Rear Transmission Noise

[gavsteryoung]

Hi,

im new to this forum, hope you are all doing ok.

I have recently bought a Late 1999 Facelifted Audi S4. I do have a quick question regarding a grating noise from the rear end of the car.

It only happens when pulling out of a junction at like 90 degrees, I get a sort of grating noise, sometimes it sounds like the tyre is bouncing across the tarmac.

Does anyone else experiance this. It does not seem to effect the car, and the tranmission certainly makes no other noises.

Just wondered if this is something I have to get used too, but would seem strange if that was the case.

cheers

Guys and Gals

Gav

[Prawn]

Hi Gav,
Try checking the rear ARB bushes, seem to remember this is how mine
started to sound when they were on the way out.

[Golich]

When I first got my S4 I too noticed not so much of a noise but more of a vibration with a slight noise from the rear end when turning very tight or accelerating out from a junction. Like you describe it seemed like the tyre was scrubbing.

I thought the diff was on its way out. Apparenetly this is normal for the S4/RS4. And probably for all quattros according to my local dealer tech when we were trying to get to the bottom of an ECU prob on a test drive. He said mine wasn't as bad as he had heard.

If your still not convinced take a test drive in another quattro I'm sure you'll find the same. my RS4 certainly does it.

[gavsteryoung]

Cheers, for the advice guys..... I had a quick poke around underneath and could not see anything untoward!!

I'm starting to think its just something that happens with these cars. And 4 wheels drive cars.

My mate has a Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and that makes a similar noise.

[SimonS4MTM]

I have owned 2 S4's now and they both did this when pulling out of juctions as you describe. The harder you pull away the more noise it makes.

However as with all cars, pulling away on tight lock puts a lot of strain on the diffs and the CV's, so it should be avoided where possible.

[Dippy]

Same here. It only happens when the turn is fairly sharp and you put some torque into it. I understood it is quite normal.

However I thought the sound was coming from the front. There again I'm an old git so maybe my hearing is f**cked

[gavsteryoung]

Cheers, all, kinda nice to know its common to most owners...

Looking at all your Sigs you seem to have Miltek exhuasts,

Can you tell me if you have the dual or single system?
How much you paid?
Any performance difference?
Any knocks?
Did you fit it yourself?

so many questions!!!

[SimonS4MTM]

Single system fitted as parts of the MTM re-map

[Dippy]

Single system. IIRC cat back is around £500 fitted (AmD). No performance gain, just louder.

Downpipes and cats were around £1000 fitted (AmD). After remap about 30bhp peak gain, but more importantly does not drop off sharply at top end (to redline). And much louder of course.

[BlackShadow]

Dual Milltek, cat back only, with MTM remap takes it up to 320 bhp. Fruity sound. £1,305 + VAT fitted by them, not me. Considerable performance difference, but that is primarily from the remap. Check out QST and AMD websites for more details of bang per buck.

[Dippy]

...but that is primarily from the remap...

I would say totally from the remap

[BlackShadow]

...but that is primarily from the remap...

I would say totally from the remap

So the difference which MTM claim on their website between Stage 1 (306 bhp) and Stage 2 (320 bhp) is totally made up is it? The extra 14 bhp from the exhaust is just an excuse for them to sell you a catback?

[Golich]

I believe that after I challanged Miltech I'd buy their CAT back for my chipped S4 if it gave me a min 5bhp improvement based on a rolling road before and after by one of their dealers. They wouldn't go for it even after their dealer spoke to them!! I was even going to pay for it up front!

[BlackShadow]

Yes, I think that I have made a down-payment toward a full Milltech with the cats. I'd have it done now but the insurance is getting sticky about a bhp increase over 25%, and I make 345 bhp - 265 bhp = 80bhp/265bhp = 30%. So when the policy expires in October, I'll ditch the blighters and go for one of the specialist insurers who can cater to my needs better, and charge me a f**king fortune in increased premiums. Until then I will consol myself with the fruity sound.

[Dippy]

Yes.