Wheel Bearing Already? Or those ****** conti's...

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ub7rm

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So I have a late 2014 S4 with 9k miles on the clock and its developed a bit of a drone which is really apparent at ~45 mph to 70 mph. If the age and mileage wasn't so low I would be suspecting wheel bearings though the noise doesn't change with cornering.

Or has anyone else had experience with Continental Sport 3's droning? I remember I had a similar issue with a golf I had once with Dunlop sportmaxx's developed a sawtooth type profile on the rear and made a bit of a racket.

Even the wife has commented on the noise so it is pretty noisy!
 
Definitely worn and feathered tyres! Get them binned and put some fresh Hankook tread on. Best tyre I have had on an Audi...
 
I should say although the car has 9000 miles on it the tyres have probably only seen 4000ish as I was running winters.
 
Are you able to borrow and try another set of wheels (and therefore tyres) to try before you throw money at it?

I have a set of OEM 18s in Berkshire you're welcome to try.
 
jaygemson said:
Are you able to borrow and try another set of wheels (and therefore tyres) to try before you throw money at it?

I have a set of OEM 18s in Berkshire you're welcome to try.
Click to expand...

Very much appreciate the offer but I'm Aberdeenshire! I do have a set of winter wheels I can put on but first I'm going to stick my head under the car and see if I can see / feel anything untoward.
 
Try your winter wheels.
Wheel bearings dont go until 60,000 miles ish
 
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Zafi said:
Try your winter wheels.
Wheel bearings dont go until 60,000 miles ish
Click to expand...

Wheel bearings should last far in excess of that mileage mate. My last BMW required a new bearing on the os rear at just under 150K. My current A4 is on 68K and no noise at all especially with new decent tread recently fitted. Depends on how the cars been abused/road surface I suppose...
 
I had a feathered rear Conti that had been run flat or near flat in previous ownership or while at dealers.
A new one fitted stopped the drone.
 
As I mentioned it above. It's definitely feathered tyres! Had it with my last BMW and that had run-flats fitted.
I recently changed my front tyres on the A4 with Hankooks and the difference in road noise is massive..
 
I had a chat with the Audi dealers today and I'm going to sling it in there for them to have a look over it. Given they tyres have done approx 4k and the car has done approx 9k miles I'm dissapointed with something! Audi have promised not to charge me £100 just to tell me its the tyres if it turns out they are to blame.

I've had the car since new so know nothing's had a hard life.
 
As Scott.T said, do you check the tyre pressures regularly? Lower pressures will cause flat spots, even maybe it has a slow puncture. I know the tech is not F1 but that will cause that wheel bearing drone sound. I wouldn't be surprised if it's one of the rear tyres is the one that is feathered...
Maybe just one of those things. Conti's are cr@p wearing anyway.. Even on an A3 they only last just over 10k...
 
Last edited:
Mike J said:
Wheel bearings should last far in excess of that mileage mate. My last BMW required a new bearing on the os rear at just under 150K. My current A4 is on 68K and no noise at all especially with new decent tread recently fitted. Depends on how the cars been abused/road surface I suppose...
Click to expand...


Fronts failed at 58k on my S4, seems common at this mileage when running 19" wheels.
 
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lemonslap said:
Fronts failed at 58k on my S4, seems common at this mileage when running 19" wheels.
Click to expand...
I'm running 19's so be interesting to see how long they do last. Nearing 69k at the moment and the cabin noise through the tyres is very quiet.
 
I have the exact same issue, I've done 10k now on conti 3s, more evident at low speed for me to be honest - got dealer to check when in for oil service, he said its was defo tyre ware no wheel bearing
 
Don't rule out bearings, my first front went at 20k and was replaced under warranty, second lasted to 50k.
 
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Front left replaced 67k miles front right 80k miles
Soon know the difference between a bearing an tramlining tyres
 
Took a tech out for a test drive today to demonstrate the fault, before looking at it he suspect the tyres but when he saw how 'new' the tyres were he wasn't so sure as in his experience the wear / noise only became apparant when they had worn down quite a bit. He agreed the noise was not 'right' but probably not a wheel bearing. After the test drive he took it on the ramps and came back to say that there was a very slight saw tooth pattern starting to form, more so one one side than the other but it was so slight he wasn't sure if it would be translating into a noise already and asked me to book it in for further investigation.

At least I'm not going mad!

I'm starting to wonder if the geometry is maybe off a bit causing premature wear on the insides (I know it happens with certain brands of tyres and VAG cars but not after 4k) and accentuating the noise. We shall see!
 
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As mentioned three times lol, it's the tyre...
Hope you get it sorted shortly...
 
I don't doubt that it will be shown to be the issue. But I don't find it acceptable that its 'normal' for tyres to deform and make this racket after 4k miles (pressure was / is fine - not 'abused' in anyway). So if it is the case then either the tyres are defective and I get them changed or the alignment is wrong, and again I get them changed. But to get to that point there is a process I'll have to humour.
 
I don't envy that you have had to go this process mate! I would get Audi to conduct a complete all wheel alignment check for free. Normally costs £89.99. Can't see why the tyres would wear that bad otherwise? Last time mine was checked it was way out and Audi adjusted it. Much better afterwards..
As mentioned though with feathered tyres you can feel the sharpness by rubbing your hands over the tread in the opposite direction to travel.. Just because tyres are relatively new doesn't mean their fine..
 
think my front nearside wheel bearing has just decided its had enough of this world and wants to move on, 82K, iv had tyre troubles before but usually quite obvious, you can always swap your wheels front to back etc see if the noise moves with the wheel
 
Any news yet? I had a lot of noise from my contin3s and changed them, noise is gone now. I think they're too hard a compound anyway
 
Yes - I was just about to update this thread. Car was in today for further investigation and they changed the offside rear bearing. Noise has gone. I need to have a closer look to try and figure out if they've just moved the wheel and charged Audi for a bearing!

I am sure they haven't swapped the passenger side as that wheel has a scuff.
 
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