Strange happenings in reverse with front wheels turned

[harley141213]

Ill probably end up going to the garage with this, but I thought I’d just see if anyone recognised it.

I have a 2011 A4 Dynamik, tfsi manual.

all is fine with the car except for when reversing, particularly with the front wheels turned, as you do when backing out of a supermarket parking space.
The car seems fine in reverse going straight, but anything more than half lock on the steering it starts to feel notchy/ gritty and appears like it’s struggling. Same if I reverse onto my drive which has a very slight incline. Owing to cars parked opposite I have to have the steering on full lock.

the car has just hit 102k and has full service history. One issue I have is my hearing isn’t what it was so sometimes there are things I can’t hear, I certainly can’t hear any untoward noise from the car.

im thinking possible drive shaft issue??

if so is it best to replace both on the front end?

the sensation that I’m picking up from the car does feel like it’s coming from the front end.
To summarise, under normal driving there are no knocks or indication of anything loose/ broken

thanks

sean

 

[spartacus68]

Unusual for the driveshafts to wear at a 100k, except you are going to hard lock, so outer CV joints are worth a look, check rubber boots are intact, no splits. Grease thrown up the wheel arch liner is a tell-tale sign.

This isn't a quattro, which it's known to crab on full lock, going forward or reverse and characteristic of the 4 wheel drive system, sometimes accentuated by type of tyres and tread depth.

I'd also look at tie rod ends and the steering rack to see if any play.

Sometimes the top-mount bearing seizes. It gets road salt, water and all matter of things thrown at it. Just did the suspension on my wife's i3 to replace a gaiter on the shock absorber and when it was out noticed the top bearing was as rough as a badger. The road salt had actually sheared the bottom bearing race. Signs are usually a tell-tale twang from the coil spring on full lock.

The car needs lifted on both sides and a proper inspection with front wheels on, then off. I wouldn't go anywhere near a main dealer by the way. A trusted Indy is the way to go.

 

[quattrogone]

its a quattro

 

[jl-c]

My 74000 mile S4 (Quattro) does the same, or similar. Always has. I just assumed that was a "feature" or a tyres issue.

 

[spartacus68]

its a quattro

Thought Dynamic was just a special edition similar to Technik. Every day is a school day.

 

[Andy Butcher]

Ill probably end up going to the garage with this, but I thought I’d just see if anyone recognised it.

I have a 2011 A4 Dynamik, tfsi manual.

all is fine with the car except for when reversing, particularly with the front wheels turned, as you do when backing out of a supermarket parking space.
The car seems fine in reverse going straight, but anything more than half lock on the steering it starts to feel notchy/ gritty and appears like it’s struggling. Same if I reverse onto my drive which has a very slight incline. Owing to cars parked opposite I have to have the steering on full lock.

the car has just hit 102k and has full service history. One issue I have is my hearing isn’t what it was so sometimes there are things I can’t hear, I certainly can’t hear any untoward noise from the car.

im thinking possible drive shaft issue??

if so is it best to replace both on the front end?

the sensation that I’m picking up from the car does feel like it’s coming from the front end.
To summarise, under normal driving there are no knocks or indication of anything loose/ broken

thanks

sean

Sean,

you don't say if it's a Quattro or not, if it is then the noises from the front end are quite normal as Spartacus68 said above.
I own a 2015 S4 with only 24k miles which does it, it's perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

 

[harley141213]

Hi,

thanks for that reply, yes it’s a quattro, I assumed when I said it was a dynamik all knew they were quattro. ( my fault)

that makes me feel better, especially now my mechanics had it today and gave it a thorough check over, only to say he couldn’t find anything wrong with it.

I just don’t remember my B6 s line quattro doing it

 

[Andy Butcher]

Many years ago I owned D plate Coupe Quattro (oh how I wish I still had it as they're worth a lot of money now) and the only time that crabbed was when I locked the diffs, so when I bought my S4 I was thinking the same as you I.E have I bought a lemon and the transmission is ******.
Thankfully this helpful website allayed my fears a tad and after speaking to some Quattro specialists my mind was put at rest, perfectly normal.

 

[harley141213]

Cheers

 

[quattrogone]

It's fine unless you have recently changed the alloys in which case you better put the originals back on sharpish....

 

[harley141213]

Haha.

 

[audiwaterpump]

the consensus is that it is normal.
Anyone know why it makes that noise?

 

[Rodz]

As far as I can see it’s a tyre scrubbing issue with Quattro’s mine has always done it too.

 

[CupraDine]

I notice it more in the cold on my A6, sounds like the trye is dragging on the ground. Like others I think it's down to the quattro system not allowing enough slip between the wheels. My oil is also in need of changing which may make it worse.

 

[quattrogone]

Mine doesn't do it...I'm feeling a bit left out

 

[harley141213]

Is yours back on the road now then having been stripped out for replacement “ not quite so mint “ interior trim

 

[quattrogone]

 

[Mackenzie49]

I haven't noticed it on my present Dynamik, and not on 6 previous older quattros.