My latest knocking noise

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norris_309

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If there was a competition for the most episodes of knocking on a b6 I think I'd win.

The latest, I'm now getting a single knock when coming to a stop & a single knock when pulling away from the front.
This happens most times, but certainly not every time I pull away/ brake. And you can avoid it happening if you go very easy on the brakes and pull away stupidly slowly.

I get no knocking over bumps or on bumpy surfaces.
I was thinking possibly loose brake pads as I've had this before, but I think that caused a rattle over bumps too.
Or anti roll bar links? I've has several issues with the passenger side anti roll bar, they are now pretty recent lemforder parts, but my last lemforder arb link on passenger side needed replacing in under a year... (I did get the part replaced under warranty)

From the minimal symptoms, any other ideas what it could be?

I love the car, but getting bored with the knocking noises I keep getting, seems like I cure 1 and the next one starts within weeks.

To be fair, the car is a 2004 and on 151k miles now. It has new rear lower arms and 1 of the front lowers replaced along with the arb links.
 
Loose caliper !!!!!!!!!


OR could be what i had, a weld break inside the front sub frame, it could be seen to move when on the shaker on the ramp, i replaced the sub frame with a second hand one off ebay, it had B7 on it when it arrived so i checked the part number at TPS to be told it would fit & it superseded the old part which was quit well known for the weld break.
 
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now you're worrying me!
caliper i can handle... kind of.

Subframe.. slightly concerning!!.. are there any photos floating around showing the bolts to check?
 
DSCN1995-mod.jpg


Am i right in thinking the red arrow is the bolt I need to check tightness?.. 1 on each side? or the yellows too?

I did have my front lower rear arms replaced, which may have led to those being undone & not replaced? although this was probably a 18month/2 years ago now at a guess. & knocking on started last week
 
The red one yes, check the bushes where the green arrow is as well. May as well check all the bolts for tightness.


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Brilliant, at least I know I'm in the right area!, will get the socket set out!..
Might be able to reach the main ones without getting the car off the ground too. (my sloping drive hinders jacking the car up)
 
I'm at work at the moment, don't think i'd get away with looking at my car.
Shame...
hopefully have a quick look when I get home if it's still light & I can reach without jacking up & taking wheels off. otherwise might have to wait a few days
 
You’ll need a breaker bar or something to slip over ratchet handle the should be very tight. Should be able to do it on the ground


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The Audi wheel key slips over 1/2 inch ratchet handle if you can’t find anything.


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Just had a quick look.
Unfortunately the wheel brace didn't fit over my ratchet.

I gave all 3 bolts on each side a hard tug and they didn't budge.

Might try again with a breaker bar but they seemed pretty solid.

Was quietly hoping it was that causing the knock.
 
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Hopefully might have a few minutes to get a gar on this tomorrow..
however, I got the mrs to move the car back and forth and brake while I watched the disc/caliper.
On the drivers side the disc/caliper appeared to have a judder as the brake applied & it made the knock.

Loose caliper? or maybe the pad moves which shows means the disc moves slightly when applied?

Just looked back through my maintenance record, I changed the pads 3 years (30k miles) ago and that was because the pads were knocking (after changing control arms in the hunt for that knock!!)
The pads that were on the car didn't have the adhesive pad in the outside. these ones do, but may just maybe they're now loose?? still plenty of meat left on them though.
 
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Blimey, you're up early!..
Anyway, I'm not so sure i'm onto something now.

It appeared to have some movement somewhere.
Unfortunately not been able to use the flat drive to check properly.
I've jacked one side up so the wheel is off the ground & tried to recreate a knock but not really found much.
Rolling the wheel back & forth gives a slight tap possibly, but can't see any movement in the pads.

Guess i'll have to wait (and hope nothing drops off) until I can get the use of a driveway I can take the wheel off & remove/refit the pads & see if that helps.
Unless you have any ideas how to confirm if it's the pads or not. (I guess I can't put them under the same pressure as a moving car can!)

Wonder if I can use the gears to move the car back & forth slowly without brakes to see if it makes the noise then?

While looking around the wheels.. looks like i'm going to need a new set of tyres shortly too! damn
 
Oh well.. can't be sure, didn't seem to knock when moving it back & putting it in first to use the gears to stop & move forward avoiding putting brakes on.
fingers crossed it's the pads, really could do without more expense on cars!

Whats the go to pads for the b6's?
god knows what was on the car when I bought it, but I put on pagid ones from ECP which have been fine until now (if it is them causing this)

Better to fork out for the ATE pads? think that's what calipers are on the car.
 
Yeah ideally ATE pads, check the inner cv joint on the driveshaft they can cause a knock.


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I did suspect the driveshaft as another option, grabbing hold of the driveshaft you can pull & push it into and away from the hub slightly?. both side seemed the same, so guess that's ok???... or should then be solid.

The outer CV boots look good, must admit I didn't shine a light into the inners.

I'll bear that in mind for the next episode!.. need this sorting really as I've got a big drive coming up in October, plus the mrs is on autotrader every night!! we MUST get a newer car she says.

