strange noise

[ckings6056]

Hey,

1997 a4 1.8

have a problem. when i turn left i get like a strange drumming noise which goes away when i straighten up. its not a whining noise (wheel bearing)

have jacked the front up. checked both sides, no play in anything at all. wheels are firm do not move back or forth not even slightly. eveyrthing seems solid.
car has had new tyres too (as thought it could be tyre noise to start with)
Cant get to the bottom of this noise!

any ideas?

[ckings6056]

oh. forgot to mention that the noise is only there over about 25mph and also is relative to the speed i am doing..... drumming gets faster the faster the vehicle is moving.

[Guest 2]

Driveshaft?

[ckings6056]

thats what i was swayed towards but they seem pretty solid when the car is up. i can hold the wheel still and twist the driveshafts with my hand and there is such a small amount of movement.. is that normal or does that signify that it is knackered?

if it is knackered would it be best to change the whole shaft or just the cv joints at each end? which would be the cost viable way or repairing it?

[mikeybutch]

CV joint wear will cause knocking on fulllock

[ckings6056]

dont get any knocking on full lock. even found a big car park and drove round on full lock both ways upto about 15mph and no noises at all.

[mikeybutch]

Nothing loose like plastic which would flap as the speed rises?

[ckings6056]

nope.

it is really strange! i work on vehicles for a living and this noise has got me stumped (fair enough i've never laid a spanner on a vw / audi)
dont get it.

its only at 25mph + and is relative to vehicle speed. its like a thumping / drumming noise. if your going down a straight road at 40mph and even slightly move the steering wheel to the left then the noise will be there. will be much more aggressive and loud if you turn the wheel hard at speed... also a ever so slight vibration can be felt to accompany the noise at speed when aggressivley turning.

[mumutley]

Is the noise coming from the front?

Or transmitting through the car from the rear?
When you turn you load up rear wheel bearing and they sound like drumming noise, it usually turns out to be the opposite side to the one you think