Steering wheel knocking noise

[_tones]

Hi,

Over the past few weeks I have a knocking noise when turning the steering wheel at low speeds. Its a pretty noticeable noise that the passenger can hear too. I can also feel the knocking noise (and by feel, i mean it's like someone is tapping on the inside of your hands) while turning the wheel.

The local garage has checked the bushes and mechanical side of things and they think it could be the electronic power steering pump, but they don't have the kit to verify. It just started up out of nowhere, no collisions or anything.

Is the power steering pump a common failure on the b8? The car has only done 34k miles. Any ideas as to what else it could be, bearing in mind its not the bushes, springs e.t.c.. The steering itself feels fine.

Finally, can anyone recommend a local indie who could check the power steering pump in Manchester, who would also use genuine parts? Otherwise, a trip to Audi it is.

[fat controller]

Mine has done this since I got it - almost like a juddering/chattering from the steering column when turning the wheel at very low speeds (in and out of parking spaces for example) - I don't think its a fault as such, but rather a symptom of the electric power steering trying to second guess the pressure that is being exerted against it by the friction at the wheels? My thinking is that a conventional, hydraulic system wouldn't display this as it would simply continue to push the fluid around as requested - my understanding of the electric system is that it checks and adjusts according to the road speed and presumably the friction at the road wheels.

[_tones]

Mine has done this since I got it - almost like a juddering/chattering from the steering column when turning the wheel at very low speeds (in and out of parking spaces for example) - I don't think its a fault as such, but rather a symptom of the electric power steering trying to second guess the pressure that is being exerted against it by the friction at the wheels? My thinking is that a conventional, hydraulic system wouldn't display this as it would simply continue to push the fluid around as requested - my understanding of the electric system is that it checks and adjusts according to the road speed and presumably the friction at the road wheels.

Hi, the noise i get isn't a constant juddering (something i refer to as dry steering). I get that noise too since I've had the car and not worried about it i.e when pulling in and out of parking spaces like you mentioned.

This knocking noise is new and definitely not normal. I also get it at speeds of around 20mph, when turning a corner. I would try and get a video but the cars moving so difficult. The mechanic definitely thought it wasn't normal. The best way to describe it is a loud knocking noise at continuous intervals when turning the wheel. Almost as if something is knocking into something else

[fat controller]

Ah, that sounds different then - I would be inclined to take it to a dealer and see what they say

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Embisix]

I'm getting issues too.

At low speeds and only when the car has been driven a while (i.e. up to full temp), I get a distinct knock/thud reverberating through the steering wheel rim and I can also feel it through my heels. This happens at anything below 20mph or so as the steering wheel passes through the 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock positions from centre.

The dull knock/thud sound is not loud, I can feel it more than I can hear it.

I'm waiting for my local dealer to call me back and have spoken to Audi UK. There are no TSB's or Recalls relating to this issue I'm told.

Any ideas what this could be? Anyone else experienced this and found the cause?

Mine's a 2010 MY and so has hydraulic PAS.

[_tones]

I'm getting issues too.

At low speeds and only when the car has been driven a while (i.e. up to full temp), I get a distinct knock/thud reverberating through the steering wheel rim and I can also feel it through my heels. This happens at anything below 20mph or so as the steering wheel passes through the 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock positions from centre.

The dull knock/thud sound is not loud, I can feel it more than I can hear it.

I'm waiting for my local dealer to call me back and have spoken to Audi UK. There are no TSB's or Recalls relating to this issue I'm told.

Any ideas what this could be? Anyone else experienced this and found the cause?

Mine's a 2010 MY and so has hydraulic PAS.

Mine is also a 2010 but I've not taken mine to the main dealer yet as it's not persistent enough to demonstrate. I was told by a mechanic it could be the electric steering pump (which alone costs £500) but I've not had this confirmed by dealer. The symptoms on my car sound similar to yours but they happen regardless of temp with the addition that even the passenger can hear the sound. If you do find out what the issue is with your car, please update us on here. Would be interesting to know.

[alexmac732]

Mine is also a 2010 but I've not taken mine to the main dealer yet as it's not persistent enough to demonstrate. I was told by a mechanic it could be the electric steering pump (which alone costs £500) but I've not had this confirmed by dealer. The symptoms on my car sound similar to yours but they happen regardless of temp with the addition that even the passenger can hear the sound. If you do find out what the issue is with your car, please update us on here. Would be interesting to know.

Had similar issue on mine - turned out to be steering column

[DrNorthy]

Just had mine serviced at 39,000 miles (Monday the 17th) and it had another steering software update this is the second one now first at 19,000 on its first service.
Have you had both of these updates?

[Embisix]

Mine is also a 2010 but I've not taken mine to the main dealer yet as it's not persistent enough to demonstrate. I was told by a mechanic it could be the electric steering pump (which alone costs £500) but I've not had this confirmed by dealer. The symptoms on my car sound similar to yours but they happen regardless of temp with the addition that even the passenger can hear the sound. If you do find out what the issue is with your car, please update us on here. Would be interesting to know.

Mine's pretty consistent so I'm confident I'll be able to get the mechanic to experience it. What I'm afraid of is being billed a small fortune just to find out what it 'might' be. Hopefully they'll have come across this before and go, "oh yeah mate, that's yer spigot half-spline dubrey wotsit! We can sort it for a fiver and we'll wash yer car while it's in"..... And then I woke up!

As and when I find out anything, you can be sure it'll be posted right here! Watch this space....

[Keso45]

Hi Embisix, have you found the issue, please?