Another thing I've read is that maybe the pad has come away from the backing, so I'll need to make some time & get the pads out & have a look.

Thanks for your help & ideas, appreciate it.
 
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The driveshaft should move in and out a little to allow for suspension movement. I meant rotational wear if you try to turn the shaft does it knock?
Could be worth getting some sticky registration plate pads, clean off the brake pads and attach them, see if that helps?


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drive shaft didn't make any real noise that I could hear but i'll double check that with the wheel off.

Good shout on the sticky pads, was looking around to see if I had anything to hand to try a temporary fix. think I might have a couple of those around somewhere.... probably tidied up and put away somewhere safe no doubt!
 
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Well I've removed the pads & they had signs of rubbing/knocking on the back of the caliper (inside obviously) so thought that might be it.
Changed the pads, cleaned & greased the slider pins & added new wire/clips on the outside.

Still knocked!!... damn
So not the pads/brakes.

After doing them it then knocked (same sounding knocking sound) when I turned & went onto my drive, so up a small drop curb.
Maybe worth getting some new subframe bolts? they seem tight enough.
Can they be changed one at a time without disturbing anything else?
 
you know what, I bought some of those roll bar bushes years back when it knocked, but the knock was the roll bar link itself.
So I've got them somewhere.
Just removing the under tray on a drive is a bit of a pig isn't it!

Thanks for the subframe bolt torque specs that's spot on, guess that should be a cheap & easy swap to rule out.
Wish I had a ramp!!..
 
When the links are knocking it's causing wear on those bushes too, I'd try changing them first and see if it stops knocking however I do still think it's the subframe as they are strtch bolts and will never tighten up as much as the first time.
Do you have axle stands, that would do, weather permitting, just make sure it's safe and level.
Where I stay there's a disused lorry yard with drive on ramps it was perfect, then some barsteward bought the property and filled them in :(
 
that's a shame!, sounds ideal.. until they ruined it for you.
I have access to axle stands, thinking about it, might possibly be able to get my hands on those small ramps to put the wheels on, the car might be too low to drive up those though.
 
only the standard sports suspension, just thinking bumper might hit the ramps.. might try to have a look over the weekend.
 
Might yes, I have SE suspension with 18 inch wheels so it sits high, it drove straight on car ramps.


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My money's still on a broken weld inside the sub frame, it's a known problem by Audi that's why they superseded it.
 
:coldsweat:Really..
I've not heard/read much about that being a common fault.
Is this something that I'd be able to check over on the drive? any suggestions on common places to look. (don't like the way you say 'inside' the subframe..)

Any ideas on what I can check before forking out cash is fine with me!.
I'm a bit reluctant to take it to a garage yet as it's not always that noticeable, so knowing my luck it wouldn't do it when I want it to.

For example, my 15mile drive to work this morning, I didn't notice it at all!??! it was raining, wonder if that had an effect as it was happening most times I started & stopped prior to this morning.

I hate these knocking noises!, I've got a couple of pretty long drives coming up & could do without the doubt hanging over my head about whether it's something bad or not!... everything suspension/brakes seems to look ok, nothing looked like it was ready to fall off!
 
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A garage found the problem on mine, they had it on their shaker ramp & showed me it moving, there's a strengthening bar runs through the hollow part of the frame, you can see it through various holes & slots, what i did was take the part number off the sticker which you should be able to see, called TPS for a price, £850 + vat but was told that part was superseeded & to use one off an early b7, i looked on eblag & got one for £48 & the garage charged me £200 to fit it.
P


Better pic, the bar runs through t
cp023148-front-subframe-engine-support-97-02-vw-passat-audi-a4-18t-automatic.jpg
he top section.
Should have said it's the same part number but states it's for a b7.
 
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Interesting, thanks for the info.
What were your symptoms?

How long were you getting problems?

Typical, I've been thinking of getting a newer car recently and now this crops up!! Need 2 new front tyres too.

Driving home today it wasn't too bad but still there.
Maybe a red herring but I'm sure it made the single knock noise when I started the engine.

Watching the engine when firing it up, it didn't seem to move much so looked ok to me. Was wondering about engine mounts too.... it does have code showing for the fluid mount but that's been there forever and the mount looks ok, can't see any fluid leak?
 
Had the knock on slowly moving forward or reversing, also over aggressive sleeping policemen, garage said it was still safe to use & would not fail an MOT, it was annoying & that's why i did mine, noticed it days after buying it, all good after being changed.
 
That's a relief it's not dangerous.
In case it might be my problem.

I get the knock pulling away and stopping but nothing when going over the most harshest speed bumps.

That's why I was thinking brake pads, but they're now replaced.

Got a few things to look at now!
Sounds like an mot wouldn't even spot that subframe then.

Bit crap finding that just after buying it!
That's one reason I'm putting off replacing my cars, ,I've had them for years.
 
Unfortunately not, kid stuff all weekend hindered any car tinkering.

Got to MOT my mk4 golf in the next few weeks too!.. (really should sell it but can't bring myself to, it's my most reliable car!!!.. lol)
Plus had my 3 cars road tax reminder all come in on Friday!..
 
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