'05 S4 B6 4.2L clicking noises in front end

[avilla02]

I am noticing clicking noises coming from the front end when i turn the steering wheel all the way as i am backing out of my garage. the noise occurs when i turn the wheel full in either directions. the dealer claimed it was the front end wheel bearings and they replaced them under my waranty. i am still hearing the same clicking noises along with a moaning noise when i do slow turns at 5 mph or less from the power steering.

are these symptoms part of the same problem or part of different problems? i will be taking the car back a second time to have the clicking and steering addressed. could it be they missed the CV joints?

[Rapid TDI]

From what it sounds like it is the CV joints (both of them if it makes the clicking noises when turning left or right).
the moaning noises when turning the steering wheel is from the steering rack which is a sign of it about to die out on you.... until you do get it checked out and sorted i would advice 4 you to turn the steering calmy without any force as this resulted in one of my mates cars steering rack to leak the power steering fluid from it making the car very very hard to steer indeed..... aparently the steering fluid leaked through some seals in the steering rack which caused the fluid to leak out completely resulting in replacing the steering rack.

[avilla02]

Thanks for the heads up on what to look for.

Unfortunately, the dealer claims they couldn't repeat what I hear when I pulling out of my garage. I believe them when they say everything is "tight" in the suspension, and everything should darn well be. What bothers me is they are making no attempt to identify a noise they are not familiar with. It is noise you have to listen for, and this is not something they will hear in the garage where there is the background noise of other cars being worked on. The steering part checked out fine as it turns out, I guess i'll have to believe them.

I pay close attention to this car and know every little noise, whine, and rumble it makes. This remaining clicking noise is not normal to driving this car, I am getting concerned this could potentially be a serious design flaw and the dealer is either incapable, or not willing to identify it or fix it. I don't mean to be OCD about this, I would just like an explaination of what is causing this and if it's going to become a serious problem. I have 8K miles left on the waranty so I need to decide if it's worth keeping or not. If anyone here can help arm me with knowledge then I can take it back to the dealer and point them in the right direction what to look for specifically.

To recap, it use to click a lot more until both front wheel bearings were replaced by the dealer, then the clicking reduced to when I turn the wheel all the way to the left or right as I back out of my garage. Any takers? Thanks.

-Tony

[msharifi]

Originally Posted by avilla02

Thanks for the heads up on what to look for.

Unfortunately, the dealer claims they couldn't repeat what I hear when I pulling out of my garage. I believe them when they say everything is "tight" in the suspension, and everything should darn well be. What bothers me is they are making no attempt to identify a noise they are not familiar with. It is noise you have to listen for, and this is not something they will hear in the garage where there is the background noise of other cars being worked on. The steering part checked out fine as it turns out, I guess i'll have to believe them.

I pay close attention to this car and know every little noise, whine, and rumble it makes. This remaining clicking noise is not normal to driving this car, I am getting concerned this could potentially be a serious design flaw and the dealer is either incapable, or not willing to identify it or fix it. I don't mean to be OCD about this, I would just like an explaination of what is causing this and if it's going to become a serious problem. I have 8K miles left on the waranty so I need to decide if it's worth keeping or not. If anyone here can help arm me with knowledge then I can take it back to the dealer and point them in the right direction what to look for specifically.

To recap, it use to click a lot more until both front wheel bearings were replaced by the dealer, then the clicking reduced to when I turn the wheel all the way to the left or right as I back out of my garage. Any takers? Thanks.

-Tony

I have the same problem on my 2003 A4 1.8t AWD. My dealer told me that the heatsheild under the engine was damage due to the car going undersomething that ruin the heatsheild. I still cant find what they are talking about all the heatsheild is in place. They told me they try their best to fix the cerampled heatsheild. Anyhow to get the noise fixed the dealer told me alot of $$ and labor will be needed. My dealer at Audi of mission Vejio.

[avilla02]

the heat shield if i am not mistaken insulates the engine heat from the interior. if you ever do a 2+ hrs road trip in your A4 and take your shoes off you will notice how hot the floor panel behind the gas and brake pedals get.

i can't comment anymore about my S4 problem, yet it still resides and the dealer seems to not be sharp enough to their own safistication in possible engineering flaws in the steering/bearings issues that seem to linger in their B5 replacement for compact/sporty.

[hdariotisj]

06 b6 4.2 cab s4. i also have clicking in the front end of the car upon turning the wheel. any idea what this may be and do the dealers cover under warranty?

[666666]

what about!

[avilla02]

After my wheel bearings were replaced the clicking was reduced but never completely stopped. i think the engineering flaw to keep an eye on (aka you have to manage) is the heavy front end on this car. you have a bulky 4.2L (not to mention the torsen gearbox) in a compact frame so the weight and center of gravity is closer to the front putting more forces on the front brearings, brakes, CV joints, etc. when you brake hard or corner hard at lower speeds.

thankfully my car is running well enough to keep after my lease (knock on wood). but i tend to not drive faster then 5 mph when the wheel is turned all the way in either direction. i also tend to down shift in addition to breaking to reduce strain on the front end components. i think if you develop habits like this you might get a little less wear and tear on this compact muscle car.

[hdariotisj]

thanks. going on vacation next week, but will be taking it in the following week. think ill suggest they look at the bearings and the cv joints. planning to have an exhaust put on after that and dont want any flack from the dealer about fixing the front noise. car is auto and topless, so only does a flat 6 to 60. hope the exhaust helps a bit. have to admit though, the braking is top notch.

[RickT]

This is normally the OUTER CV joints..

if the noise is still present it will be due to worn inners..

Rick