Clunking Popping Coming from front end WTF?

[2.0T_A3]

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[AudiSoccer123]

Ok, best way to describe this is like such: imagine driving forward in a way to align the car to pull into the parking spot. Put it in reverse and start going backward. I hear a semi loud pop or clunk coming from a wheel well region. Could this be a brake pad hanging up on the rotor? It almost feels like gears not aligning and once you put enough pressure they jamb one into another. Weird... It also happens while backing out of the parking spaces. Thanks in advance.

Recently been getting the same thing but only when the wheel is turned to the left..very weird clunking sound too..very weird but its very recent like last two weeks or soo

[AudiSoccer123]

When in reverse backing up?

Yessir..its weird sounds like two pieces of metal idk like rubbing against each other..ill try to record it tomorrow morning or maybe right now and post it!

[AudiSoccer123]

Lets try to figure out what it might be.

Lol of course my phone dies as I'm trying to replicate it and of course i can't replicate it but I'm sure it'll happen in the morning! I might go back down and try to get it again! Maybe you can get a video

[aaronz]

Control arms


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[AudiSoccer123]

Control arms


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I just replaced pretty much all the bushings literally not even a month ago.. -.- or is it the actual control arm?

[aaronz]

Actual control arm, yes


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[AudiSoccer123]

Actual control arm, yes


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What..why? [:(] haha everything goes down hill right after warranty has expired..hhahaha its as if Audi knows..hey seems as though everything goes to shit at this time lets cut off warranty there -.- quite annoyed but i mean whats wrong with them exactly? cracking? or what? how would they go bad is what i don't understand? Because they are serviceable by replacing the bushings no?

[aaronz]

It's not broken it's just the geometry


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[aaronz]

Mine have done it since day one: left hand turn or right hand turn , sub 10mph usually over a slight curb or bump.

Put after markets on, still happens from time to time.


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[Pilfer]

Mine has made the noise as long as I can remember too. It was annoying at first but I hardly notice it now


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[aaronz]

Is it cold where you are at right now? Could just be a bushing getting stuff then letting loose, this a clunk but normal.


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[Will04]

Is it cold where you are at right now? Could just be a bushing getting stuff then letting loose, this a clunk but normal.


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I had the same issue with my 2011 since I drove it off the lot. It was never an issue though, just annoying. My 2014 does not do it however. I think there are a few more threads here about this.

[AudiSoccer123]

I mean mine is quite disrupting very loud and ever since i had the car..almost two years now it has only been happening recently.

[lapisia]

I have been told by other S4 owners and my mechanic who also owns an s4 that this is normal. I forgot what the explanation was but is nothing to worry about and happens for all s4's.

[maf9]

I had a noise matching your description...I took the tech for a ride, and he immediately zeroed in on some loose subframe bolts. Gave him the car, and a half hour later the sound was gone.

[AudiSoccer123]

I had a noise matching your description...I took the tech for a ride, and he immediately zeroed in on some loose subframe bolts. Gave him the car, and a half hour later the sound was gone.

That sounds reasonable but if I were to take it to a mechanic he would probably say well sir you need a new suspension...all of it. And charge me crazy amounts -.-

[chaos2984]

It could be wheel scrub across the ground due to the awd. But if its like a loud metallic or dull thud its not the tires and awd system. Its something like people described either loose subframe bolts or a control arm bushing. Control arm bushings are easy to check. Just jack up on the lower control arms on that one side and take a decent sized pry bar and pry up on that tire from under it and try to rock it and see if you get a feelable clunk or pop. Trust me sounds weird but you can feel it if the ball joints on the control arm are worn out.

The loose subframe bolts your not going to be able to see. You are just going to have to check each one and try to tighten it and see if it turns somewhat easier than the rest. if you find one that does than that is your problem.

[Chris Furman]

You go in reverse over a bump at 10 mph? LOL your problem isn't same as mine. Mine does it when I first start moving in reverse.


Mine did this on my A4. First time going into reverse. It was a brake bad that was shifting and making a metal to metal clank. Dealer changed pads under warranty, problem Resolved.

[AudiSoccer123]

Okay well I figure out that mine is only when I turn the wheel all the way left and as I'm turning from say center to left it clicks clicks clicks and clunks(did this in park). And often when Im in reverse and wheel turned left..makes very loud clunks.

[the4siswickid]

When you get the clunk, can you also feel it in the chassis and Wheel?. I get this now at 9k miles in reverse, when cold- very annoying... But I can feel AND hear it....


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[AudiSoccer123]

When you get the clunk, can you also feel it in the chassis and Wheel?. I get this now at 9k miles in reverse, when cold- very annoying... But I can feel AND hear it....


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Yes i can def feel it

[the4siswickid]

Ok, confirmed here too then. Same problem and just started.


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[the4siswickid]

Well, I don't have a brace. So, it's not that. It's bushings or subframe for me.


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[AudiSoccer123]

Couldn't it also be aftermarket springs binding? So I have heard!

[drob23]

Update: USP Motorsports didn't tighten the Alu Kreuz brace, hence the popping from the brace moving.

How the hell is that possible, did you get new bolts with your AK? They are stretch bolts, so the installation should be idiot proof.

[AudiSoccer123]

[QUOTE=2.0T_A3;10324665]My springs are stock.

I meant for me haha i have aftermarket springs!

[trevor51590]

My springs are stock.



Haha. I thought the AK brace came with new stretch bolts. When I looked at the bolts they looked like they had a wrench on them more than once. I guess the guy at USP didn't install new bolts and it backed out somehow or he just didn't tighten them enough. I have noticed car became "floaty' again on the highway. Since, the brace was my suspect along with the notorious caliper binding.


Can you give me some more info on the caliper binding? I think I have that issue up front

[05blacks4]

mine just started doing this when i first back straight out of the garage at less than 10 mph. sounds like a quick clunk. Mine is a 14 S4 with 13,300 miles. I don't care though trading the car in within the week or so :)

[IanVr6]

mine just started doing this when i first back straight out of the garage at less than 10 mph. sounds like a quick clunk. Mine is a 14 S4 with 13,300 miles. I don't care though trading the car in within the week or so :)

What are you getting?

[05blacks4]

Well I want an m3 or carrera but with the Audi employee pricing its a no brainer for me to get an S5

[esimp2k]

[QUOTE=2.0T_A3;10324054]Update: USP Motorsports didn't tighten the Alu Kreuz brace, hence the popping from the brace moving.

Nice install!

[roadkillrob]

[QUOTE=esimp2k;10326483]

Yeah right. I came there to ask to get it looked at and they told me "we can't because we are cleaning the shop and the lifts are unplugged, come back in a couple of days", who cares my chassis brace is loose....

I would never go there again with this shoddy work and an obvious disregard for customer service and saftey. They don't deserve to have customers!