Another knocking noise thread :(

chrisash32

chrisash32

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Hello Everyone!!
Hows it going?
Had a knocking noise on my A4 Avant for about 9 months now and its gradually got worse and worse. However no one has yet been able to diagnose the problem. It has been to Audi, It has been to VW and my Local Specialist.

The first time you notice it is when setting off in the morning, engage reverse to leave my drive and second the car has rolled about 2ft you get a sharp knock. It sounds like its coming from the passenger corner. Sometimes this can be simulated by going forwards and backwards (knocking at each change or direction).

The next place this knocking comes into place is under steering at low speeds. Full lock left to right (when navigating into a parking space or round corners) we get the same sharp knock.

Really at a loss... Sometimes I think the steering feels a but vacant at speeds (have to keep adjusting), however the garage says that can be normal on the A4's.

Any Ideas on here?

Thanks!

Chris
 
monkey_lewis said:
The pads in the calipers? Sliding up and down... It wont be much but could be that....
Click to expand...

interesting... I did have new discs and pads last summer.. But something makes me think the knocking noise started before that.
 
Had it on a golf 4 tdi before where the pads were knocking in the calipers heard more at slow speeds when manouvering and parking...
 
Loose pads would give a light rattle unless they are the wrong size!The steering should not be vague if its set up right.Knocking like this sounds like it could be a CV joint or worn bush on the antiroll bar.CV would be a continuous knock on full lock slow circles.bushes are harder to track down
 
Chris, if you can emulate the noise reliably, can you try and put the car in the same situation but keep a light pressure on the brake pedal? That will see if it's loose pads.
 
audi upgrades
i had an engine mount shear completely in two and it made a knocking noise on take off and when you lifted off the accelerator at slow speed, as the engine moved about, lift the bonnet and go for a start off(obviously make sure you cant hit anything and look through the gap at the bottom of the lifted bonnet), When my engine mount had gone you could see the engine lifting on the side of the knackered mount.Failing that you could eliminate anything to do with the antiroll bar by taking it off and having a test drive its a 10 min job to remove and you dont even have to jack it up, would be a good place to start as it would eliminate the drop links ,antiroll bar and bushes. after that your looking at other components ranging from all 4 arms,track rod ends,shocker top mounts, subframe bushes etc.

if you jack up the offending corner and give the trackrod end a wiggle side to side you will be able to tell if there is excess play in the outer track rod as it will rotate easily and make a knocking noise, a sure sign there is excess play in it and may help to explain the wandering of your steering slightly.
 
Thanks for all the replies everyone!!

I am going to test out some of the ideas suggested today.

Cheers
 
audi upgrades
Just a bump, did you ever sort this problem?
 
hartey said:
Just a bump, did you ever sort this problem?
Click to expand...


Sadly not and its getting worse :( Still can't pin point it though.

Have scanned the car and no faults come up relating to engine mounts. I have had someone sit in the engine bay and watch the mounts whilst I move the car, they couldn't see any problems when the noise happened.

I was then "guaranteed" by a garage that it was my front drop links.. So I replaced both of them, absolutely no change :(

Had the wheels off and checked the brake pads, all seem fine. Also had a look at the suspension arms too whilst they were off and nothing looks odd and all is tight..

Really at a loss...

One thing i did note though, it does it in change of direction / force. IE, setting off or when brakes are applied. Also when steering at slow speeds. However it won't doing it when dry steering.

Like i said, at a loss :(
 
also, just had another quick read through the suggestions. There are some i have forgot to try, so might give them a go on Monday. I tried to get a video the other night but the camera didn't pick the sound up.

One thing i did note from reading back just then. The drivers side of the engine does appear to lift when i set off.. is this normal?
 
audi upgrades
I've got the same problem at the minute got a good mobile mechanic coming out this afternoon to have a look, If you have checked everything which i reckon you have, have you checked tha actual subframe?? Read below from another site well worth a look.

Clunking noise solved! - AudiWorld Forums
 
my knock is also still there, at this point its looking like a front sub frame bush, the knock comes when the sub frame has been under load and has tension built up at the mount point from structure twist and when a strong vibration such as a sharp turn out of a junction or engine start up causes the tension to get released and a sudden knock comes, you can never see it as its so well tightened up under there and the mounts are all covered up, my car goes back in on Tuesday for a sub frame inspection which means its got to come off,
 
hi all

same as knocking noise too
on hard left from stand still ..so as you do!!:detective2: get the thing on a lift and look and poke around ...
1 broken gearbox mount ...replaced .....
still there ...
ahhhhhh mid section banging and rubbing when on hard left .... problem done ....

hope that helps ..
 
audi upgrades
Another cause after everythng else has been checked is the subframe mounting bolts that have stretched and this is also a problem on the seat forums and there are 4 uprated??(or better) bolts everyone is changing to for less than £15 part number N-908-235-01(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/rynmls/101.jpg) only know this as my mate has a 57 plate seat and he's done it, Another one i've read since having noticing the clunk is the bolts under the battery for the steering rack coming loose, All worth a look and well worth changing the subframe mounting bolts for under £15 before paying a garage to try and find the problem.
 
