Noises: Bearings?
 

Hi, recently my car seems to make a gradually louder mechanical noise when moving. The faster you go, the louder the noise. No noise from revving the engine in idle.

I'm guessing it's the bearing, but can't seem to locate the suspected bad bearing.

I'm guessing it's the front, but not sure. Anyone have any experience with this issue?

Thanks in advance,
g

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

noise going straight?
noise turning?
which side when turning?
and what kind of noise?
humming, squeaking, :)

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

Sure, some details: no noise from turning -
seems to stay constant regardless of turning the steering wheel.

Can't determine which side the noise is coming from -
seems to be from the middle, but then when I open either of the front windows and pass something solid, the noise reflects back.

Kind of noise: sounds like a whirling or humming maybe.

Best guesses: a wheel bearing. an inner drive shaft bearing (OH NO!) the syncro in the gear shifter. My car is a manual transmission.

Seems to have gotten louder over the last two years, but took a trip to Montreal in July, and it got progressively louder during then. Put 1000k in 3 days and now it's really noticeable.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

G

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

if it's wheel bearing it'll get load once you load it. As in if it's the right wheel bearing, it'll go loud when you turn left. If it stays constant then it should be suspension. Check control arms, tie rods etc.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

i would bet you 100% it is a wheel bearing. I actually have to get my front right done on monday. The thing basically just hums and has a low tone and the faster I go it gets so loud its driving me crazy. On the highway its brutal.

Once you replace it you wont even believe that your a4 was supposed to sound that quiet.

I had a wheel bearing go when i first bought my car, didnt even realize until one day it really started to get loud. Replaced it and was really surprised, you get so used to it getting loud overtime you dont even realize it.

Its about $350-$400 + tax for a shop to replace it.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

Recently bought new bearings for a 2000 S4 from Napa. Cost was $130. Price to install at a garage was $500. Dig up some DIYs and attempt to do the work yourself. Could be a great learning experience.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

If it's bearing, try check the rear first. A4's rear bearings are more easy fail than front,and if one side gone, the other won't last long.

A4's bearing self won't be too complicate, remove/lose the drive shaft, if u have the tool, press the bearing out and in. if u don't take the knuckle off(effect alignment). then press the bearing out and in. without rust bolts, about 30-45min for one side.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

go to the back (or front) of your car. if you have 4 rings....then its your wheel bearings!
not the most expensive part....but not cheap to install.

not the hardest thing to do...but i would leave some extra time + have a second car incase you require additional parts.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

Check out Corsa Autosport in scarborough. They did my bearing for less then $300. Haven't had any problems since, and that was over a year ago. Ask for Dave. Did the bearing quick.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

Easy to check too.

All you need is a car stethoscope. Looks a lot like a doctors stethoscope but it's made specifically to locate noise on a car. Lift the car on a garage lift, run the wheels of the car in the air (put it in first gear and let it run slowly). You go under from wheel to wheel placing the stethoscope on the bearing housing. You will ear it is a lot louder when you get to the one that's bad. If it's only slightly bad you might have to have someone up in the car to speed up the wheels a little.

Replacement is not difficult but you will need a special tool to press out the bearing.

If you do one side, i do think you better do the other side as well. Normally they are the same age and if one is going, the other will go soon enough too.

Have fun.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

I've got the same problem in my '02 A4Q Tip. Mostly sounds like a lot of road noise.
Also noticeable rumble when applying brakes. And brake warning light has come on breifly during hard cornering off a stop light.

I've ordered a pair of new style bearings, including bearing housings, housing bolts and axle bolt, from ECS Tuning for just over $300. (Obviously a problem in design since it was changed.)
Apparently the new design type cannot be pressed in or out of the housing.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

I say it is transmission. I had the same problem. My mechanic took a new tranny from autowreckers and I paid $2,500.00 for it installed.

PS
I warn everybody not to buy american bearings for the wheels. Audi standard is to produce parts that fit to 1/1000 mm. This is why the car runs so quiet. American standards are such that you can multiply the above factor by at least 10. The car still runs yet it is an awfull experience to drive it once you installed a couple of those.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

I'd check the bearings before changing the tranny. (Though his problem may be the tranny. If so likely differential bearings.)
Not sure I'd trust a used tranny and would rebuild my own before spending 2 grand on a used one. Especially if the problem is just the differental bearnings.

I'm not sure who produces bearings for our cars in North America.
FAG and SKF have traditionally produced bearings for VAG products so you probably won't go wrong with replacement parts by these companies. In my experience Timkin makes good stuff too. NSK and some of the chinese manufacturers may be OK but I haven't heard good things.
Personally, I don't mind spending a few extra bucks on the Audi OEM part as they're usually cream of the crop.

Bearings are produced with different tolerances.
C1 is the tightest with as little as 0/1000 clearance. This might be the spec for our wheel bearings (doesn't leave a lot of room for lubricant ;)
All manufacturers are capable of producing these tolerances.

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

Since your original post have you had it diagnosed and determined the problem? Is it the wheel bearing or something else?

Please let us know the results.

Thanks

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

Oooops...
This attitude resulted in thousands of deaths of our soldiers in the second world war.
The panther to sherman kill ratio was 8 to 1.
The germans use kiruna sweedish steel with czech additives.
It can not be beaten.
Just please touch the german ball bearing and you will know

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

There is a audi specific shop in vaughn does good work and they only charged me 180 cash rear driver side bearing

Re: Noises: Bearings?
 

message me if u want any info