Squealing, Squeaking, grinding and expecting more ... 2.5 TDI

Hi guys,

Sorry this is so long but I want you to feel the experience as close as you can.

My little project 2.5tdi Quattro developed another noise today, I think I am going to name her Christine but then I'd have to paint her red and she'd have to be a Cadillac and that's not the right name!

Anywho, a few symptoms developed today, not like yesterday when it was the lumpy idling issue, that's gone!

It all started when I drove her this afternoon, avoided potholes as much as possible but the odd one copped it!

I pulled up with a slight intermittent "squeak" as if something were were to just have caught my disc, checked it quickly and nothing, but then again I'd have to take the wheel off etc to have a good look.

I looked at the brake pad and the disc face that was facing me and nothing, no scratch/scrape line, so I picked my daughter up and then proceeded to drive home, as I pulled away the squeaking was still intermittently there but timid sounding, like a bad attempt at a squeak (Eeeeeck ..... eek ..... eek...eek....- Sorry, the full stops were meant to signify silence) but then I felt a slight grind but then nothing! I pulled up to a roundabout and the grinding noise started again without the squeak (I hadn't turned the steering wheel yet).

I turned and it carried on grinding, so, on the way home I drove very slow, neutral in some cases in case it were the drive shaft to not cause any (more) damage but I was foiled by the noise carrying on, intermittently and not consistent rather randomly and different lengths of time coming in and going sometimes just grinding, sometimes squeaking and sometimes both, on a straight patch it would be at best squeaking with the odd grind to then grind and squeal like hell and then silence.

It didn't stop the issue, it just made it less frequent but to only be foiled again as it did it closer to home and it didn't matter (much) if I jerked the steering from left to right or went straight, no improvement on directions nor revs as revving the car did not change the pitch or frequency of the noises being made (I say this for the alternator clutch theory?).

I can feel it throughout the car, grinding really does come through the cabin and the squealing happens when it feels like it (horrible noise with people looking at the car for the wrong reasons).

Anybody have any ideas as to what it may be?

Wheel Hub?
bearing?
Drive shaft?

or even Alternator clutch???? (I have read that they squeal and grind and some of the symptoms above are similar but not when idling)

This only happens when driving as if I sit and rev the car, no noises at all! (just a sweet V6 growl)

Thanks for your patience!

Plymouth, Caddy, sail boat, all the same!

The pads and discs are brand new, can't say they'd be worn after 1000 miles!!

I'll have to get the wheel off this evening and have a peak!

Audi Fitted the discs and pads as it was due to a brake judder issue that was resolved by putting new discs and pads.

It only does it when moving, sat still and revving does nothing, no noise I mean!

All cured!!

It was the bottom rear bolt on the hub, it had come loose and was grinding itself away on the drive shaft, new bolt from Audi, job done!



Thanks for the pointers and info on where and what to look at but it was something as simple as a ****** bolt!

Blue locktite and in went a new one, drives like a dream again!

Tell me about it, don't think the new one is going anywhere soon, nicely locked up!!

I now, only have the issue of the rear CV's and bearings (want to more than need to) and that should eliminate the slight "pull-off" vibrations.

Now to get on with the timing belts, aux belts, tensioners, pulleys, thermostat and water pump and I will have a "stonkin' mota" as they apparently say here in the land of sheep people

After that, start fitting new bits and toys

Climate unit
Door handle covers
Light switch
Window switches
Mirror switches
Quattro kick plates
Carpet
Mats
Drivers seat fix kit (rear of the seat has broken and the bottom has come away, apparently a common issue)
Refurbish the steering wheel
Bluetooth unit for my RNS-D
New center wheel caps
RS4 rear sway bar and poly bushes
B5 perches (to bring the front down a tad!)

Also looking to remap it and as adamss24 has suggested, bigger nozzles and turbo will give me the power I want but I would also like a bit more economy as more power means heavier right foot and a lot lighter wallet!

I am also refurbishing a set of RS5 18" Alloys but I am liking the ride with the 17's, very smooth.

Thanks again guys!

SuperV8 said:

Does it make a noise when the brake pedal isn't pressed? Does the noise go away when the brake pedal is pressed?
Sounds brake related to me. Did Audi change all 4 brakes? if not could the noise be coming from the end they didn't change?
Even if they are only 1000miles old they can still cause noise, were they bedded in correctly? (driven gently for the first few hundred miles with no heavy or high speed stops)

Tom.

Click to expand...

Thanks Tom,

The only thing I can see Audi didn't do right was tightening this bolt but on a bonus side, it has had (before my ownership) new discs, pads, bearings (front 2) just before I bought it and it has had them bedded in properly.

From what I can make out the guy before me has really looked after it mechanically, I feel like he had lost a bit of "faith" in it as it is now due pump, belts and a load of other things but even with all the mods and repairs I have to do, it still hasn't come to the initially agreed price of the car so for the money I was going to spend, I will now have a beauty of a motor with everything up to date!!

Thanks again!

Already done mate!

I had a good look over and it's all nice and tight!!! When in doubt, check it all out!

Cheers!