Whine noise from front end - speed related

[1210tech]

Ok, along with all the other bits and bobs that have gone wrong on my car in the last few months I now have a fault that is very worrying.

On the M40 today I noticed a whine from the front. The pitch of the whine is definately road-speed related, not engine speed. It becomes noticable at a low pitch at around 30 and increases in pitch as the roadspeed increases.
Its like humming a constant note (yes it's that annoying ), it's not a high pitch squeel, definately a whine.

The pitch is the same in all gears 60mph 4th,5th,6th etc.
It's the same pitch if I engage the clutch and pop it out of gear and let the engine revs drop off at this speed so it's definately not engine or turbo.

It doesn't sound like a wheel bearing to me but i jacked up the front to see if it was a bearing but both left and right front wheels seem fine, no play and no obvious noise when spinned up

Cheers

 

[A4 nut]

What about cv joint?

 

[1210tech]

What about cv joint?

I dunno, another possibility, just hoping its not the diff!!!!!

edit: don't think its a cv joint as there is no clicking/knocking noise

 

[paul20v]

If its not a wheel bearing , my next guess would be the pinion bearing in the box the drives the crown wheel on the front diff ,
not what anyone wants to here
but you deffinately need a second opinion with someone direct listening to it as all forum suggestions are guess work without listening ourselves .

 

[johnswales]

hi does it sound like loudish road noise coz my 2.5tdi has started to do this over the last few months its doing my head in its worse on a motorway thn a norm road hope it aint the diff any ideas please let me no.

 

[1210tech]

taking it up to midlandvw tomorrow so i'll let you know the news (most likely VERY bad) when i get back, fingers crossed everyone

 

[J7USS]

Could be the Diff.
Mine has been doing this for a while now, something im going to have to get looked at. I thought it was a wheel bearing but had them checked and they were fine...

 

[1210tech]

yeah, i'm slowly starting to think that its gonna be something to do with the front diff, just found this and the symptoms description seems to be similar: Audi Quattro Driveshaft Repair

From reading the above it looks like it might be the Centre Support Bearing that needs replacing

 

[J7USS]

hmmm yeah Im thinking this is whats up with mine too...Oh S**t.
Keep us updated mate, im keen to see what the damage (the bill) is if it is that!

 

[Broken Byzan]

It will be the diff if it' a 6 speed, saldy quite common for the pinion bearing to go on the earlier ones. Some say it's due to too much preload being set from the factory etc, but Audi will not admit anything

 

[1210tech]

It will be the diff if it' a 6 speed, saldy quite common for the pinion bearing to go on the earlier ones. Some say it's due to too much preload being set from the factory etc, but Audi will not admit anything

any idea of cost if it is that? cheers

 

[johnswales]

a ****** fortune probs

 

[1210tech]

just got back from MidlandVW and they reckon it is the front n/s wheel bearing so its booked in for next week to be done which is a relief that its not the diff or driveshaft

the lesson I have learnt from this is don't try and diagnose the fault yourself if its something you're not sure about, I have been going out of mind fearing the worst cause I was certain it wasn't a wheel bearing when all the time it probably was

anyway, once its done we'll know for sure

 

[J7USS]

Dont wanna bring you back down mate but thats what they thought mine was to but it still made the noise after....
BUT fingers cross you have better luck than me and hopefully it is the bearing.I guess we'll find out!!

 

[paul20v]

It will be the diff if it' a 6 speed, saldy quite common for the pinion bearing to go on the earlier ones. Some say it's due to too much preload being set from the factory etc, but Audi will not admit anything

Im in the middle of rebuiling a 6 speed for a customer , hope it the wheel bearing for you thou .

 

[1210tech]

It gets worse!!!

When I booked it in for the wheel bearing I thought I might as well get the cambelt done at the same time as its due for one and the oil leak sorted as its making a right mess of my drive....just had a phone call, they removed the sump to replace the sump seal only to find little bits of metal in the sump that obviously shouldn't be there, so then removed the rocker cover to find that the cams have disintegrated (AKE chocolate cams!) and need replacing, BRILLIANT!

The mechanics words were: "I can't believe its still running!"

Anyone know where I can get cheaper replacement camshafts from because at the moment I'm looking at approx £300 each + labour?

 

[simon.m]

where abouts are you i can get trade on parts if your near me im in thanet in kent

 

[1210tech]

where abouts are you i can get trade on parts if your near me im in thanet in kent

Thanks, I'm in Birmingham mate

Just spoke to the mechanic and both sides are fubar'd

Gonna need:

Full cam set £860 inc vat
Set of Levers £185 inc vat
Set of Lifters £185 inc vat
Spacers £65 inc vat
Total = £1295 + labour

If there is anyone breaking a vag car with the AKE 2.5 V6 TDi lump please get in touch as I know that engine is used in quite a lot of different models

 

[simon.m]

sorry mate have you thought about look for a secondhand engine mate off ebay or some where like that

 

[1210tech]

sorry mate have you thought about look for a secondhand enginge mate off ebay or some where like that

yeah, been looking for an engine or cylinder heads with bits in, I have a found a 2.5 tdi cab on ebay thats being broken but its a 2005 so not sure whether the parts would be the same.

