Metallic Sound while driving

**vball280** · 01-27-2009 02:27 PM

I have a 2007 A3 which I absolutely love except for one BIG issue that no one has been able to resolve (currently its in the shop on its fourth attempt with two different service centers).

When driving at speeds around 35-45MPH we hear a metallic scrapping sound similar to what you would hear if your brakes were worn or needed replacing. However, this only happens when you are making a slow right or left turn in the road. Basically just barely turning right or left with the road. To complicate it, the issue goes away for a while (20 seconds or so) if you hit the brakes.

I'm VERY frustrated because the shops have heard the issue and can't seem to duplicate it on a rack (or fix it). We get all sorts of looks from other drivers who seem to be saying "get your car fixed". Trust me, we want the noise to go away as much as they do.

The situation is now causing us to consider trading out of the vehicle since we can't get a resolution to the issue.

I'm thinking it could be one of two things; brakes or bearings. However it doesn't sound like bearings and the brakes are not depressed when it happens. One service center mentioned that it might be a similar issue that the A4's had with the release of the calipers (or something like that) but when they got it in they said this was only on the A4's and not my A3.

Anyone have any ideas? We are days away from getting rid of a vehicle that I really like to drive and my opinion of Audi's will be negative for the rest of my life.

**krazyboi** · 01-27-2009 02:33 PM

Any suspension work done on your car? Have you always had this sound? Perhaps its the rotor guard or whatever that thing is called.

**terje_77** · 01-27-2009 10:46 PM

I think it's called a brake shield.

**vball280** · 01-28-2009 02:47 PM

No suspension work and it started about two months ago.

The 2nd service center is currently exploring the bearings.

We are now going into day four of my current effort to get this fixed with the new service center.

**SoFresh** · 01-28-2009 03:32 PM

- brake sheild
- bent rotor
- gravel stuck in the suspension/brakes somewhere
- gravel stuck in caliper
- broken control arm, or bent
- bracket of somesort dented

... whats sad is that 4 shops cant seem to find something wrong with it... possibly replace brake pads, add more silent goo junk in there?

**vball280** · 01-29-2009 11:44 AM

Nice thoughts and I'll definitely mention these things to the service center when I pick up a loaner vehicle tonight because they are still working on finding a solution to the issue (going on five days now).

One other thing that we noticed that might be a symptom of the issue. One of the wheel's rotors (driver's rear) shows a decent amount of rust toward the center. No other rotor is like this and we normally drive this on a daily basis. I could possibly see this happening if it was idle in our driveway or garage for a while but not when it is driven daily. While this is strange to me, neither service center has questioned it. Instead, the current one is more interested in selling me new tires (which I don't need). Yes, I have some slight cupping on them which makes them louder at higher speeds than I would prefer, however, it is not the cause of the metallic scrapping sound. The last I knew tires don't sound like bad brakes.

**krazyboi** · 01-29-2009 11:47 AM

constant rust? or just when you don't drive for a period of time? if the area of rust is where the pad doesn't touch the rotor...normal.

**vball280** · 01-30-2009 05:34 AM

It has constant rust even though we drive this daily about 40 miles.

The rust area seems excessive and none of the other rotors show any rust at all.

**jefferson88** · 01-30-2009 08:08 AM

This is exactly what my car did when the bearings were dead....

**vball280** · 01-31-2009 01:41 PM

Well it looks like the culprit has been found. The service center finally (after 6 days of having the vehicle) found that it was a bad bearing that was causing the issue. What's funny is that this is what I told them that I thought it was from the beginning (and a couple of responders from this forum mentioned it as well, thanks guys). However, it took four trips to the service center, two different dealers and quite a bit of "frank" comments about them actually putting some effort into resolving the issure rather than telling the 'stupid' customer that it was something caused by wear on my tires.

Anyway, we are back on the road and my wife is slowly falling in love with the car again. Hopefully only a few of you have felt the anguish from a spouse having lost confidence in vehicle that you really enjoy driving. It is not fun but she has taken the steps toward recovery and I have seen signs that she will regain her love for the vehicle soon (of course, four new tires on a car that still had decent tread life is a small price to pay to hasten the process).

Again, thanks to all of you that responded and know that you helped me to know that I wasn't a complete idiot and that a few techs need to put some more thought and elbow grease into finding a resolution rather than 'giving out' BS or shrugging their shoulders when they encounter something like this.

**vball280** · 02-17-2009 08:43 AM

I spoke too soon. The sound is STILL there. I'm now losing count on the number of times this has now been in the shop.

**littlewhite** · 02-19-2009 09:00 AM

I had a grinding/metallic sound the other week. I thought my exhaust came off or something it was quite loud. Sound occur when going whatever speed. Freaked me out right away and I pull over to check under didn’t see anything. Drove a bit in the lot sound was still there. Stop and go Stop and go, sound was there. Then all of a sudden it was gone. I think something might have gotten caught or something. Could be a rock or debris from construction.

**skcolo** · 02-28-2009 07:17 PM

What usually happens in this case is that the brake shield gets bent. Techs grab onto it and turn the wheels back and forth while working on the car with the wheels off. As you make slight turns down the road, the wheel flexes slightly at the wheel bearing and the rotor rubs the brake shield. Usually, you bend back the brake shield away from the rotor and that takes care of the problem.

I don't know why no one would have found that, however.