Losing my mind to this roaring sounds I cant find.

[Bonz099]

I have a roar inside the car that gets louder the faster I go +30mph. I'm loosing my mind trying to find it. I've lifted each of the wheels off the ground and checked for play (up/down/left/right) and they are all seeming good. I replaced both sets of upper control arms, and the rear lower for each side. Just got 4 brand new Conti DWS06 tires and a proper 4 wheel alignment. The noise is still there!!!!! Its driving me bonkers. I want to say it sounds like the rear diff.

The sound changes tone if I swing the wheel left or right, gets louder when loaded to the left and nearly disappears when loaded right. Also, if I stop the car and move the wheel left and right about 4 or inches I can hear a clunk that I recreate easily.

I have no idea whats causing the clunk and roar at this point. Could it be an axle? Is the only way to check the axle by trying to wiggle it?

Edit: Forgot to say I occasionally hear a single clunk for long sweeping left turns. And that the inner and outer tie rods are new.

[Bonz099]

Oh, I should say, all the CV boots are in great shape, and no clanking sounds while moving with the wheel turned.

[Matt C]

Sounds like a wheel bearing. Tell-tale sign is the harmonics changing when you turn the wheel left to right.

[Bonz099]

That's what I thought! I guess im gonna have to get this thing up in the air on jackstands and put it in gear to hear it?

[Bordom]

Def wheel bearing. If it's coming from the left side and you think it's the rear diff, then it's most likely driver left that's bad

Everything graciously mispelled by Android

[jakeoboy67]

the turning left and right sound change points towards a bad wheel bearing,

[Bonz099]

ill pickup a bearing kit this week and see how it pans out. Thanks guys!

[Bonz099]

so ordered a set of rear wheel bearings, which i think will solve the roaring, but any ideas on whats causing that clunk sound in the front end? Strut bearing?

[924Carrera]

so ordered a set of rear wheel bearings, which i think will solve the roaring, but any ideas on whats causing that clunk sound in the front end? Strut bearing?

These cars don't have strut bearings because they don't have Macpherson struts. Could be control arms or tie rod ends, or subframe mounts. I know my ball joints are shot and they creak, but don't clunk.

Edit: You said you already replaced 75% of the front control arms, so unless it's one of the remaining 2, probably not that.

[Matt C]

The clunk may be the steering rack bolts. Remove the battery and check the triple square hardware and see if they are tight. Very common issue on B6/B7's

[Bonz099]

So the clunk was the steering rack bolts, now i just nee to find out which one of the 4 wheels has a bad bearing. Thanks guys!

[Matt C]

So the clunk was the steering rack bolts, now i just nee to find out which one of the 4 wheels has a bad bearing. Thanks guys!

Nice. Locktite is your friend on those bolts.

[gojcaj]

Pretty sure I have a wheel bearing issue as well. I was researching ways to diagnose, and a method mentioned was to lift the wheels off of the ground and hold the shock as you spin the assembly. You'll be able to tell fairly quickly which hub / bearing is creating excess friction through the vibrations in the shock. Otherwise, there should be no vibrations.

[Bonz099]

I can hear it in the rear, so I just picked up a set of skf bearings for the rear. I figured if one is going out, the other is likely on its way. Ill try and get it this weekend.