Last edited:
have also heard that the b6 are common for the steering rack mounting bolts coming loose causing a knock... if you can get the car on a 4 poster ramp just grab the rack and give it a shake
 
well i am not sure if my problem is same, but mine does single knock when put reverse gear on and trying to park backwards. that knock appears only when i try to reverse car. My street is very narrow so have to park my car as close as possible to kerb so i do that only backwards to be able see kerb in mirror,so when i stop/put reverse gear on/steer wheel/release brake pedal to start move backwards then that single loud knock appears. Other than in that situation it never happens. Any ideas? Past MOT with no advisories.
 
Check the pads, I had a rear pad friction material come away from the backing plate and it would make a loud single knock. Take each wheel out and check the pads.
 
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Reactions: DeNi
Just a thought on this knock, as mines started doing it sometimes, if I reverse park it, it will knock the first time I next brake forwards, then it will knock once the first time I brake backwards etc. Sounds on mine as though the front disc(s) are moving slightly on the studs, causing a metallic knock.
When I get a chance I'll put packing around the studs and see if it shuts up.. I'll post the results.
I replaced my front discs a couple of years ago with non-genuine ones, probably fleabay sh!te.. maybe theres more clearance around the studs then genuine ones..
 
demus said:
Just a thought on this knock, as mines started doing it sometimes, if I reverse park it, it will knock the first time I next brake forwards, then it will knock once the first time I brake backwards etc. Sounds on mine as though the front disc(s) are moving slightly on the studs, causing a metallic knock.
When I get a chance I'll put packing around the studs and see if it shuts up.. I'll post the results.
I replaced my front discs a couple of years ago with non-genuine ones, probably fleabay sh!te.. maybe theres more clearance around the studs then genuine ones..
Click to expand...

discs cannot move on the studs as the wheel would have to be loose. Will probably be your pads that have come away from the backing plate.
 
I also had same fault. However, it was the gearbox mount. Visual inspection gave nothing. However, car was put on the ramp and with foot break pressed and car in first gear the clutch was released and pressed causing engine and transmission to move but not the car. The mechanic was under the ramp and easy diagnosed it to be gearbox mount.

hope it helps
 
My 2013 A4 Avant Black Edition has a very noticeable "clonk" when the brakes are pressed when moving in reverse, has anyone identified the cause or had the same issue on their B8.5 model? I have spoken to my Audi Dealer and they said it was a "characteristic" of the brake pads moving in the calliper which I do not accept as the clonk is quite severe and has only appeared during the past 2,000 miles (car has covered 5,000)

Any pointers to the cause greatly appreciated.

Dave
 
Hi all,

I am new to forums and this is the first I've signed up to so apologies if I am following the wrong process. I have recently had the exact same problem as the first poster am have spent a large amount of money in finding it. I found it frustrating when trying to problem solve that no one had put what the problem was in the end so this is to save you a whole heap of pain.

I have an Audi A4 B6 Quattro. It's a 54 plate with 117,000. My clunking/knocking/banging was happening the the following situations:

Firm braking
Full lock left and right in reverse
Hitting pot holes or bumps in the road

I had the brakes done earlier in the year and this was a problem prior to getting them done which was not resolved by new pads and discs. Having had a read around and an advisory on the MOT I opted for new upper arms. This turned out to be a hugely expensive job as I needed new hubs (£650 parts only!!!). After getting the car back with the noise still I was gutted!! After a £1200 bill it still had the noise.

I jumped on the internet an came up with a list of about half a dozen other things. I took the car back into the garage and gave them some ideas as to what the problem might be. They had also made a few phone calls to Audi garages to see if they could point them in the right direction. After them having the car for 10 minutes they found that the sub frame bolts were loose due to stretching. They also noticed that the subframe ha been moving slightly as well. The subframe moving had been making a loud knocking/bang and the bolts had been making a quieter creaking/knocking. The bolts only set me back about £4 a piece.

I'm having the bolts replaced Monday but in the meantime they have tightened them up an the noise has all but disappeared. I recommend to anyone at tree that if you have the same symptoms as above, get these bolts replaced first!!! I had to fin out the hard way an spend £1200 fixing other problems before I fixed the problem I wanted solving.
 
Hay everyone
I have audi a4 2012 1.8t
I this issue to, when I accelerate in 0 to 20 mph I hear a littel knocking like detonation sound.
I have been in audi garage thay told me this as normal sound.
Someday help please
 
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