What's this sound? [Video Inside]

[BlingOnMyWrist]

UPDATE: Added another video without the shift boot or dust cover, so you can hear it much better.

My S4 started making a "tinging" sound initially a few weeks ago, which sounded like a fan hitting something while I decelerated in 2nd gear sometimes. As time went on it started making a much faster "chattering" sound. While I was driving (accelerating as well now). It's much louder, however, when I'm decelerating. This is the sound I hear. It sounds to me like it's coming from right below me in the center of the car somewhere. The car does not feel strange at all though. No lapse in acceleration, the gears feel great.
I brought it in to get a look at it but the sound is very hard to duplicate on a lift without load on the wheels (tried to duplicate sound with wheels in the air, on a lift). They seemed to believe that it's the drive shaft though.

Sound video #1:


Sound video #2:


If it is the drive shaft, is a complete drive shaft swap the way to go? From what my mechanic found, there's some place in California that sells rebuilt ones for $400 with a core swap.
If the drive shaft does have to be replaced, it may give me a good enough excuse just go ahead and get a custom exhaust done and have that put in instead of my stock exhaust

[discoverdeath]

I had that same sound.... Under load but no power. Turns out my cheap replacement cats died and stated to come apart. Cut those bitches out. Good luck with the repairs sir.

[BlingOnMyWrist]

I had that same sound.... Under load but no power. Turns out my cheap replacement cats died and stated to come apart. Cut those bitches out. Good luck with the repairs sir.

How would the cats make so much noise when less exhaust is flowing through them?

I'm going to try to take the shift boot/dust cover off and make another video, which should be louder if this one's hard to hear..

[S4 S4 S4]

Sounds like plastic rubbing on something, doesnt really sound like metal tinging.

[BlingOnMyWrist]

Added new video in original post. You can definitely hear the sound better.

[ChrisGS4]

Center drive shaft would be my guess but not sure.

[xhackerekx]

sound like dual mass flywheel gone

[BlingOnMyWrist]

sound like dual mass flywheel gone

I'd hope not. It was just replaced last February.

[xhackerekx]

^^
OEM new bolts proper torque and new flywheel ???

[gingershassouls]

Check your bolts that attach the drive shaft to the tranny, I had the same issue today and one of my bolts had vibrated loose and was hitting the shield surrounding the drive shaft.

[BlingOnMyWrist]

^^
OEM new bolts proper torque and new flywheel ???

I had my transmission rebuilt, new RS4 Clutch, OEM Dual Mass FW, new bolts & throw out bearing installed last February... By a reputable shop.

Check your bolts that attach the drive shaft to the tranny, I had the same issue today and one of my bolts had vibrated loose and was hitting the shield surrounding the drive shaft.

I don't believe that's it. They did a full inspection with it up on the lift. This would be obvious, wouldn't it?

Am I the first person to have this problem? Can Scotty or one of the Techs chime in maybe? The next thing I'll end up having to do is strapping my phone to the bottom of my car to film what's going on..

[GWerks]

Axle?

[tinydragon2001]

Might be a cv joint.

[discoverdeath]

Not the cats like I said... No way. Something is rubbing. Have You checked the rear for the hand brake cable? Do you feel anything at the wheel?

[jibberjive]

Keep us updated, I'm working out some funky drivetrain noises as well.

I don't believe that's it. They did a full inspection with it up on the lift. This would be obvious, wouldn't it?

No, it wouldn't be obvious, unless they took off the exhaust, heat shield and the shield off that covers that flange. If you look at the pic below, the shield is the black part just right of the open pipe here. The exhaust is blocking the shield, and the shield is blocking the bolt. The sound could very likely be that, if one of the bolts backed out.

[BlingOnMyWrist]

Keep us updated, I'm working out some funky drivetrain noises as well.



No, it wouldn't be obvious, unless they took off the exhaust, heat shield and the shield off that covers that flange. If you look at the pic below, the shield is the black part just right of the open pipe here. The exhaust is blocking the shield, and the shield is blocking the bolt. The sound could very likely be that, if one of the bolts backed out.

Hmmm.. well I know they had the heat shield out while they were looking at it (they just slipped it out the side). I don't remember seeing that black cover though.

[jibberjive]

It's silver btw, mine's just black because I drove on open downpipes for 2 days before doing the exhaust.