Rattle/Thunk on RH side over bumps??

[MerkurRS]

I am going nuts listening to what seems to be a rattle or thunking when going over bumps in the road. [headbang]
Last week, while changing brake pads, I looked around underneath pretty well. Didn't see any excessive movement or wear on any bushings. Bumped the exhaust around, nothing. Banged on the suspension, shocks, etc...nothing. I removed everything from the trunk, made sure spare and battery are secure. I am ready to start disassembling anything I can in hopes to find the source. This is a stock car.....
Suggestions???[confused]

[Audibot]

If you're still in warranty and it's stock, then maybe take it to the dealership and get a tech to ride along with you. Might be able to diagnose problem for you.

[Leor604]

Check the subframe reinforcement mounting bolts. Mine came loose and caused some clunking (stock, never touched). Dealer replaced the bolts as they are a one-time-use stretch bolt and problem was fixed. Since replaced with Alu Kreuz, no problems.

[mail.markbutler]

I am going nuts listening to what seems to be a rattle or thunking when going over bumps in the road. [headbang]
Last week, while changing brake pads, I looked around underneath pretty well. Didn't see any excessive movement or wear on any bushings. Bumped the exhaust around, nothing. Banged on the suspension, shocks, etc...nothing. I removed everything from the trunk, made sure spare and battery are secure. I am ready to start disassembling anything I can in hopes to find the source. This is a stock car.....
Suggestions???[confused]

Hello. I'm wondering if I have a similar rattle. Did you ever find a resolution?

I'm running a bone-stock 2012 S4. My rattle sounds like it is coming from the front suspension. I don't notice it when going over larger bumps. It is most noticeable when going over seams in the concrete or cracks in asphalt paving. The funny thing (and I believe this will be a key to determining the cause) is that the noise goes away when I depress the brake pedal. I don't have to depress it hard to get the noise to stop only to the point where the pads seem to make contact with the rotor. Another possible link is that my front brakes squeal when coming to a stop. There doesn't seem to be a CONSISTENT pattern of speed or pressure on the pedal. It is happens 80% of the time but not always with the same pedal pressure. It is maddening!!!

I noticed both noises about 2 months ago, shortly after having the front wheel bearings replaced at 60K miles. Both the "possible suspension" rattle and brake squeal have gotten worse and more prevalent over the past couple of months. I had originally thought maybe it was a rusted heat shield or that the shop didn't tighten everything up tight when both front wheel bearings were replaced back in September. I've had the car back into the same shop 3 times now. They have had it up on the lift all 3 times and can't find any type of suspension issue. I've taken the tech for a ride and have duplicated both noises. They can clearly hear both noises. I trust this shop and have only been using it for service for the past 7 years on various cars including other VW/Audi cars. So far they haven't charged me any type of diagnostic fee.

I'm at a loss other than I HATE the noise. Here is a YouTube link (https://youtu.be/SCHeg3wx24Y) to a video that I took while driving. It is about 30 seconds long. The "possible suspension" noise becomes more noticeable about 15 seconds in to the video. The brake squeal can be heard right at the end when coming to a stop.

I'm curious if you figured out your noise or if you have any suggestions???

Thanks SO much!

[db12]

I am going nuts listening to what seems to be a rattle or thunking when going over bumps in the road. [headbang]
Last week, while changing brake pads, I looked around underneath pretty well. Didn't see any excessive movement or wear on any bushings. Bumped the exhaust around, nothing. Banged on the suspension, shocks, etc...nothing. I removed everything from the trunk, made sure spare and battery are secure. I am ready to start disassembling anything I can in hopes to find the source. This is a stock car.....
Suggestions???[confused]

Do you have an upgraded rear sway bar? Mine clunks like a mad mad after adding that due to stiffer endlinks and not the stock rubber bushings

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

Hello. I'm wondering if I have a similar rattle. Did you ever find a resolution?

I'm running a bone-stock 2012 S4. My rattle sounds like it is coming from the front suspension. I don't notice it when going over larger bumps. It is most noticeable when going over seams in the concrete or cracks in asphalt paving. The funny thing (and I believe this will be a key to determining the cause) is that the noise goes away when I depress the brake pedal. I don't have to depress it hard to get the noise to stop only to the point where the pads seem to make contact with the rotor. Another possible link is that my front brakes squeal when coming to a stop. There doesn't seem to be a CONSISTENT pattern of speed or pressure on the pedal. It is happens 80% of the time but not always with the same pedal pressure. It is maddening!!!

I noticed both noises about 2 months ago, shortly after having the front wheel bearings replaced at 60K miles. Both the "possible suspension" rattle and brake squeal have gotten worse and more prevalent over the past couple of months. I had originally thought maybe it was a rusted heat shield or that the shop didn't tighten everything up tight when both front wheel bearings were replaced back in September. I've had the car back into the same shop 3 times now. They have had it up on the lift all 3 times and can't find any type of suspension issue. I've taken the tech for a ride and have duplicated both noises. They can clearly hear both noises. I trust this shop and have only been using it for service for the past 7 years on various cars including other VW/Audi cars. So far they haven't charged me any type of diagnostic fee.

I'm at a loss other than I HATE the noise. Here is a YouTube link (https://youtu.be/SCHeg3wx24Y) to a video that I took while driving. It is about 30 seconds long. The "possible suspension" noise becomes more noticeable about 15 seconds in to the video. The brake squeal can be heard right at the end when coming to a stop.

I'm curious if you figured out your noise or if you have any suggestions???

Thanks SO much!

The brake squealing will happen with OEM pads once you get past the 1/2 or 2/3 use portion of them. It will happen more in the cold than warm weather when it does this and it'll also happen more while turning than going straight and then progress to also happening more as you go straight. It's just the pads themselves and not any squealers on them since they don't have those. It's annoying and makes it sound like you need brakes, but there's still some pad left. I honestly believe it's almost like Audi made them this way so that they could make money off people replacing pads/rotors when the noise starts because a dealership won't replace just the pads and this happens before you even need to replace the pads, let alone replace the rotors. It's stupid...

[mail.markbutler]

Hmm. Thx for the info on the break pads. Mine are past 1/2 worn but still plenty of pad per my 3rd party repair shop.


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[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

Hmm. Thx for the info on the break pads. Mine are past 1/2 worn but still plenty of pad per my 3rd party repair shop.


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Yep, that's about the time they start doing it when the weather is colder out. It's only going to get worse. I think it's just the OEM pads that have this problem and even the newest versions of them still do.

[jygesq]

is it possible it is your hood . I had clunking noise from front of car going over raised drive way entries. Dealer opened hood, when over same places noise occurred and noise was gone. dealer put felt tape put on bottom of hood bumpers to cured the noise, others have had same noise according to my post about the noise.

[mail.markbutler]

I will double check the hood. Thx. The only thing is that it wouldn't explain why the noise stops when applying the brakes.


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