Wheel judder on 2.0T when parking

gaz j

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Recently purchased a 56 plate 2.0T S-Line Special Edition which I am made up with but have noticed a small problem when steering. It only happens at slow speeds like pulling in or out of driveway or parking in a carpark. When it is nearly full lock the front wheels judder/slide as if im on ice or gravel. I have checked the tyre tread depth and pressure's and both good. When i first noticed it i thought the tyres were over inflated. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I've got it booked in at warrington audi in a few weeks time but was wondering if there is a common fault maybe with steering racks or drive shafts? Just want to be armed with info incase they try to palm me off saying there's nothing up with it. The car is 1 owner and on 27k miles.
 
it sounds a bit like what would happen in a landrover with its centre diff locked...

Perhaps something is wrong with the centre diff if your car is a quattro?
 
Recently purchased a 56 plate 2.0T S-Line Special Edition which I am made up with but have noticed a small problem when steering. It only happens at slow speeds like pulling in or out of driveway or parking in a carpark. When it is nearly full lock the front wheels judder/slide as if im on ice or gravel. I have checked the tyre tread depth and pressure's and both good. When i first noticed it i thought the tyres were over inflated. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I've got it booked in at warrington audi in a few weeks time but was wondering if there is a common fault maybe with steering racks or drive shafts? Just want to be armed with info incase they try to palm me off saying there's nothing up with it. The car is 1 owner and on 27k miles.

I have exactly the same car (a Quattro Special Edition) and mine does exactly the same. I believe it's called the Ackerman effect and happens to many cars with large low profile tyres
 
It's not the quattro. My last car was a B6 1.8T 2wd with exactly the same size wheels and that never done it so that's what's got me worried. I'm wondering wether it may be a tca or drive shaft?
 
Don't think it's anything to worry about I've got a 08 plate 2ltr we and mine does exactly the same thing in the same circumstnances
 
I have this as well. Mine is a Quattro. I took it to a VAG garage and they said its OK, Quattos are known to do it.

Still i dont like it... and if yours is only 2WD? Strane...

Let me know how you get on.
 
Will keep you informed, thanks for your feedback.

Gaz - please let me know what the outcome is.... I has the same happen to me (57 2.0T estate s-line) yesterday and this morning... thought it may be to do with the cold but felt very unnerved by it - put in a call to the dealers (still under warranty) and am having it checked out next week.... I will post any feedback...
 
Get your tracking checked!

My B6 still does it on very frosty roads but it should not do it on dry or even normal wet roads.
 
It's more than just tracking, I imagine you would need a full four wheel alignment. Some scrubbing is a feature of quattro drive I think ...
 
Mines done it from new on full-lock to some degree - seems sensitive to tyre pressures and tread depth.

But, in the last few days it's got really bad and doesn't need to be at full lock. Had a 4 wheel alignment done with a load of warranty work (cylinder head, oil pump, camshaft, etc) just before Chrstmas. Looks like I'll be going back to get them to look at this a bit closer. :(
 
My B7 (and previous B6) do this, only at very low speeds when moving in car parks etc. They all do it, more so if you have 18" wheels fitted. Its nothing to worry about.
 
Yep, my 2.0T S-Line Special Edition with 18" wheels does it too, always has. Two dealers have checked it and confirmed all is normal, guess it's a 'feature'!
 
Gaz - please let me know what the outcome is.... I has the same happen to me (57 2.0T estate s-line) yesterday and this morning... thought it may be to do with the cold but felt very unnerved by it - put in a call to the dealers (still under warranty) and am having it checked out next week.... I will post any feedback...

Update

The problem seems to have disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared. I guess the cold spell had something to do with it.

In any event, because I had the car booked in, it took it to be checked by Dealer. The technician (who was very helpful) assured me it was a common occurrence (many of you have said this above) but nonetheless checked out steering, drive shafts etc. and couldn't find anything wrong.

It would appear this phenomenon is more apparent in nose heavy cars with wide low profile tyres. My work colleague who has a new TT has also experienced this.

The technician also showed me a printout of known steering related issues on their internal knowdgebase and confirmed he had checked all issues for example there has been a known issue with the return pipe from the power steering pump which can cause funny noises.

I also took it to an independent who tested it and put in on a ramp and could not find anything wrong.

So I guess we all have to live with it.
 
