Vibration when backing up

[RandyL]

Ever since picking up my S4 with 8,000 miles on it (Certified Pre-Owned) I have felt a vibration when backing out of a parking place and turning, which we all do most of the time. I've assumed it was one of the differentials or diff clutches or something and just haven't taken the time to take it back to the dealer to check on it. Anyone else get this, and is it normal?

[Mr.Tan]

does it also do it when making sharp/slow turns going forward? if so, its normal... it has something to do with the way the awd is on the audi... i questioned it too when i first got mine (made a thread here) and asked my buddy who works service at the audi dealership and he explained it to me.


if it bothers you enough, make an appointment. I have a feeling that is all it is tho

[Dr GP]

This is a very common question asked by many owners who are not familiar driving AWD cars and it is perfectly normal. When you turn a car at low speeds , the wheels/tires on the inside of the car have a different turning radius than those on the right side. With AWD it is difficult for the AWD system to compensate for this difference at slow speeds. What you are feeling is the Quattro system and the tires on the car compensating for the difference in the radii. Happens on my AWD Mountaineer as well.

[SteveYem]

How far do you have the steering wheel turned when you notice the vibration? I have noticed this on both my old B8 and my B8.5 but in both cases only when the wheel is turned farther than half way to full lock.

[RandyL]

How far do you have the steering wheel turned when you notice the vibration? I have noticed this on both my old B8 and my B8.5 but in both cases only when the wheel is turned farther than half way to full lock.
I only feel the vibration when turning nearly full lock, and it does it both going forward and backward though I think it might be more pronounced when in reverse.

Sounds like this is likely normal then?

[MVR 155]

Completely normal for sharp, low speed maneuvers..... nothing to worry about as the others have stated.

[brianc21]

I've noticed that my 2014 tends to struggle in reverse while going up a slight incline (backing up my drive way into my garage). It's almost like it has trouble transferring the power to the front with the majority of the weight on the front end.

I know, it's not a vibration, but I didn't want to get yelled at for starting a whole new thread. Any one else experience this?

[amz]

The low-speed vibration, is it the tires scrubbing the pavement, or the traction control system trying to transfer power, or something else?

[drob23]

The low-speed vibration, is it the tires scrubbing the pavement, or the traction control system trying to transfer power, or something else?
The center diff is torque equalizing, not speed equalizing. The issue is the front wheels spin at different speeds than the rear (technically every wheel spins at different rating during low speed full turning, but each axle has a differential - front is open, rear is open or sports diff). You are feeling tire scrub as the effect of the center diff attempting to speed up one axle faster than it wants.

[amz]

The center diff is torque equalizing, not speed, the issue is the front wheels spin at different speeds than the rear (technically every wheel spins different at low speed near full lock turning, but each axle has a differential- front is open, rear is open or sports diff). You are feeling tire scrub as the effect of the center diff attempting to speed up one axle faster than it wants.

Thanks for the answer! I had the same scrub on my 2011 A4 as I do on my 2012 S4 w/ sports diff, so that makes sense. It's the same center diff.

[provenflipper]

I miss this... I need Quattro back badly.