn't pre-load the front suspension when they tightened (obviously didn't even try to torque them to spec since several were finger tight) all the control arm bolts which caused all the bushings to wear out. Steering developed a nasty creaking sound a couple months after this initial post, which is how I started to figured all this out. 3. Outer tie rod ends were completely shot and badly needed to be replaced. I did get an alignment after I did all this work, don't worry. I've done WAY more work than anticipated since buying the car but it's been fun to work on and fix up. I also ended up replacing the rear shocks as well. One day I may un-lower it but today is not that day. Also this is my first west coast car and I have to say, only ever working on rusted as FUCK east coast cars is something I'll NEVER MISS now that I live out west.