It was the tyres. Got it back from dealers the other day and they said it was the tyre tread too low. Both fronts were on 3mm which is too low for the car's steering set up. Too my surprise the dealers put 2 brand new ones on as a good will gesture!! Could'nt believe it. Now it does'nt do it, problem solved. Also told them that i'd experienced a slight clutch judder once or twice when car cold so would they look at it, and was made up to find they replaced both clutch plates when i returned to pick up car. Well done Warrington audi!! I've heard a few bad stories on forums about Audi dealers but my experience with Warrington Audi was a very good one.:applaus:
 
Result! That is very good of them, nice to hear a good dealer story for once!
 
Not sure about the judder, but I would get a loud kind of whining noise under the same circumstances. I mentioned it on the first service and the replaced the whole steering rack under warrantee. Not sure it needed it as I still occasionally get the same noise but not as loud and as frequently.

I have to say the steering now feels quite heavy at mid speeds (I’m not sure if it has changed or I’ve just got used to driving a different car) is there any setting that the dealer could have changed? Anyone else experienced this?
 
Your case is different to mine as mine only juddered at very low speeds where as yours whines while driving. While it's under warranty i'd get it booked in and tell them your not happy, it could be power steering pump? Good luck, keep us posted.
 
I have also been experiencing the strange juddering of the front tyres. We own a Audi A4 avant 2.0TFSI Quattro, I was watching my wife pull off our drive, and could actually see the front tyres juddering, they were sort of starting and stopping, then slipping and unable to grip, as if the traction control was kicking in. I personally think it is a design fault from 2005 onwards, as Audi say this is normal. My friend has an Audi A4 saloon 1.8T (190) Quattro a 54 plate (model before my 55 plate) and his does not suffer from this tyre judder. I have been to Audi and had a few friends/mechanics drive it, and they all think it is something to do with the tyres/traction control/abs. Maybe it is when they get below a certain tread depth, but if this is the case, then it is ridiculous, as it is really off - putting when swinging round mini-roundabouts, or pulling away from junctions, bearing in mind at very low speeds. I only bought my car 3 and a half weeks ago and I am thinking of rejecting it from the gararge I purchased it from, as my wife cannot put up with this, (she, being the main driver) I will probably have to take it back to the gararge and ask them to resolve it, if its a design fault, then the gararge wont be able to do anything to fix the problem, therefore, I will reject the car, as it is not fit for purpose! Any thoughts from anyone?
 
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I have exactly the same car (a Quattro Special Edition) and mine does exactly the same. I believe it's called the Ackerman effect and happens to many cars with large low profile tyres

No, Ackerman effect is where when steering the inside wheel turns tighter into the corner than the outside wheel, tends to be roughly by about a third.

I think the understeer is caused by the rear wheels pushing the car due to slow speed and torque being relatively matched on all 4 wheels, thus the torsen centre diff is staying at its normal 50:50 bias and not allowing the front wheels to slow for the turn
 
hmm in that case im clearly talking out of my **** and its nothing to do with quattro then
 
I have been having a similar problem with juddering with my 2004 Audi A4 Sport 2.5 Convertible. The problem seems most pronounced when I turn the wheel to the right. The problem is especially noticeable when I'm just pulling out or turning at junctions.

My car has just been into the garage to have a look at the steering and the mechanics told me that there was nothing wrong with the tyre tread, tyre pressures, steering column, suspension, brakes, balance or tracking.

I have noticed that the problem has occurred more since the weather got colder and wonder whether this has had an effect on it.

If this is a design fault it's a pretty annoying one. Hopefully it will clear up as the weather improves. At least I have the peace of mind that nothing is broken (if the mechanics are right that is).
 
Dear All,

I've an A4 avant 2.0i quattro and have been having the same problem for some time - the car was booked in today! Audi have called and said I need new tyres as the are low!? I know this is NOT the issue as it was doing the same on new tyres???
Anyway I've had a bet with the service guy that after they fit the tyres the problem will still exist. The car has done 40k and is 05 plate.
 
Yep, happens to my A4 Avant 170 too. Only low speeds when reversing or pulling out of driveway on full lock. Though it was tyres rubbing on inside of wheel arch but feels like traction slips too - definite worse in cold, wet conditions. Not that worried though. Tyres are brand new. Might mention it at the next service - or at least get them to confirm joints, barings and tyres are not wearing.
 
Mine does this, was wondering about it. A4 B7 2.0TFSI not quattro. I'm not worried, seems like a characteristic. The tyres have just been changed and are brand new.