Whine from front off side????

[B6S4John]

Ever since I took delivery of my S4 with 8900miles on the clock Iv'e been convinced that the front off side wheel bearing has gone. problem is it don't whine all the time and it changes with the road surface, so is it tyre noise? so why can't I hear it from all four tyres? Today I put the back wheels on the front, to even tyre wear, (as recomended in the hand book) and it seems worse, so maybe it is tyres, my dealer has changed the wheel bearing too illiminate that. The noise is from about 20mph and it dos'nt change pitch with speed and I can feel it through the steering wheel and throttle pedal. CAN THIS REALY BE TYRE NOISE ALONE?????????

[Scotty]

I could have written the above as it's exactly what I've experienced. I've swapped wheels and tyres and its the same!

I don't know what it is!

[Pete.S]

so why can't I hear it from all four tyres?

I would suggest that may be because of driving position (ie you're seated nearest the front off side). Get a mate to come out with you, wind windows down, see if noise is similar on passenger side. I've had bearings go before, can't be 100% sure because it was a long tome ago but I'm pretty sure if the bearing's knackered, if you lift hands off steering wheel, car will drift un-charactersitically sharply one way or t'other. I also seem to recall whine/noise was constant and DID change pitch with speed.

Could be just tyre noise, but your comment about feeling it through steering wheel & throttle suggests something more serious. 8900 miles = still under warranty, another trip to dealers on the cards me thinks....

[B6S4John]

I could have written the above as it's exactly what I've experienced. I've swapped wheels and tyres and its the same!


THANK GOD FOR THAT I thought I was goin' mad

[Mike_K]

I quite often get a whine from the front near-side, but it has nothing to do with the car

[camsan]

I have also been having whining and clickin from the front offside. I also noticed that my 1 week old tyre was being shredded to death. After a large amount of debating and arguing with my local dealer to get the car looked at, I had to call out the roadside assitance to get the car recovered. It has now been delivered back to me today with new suspension arms after a "Faulty curved suspension arm" was found to be the blame.

[B6S4John]

Who was your dealer???

[camsan]

Derby- Audi. And now to top it all off I received my car back, drove home and found that I still had the same problem. After a quick nosey underneath I discovered they had repaired the wrong side. I took the mechanic out with me to try and help him understand the fault and after 20 minutes of doing figures of 8 he finally heard the loud cracking and squeaking. I was then told "Yes its knackered BUT we cant get it in till June" so after a quick call to Audi UK (again) and help from Shaun in servicing (god bless his soul) it is finally being fixed while I type.

Can I ask who your dealer is? If its Derby do you get the same hassle?

[Scotty]

Please update us on the outcome and exactly what they ended up doing. Thanks.

[B6S4John]

Hi CAM my dealer is Beechwood Audi, not realy had problems they did change the wheel bearing just incase but thats not stopped it. Taking mine in on Sat for the, rattle on start up, to be sorted they have the bits now. Iv'e been driving it quite a lot just lately at high speed nothing has fallen off and it's no worse. I'm going to mention it again but I'll suck it and see. I'd like to talk to Scotty as he's had exactly the same problem and never sorted it.

[camsan]

I've got my car back this morning after they have removed a curved o/s/f suspension arm. they have also stripped the brakes and caried out a 4 wheel alignment (which I had to pay for to my discust). I have driven it to work and it still feels sloppy and its still making the cracking noise on sharper turns and roundabouts. Im a worried that they have no idea of what they are doing down there. Everything they do is a guess. I have now had 2 defective suspension arms fixed and my problem is still not fixed. I really am starting to lose faith in Audi and my car what else could possibly be wrong?? On another note im also suffering from the rattle mostly on cold starts. I was told by my dealer it was the starter overspinning and it was not a problem to be concerned about. I have also complained about the rattle on my exhaust at low revs and they have said that it is a "Trait" of the car and audi will do nothing to solve it.

[B6S4John]

Hi all took the S4 in for the rattle to be sorted and they lent us a 1.8T Cab. It has the same noise and feel through the wheel and pedals, all be it not as pronounced because of the "softer" set up and smaller wheels.

[CatSe7en]

B6S4 John and Scotty

Have either of you found a source for the O/S/F whine? I ask because I test drove an 04 S4 on sunday that I'm keen on buying. It has exactly the noise you describe and I thought I might be paranoid untill I read this!

My thoughts were that if it's road noise then swapping tyres would show it up, or it could be a wheel bearing - It seems though that you have ruled out these possibilities

The dealer is an independent and is of the opinion that since the car is still under warranty that it's nothing to worry about. He tells me however that he is on good terms with the 'Master Tech' at the local Audi dealer and he'll get him to produce a written report before I agree to purchase.

Is it a case of 'they all do that sir'? And should it discourage me from buying the car?

......any thoughts?

[Mike_K]

Is it a case of 'they all do that sir'? And should it discourage me from buying the car?

......any thoughts?

they certainly dont "all do that"; mine doesnt ! I think any such noise if it's so obvious must be investigated and you must be satisfied as to the cause and possible eventual costs !

I also wouldnt rely on tha Audi guarantee, especially if they havent been able to identify a specific fault before the warranty expires; there may be some goodwill to correct faults after the warranty expires, but why should you be the one taking the risk (in case they decide to not recognise that its the same fault that already existed) ?

mike

[Scotty]

I got no where. I'm considering getting them to change thebearing and if the noise goes then claiming under the warranty. I've until November when the warranty runs out.