 

[1210tech]

Think I may have a found what looks like a very good source: AW Engineering

They do full camshaft kits at approx £180 each cam

 

[simon.m]

well thats a step in the right price good luck mate ill keep eye out for you

 

[quattrojames]

This is a similar problem I was faced with 18 months ago. In the end it looked to be cheaper for me to replace the engine than try and rebuild it with labour costs etc, and you need to be sure that you have every last bit of swarf out of all the oilways etc.....

There's an AKE on eBay at the moment HERE

 

[1210tech]

This is a similar problem I was faced with 18 months ago. In the end it looked to be cheaper for me to replace the engine than try and rebuild it with labour costs etc, and you need to be sure that you have every last bit of swarf out of all the oilways etc.....

There's an AKE on eBay at the moment HERE

the engine is fine apart from the cams wearing down, its down to high mileage and the soft AKE cams unfortunately, my car has turned into a motorway work horse, plus I can't really afford a new lump.
Just found a full cam kit with rocker arms, lifters ect for £550 so things are starting to look up, will just have to take a chance on the engine being flushed thoroughly before being put back together :icon_thumright:

 

[A4 nut]

If you rebuild it get a magnetic sump plug!

 

[quattrojames]

I had a lot of hassles getting mine running right, and it cost me a lot more than I originally anticipated, so there's a lot to be said for 'Better the devil you know'!

 

[1210tech]

I had a lot of hassles getting mine running right, and it cost me a lot more than I originally anticipated, so there's a lot to be said for 'Better the devil you know'!

yeah, thats what I thought. Its an independent specialist thats doing the work and they have done a few cam rebuilds on 1.9 tdi and 2.5 tdi's so theres no issues there.
The mechanic said the lump and ancillaries are all pretty sound its just high mileage that caused the problem, nothings gone bang and the engine was still running ok, although as it turns out not too far away from going bang, so gonna rebuild without doubt, just need to get the bits at the right price

 

[A4 nut]

Who is rebuilding it?

 

[JohnboyC]

I have a 2.5TDi and touchwood no problems so far as its done 63K miles......what mileages do the cars in this Forum subject have out of curiosity.....

Reason I am asking is that I am probably going to be selling my A4 in 18 months time.....and by then it will have around 80K on it.....

 

[1210tech]

Who is rebuilding it?

Midland VW, Jody (the owner) knows his stuff :icon_thumright:

 

[A4 nut]

Yes know him you cant go wrong there!

 

[1210tech]

I have a 2.5TDi and touchwood no problems so far as its done 63K miles......what mileages do the cars in this Forum subject have out of curiosity.....

Reason I am asking is that I am probably going to be selling my A4 in 18 months time.....and by then it will have around 80K on it.....

mine is mega mileage, just done 200k

 

[1210tech]

Yes know him you cant go wrong there!

yeah, he has done all the major work thats needed doing, wouldn't take it anywhere else, in fact a few of my mates have got vw's and audi's and I send them all to him, quality mechanic

 

[swine]

mine is a 2001 2.5 quattro ake, 114500 miles on her now bought two years ago with 80,000 on it, i reckon mine had similar problems as when i was checking an oil leek i took the pan off and found a rocker arm in two pieces. i removed both rocker covers and cams were fine and all arms present. soft engine, ****** expensive to fix, love the sound of the v6 tho

 

[quattrojames]

I have a 2.5TDi and touchwood no problems so far as its done 63K miles......what mileages do the cars in this Forum subject have out of curiosity.....

Reason I am asking is that I am probably going to be selling my A4 in 18 months time.....and by then it will have around 80K on it.....

Mine was 128k when it self destructed (timing problems caused the weak cams to break) and is nearly at 145k now.

Your is an 03/04 John? It will be 8 or 9 years old by the time you sell - and there won't be many about with 80k on I wouldn't think :icon_thumright:

 

[simon.m]

is this just a v6 problem ?

 

[A4 nut]

yeah, he has done all the major work thats needed doing, wouldn't take it anywhere else, in fact a few of my mates have got vw's and audi's and I send them all to him, quality mechanic

Have you mentioned this ask his for some discount for asn members he has got a good name on here print this and show him im sure he can do somthing.

 

[quattrojames]

is this just a v6 problem ?

No - the 1.9 is an incredibly weak engine. It's a case of when, not if.












(joke)