2004 A4 1.8TQM
I got my new wheels yesterday. They're 19x8.5 ET38. Tires are 235x35x19 Falken 452s. Got everything mounted and balanced, then threw them on the car (Yes I used the centering rings that came with them). Drove 3 miles to get to work and theres a knocking sound coming from the front end. Seems like its the front right wheel. Weird thing is it only makes the noise when I'm coasting. If my foot is on the gas or break I dont hear anything.
This was yesterday on my way to work, I dropped it off 3 blocks away from my work to my tire shop (I work for Enterprise
) and he said its definitely the front right wheel but nothing is rubbig and he couldn't see anything wrong, but they were closing so he said bring it back in the morning. Drove home 3 miles. Drive home I didnt notice it as much but it still happened when coasting down the road.....This morning drove to work and it was still there, same thing, not when on gas or brake, just when coasting..... No difference from when im turning or on a bumpy road. It's an inconsistent knocking/thumping noise, its difficult to explain... (**today on the drive home from work i noticed that if i have my foot very lightly on the gas I hear it, but not if im accelerating or braking.. I noticed if I just tap the gas a little, after I release it I hear the noise a couple times but its very inconsistent
)Brought it back first thing this morning to my tire guy and he checked it out for me again. It was a different guy but I like him better and he talked to the guy who helped me the previous day about it too. He test drove it around the block, heard it and said the same, its the front right, couldn't see anything wrong though. I've been talking to Wheelsnext.com where I ordered the wheels from and they're being very cooperative so far. They said to see if I can figure it out and if its was mount or balance issue they would reimburse me. My guy remounted the tire and balanced it again... Didn't help
He said everything is on tight, suspension is fine. He also suspected a wheel bearing was messed up but checked it and its fine.HELP.. What do you think the problem could be?
Also if it means anything I'm on H&R/bilstein sport suspension which I had installed about 3 weeks ago and had no problems at all until I put the new wheels on. Is it possible its just a defective tire or wheel? Wheelsnext said I will probably have to ship it back and have them inspect it free of charge and they would replace the wheel.
I'm considering putting one of my stock 16s back on just to drive it and make sure its not the suspension and make sure it is that one wheel... (**as of today I just want to take them all off anyway but its hard cause its getting late and i just got home from work so sadly it might have to wait until tomorrow night)
Any ideas guys?
Update - on my drive home about a half hour ago I seemed to think the noise is coming more from the front center of the car, somewhere under the hood, but I'm leaning more toward it being the right wheel, especially since my guy at the shop said it too. Some other things I did to see if I can duplicate the sound were rev the engine in neutral, but didnt hear it. Coast down the road and wait for it and wouldnt hear it but then sometimes I would, like I said its very inconsistent.... I took it on the highway today for about 1 mile stretch and I heard it slightly when I let off the gas(the wind noise made it a little harder to hear it), but not when accelerating, braking, or turning. Shifting, speeding up, braking, and turning I dont hear it. Please help. I dont want to send my wheel to the manufacturer out in Cali and wait two weeks if you dont think its the wheel.
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Originally Posted by GrisAudiB6
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