Vibration at rear but not wheels????

[daveyboyd]

This is a follow on from a previous post

(see here http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=87194)

Audi have put 4 new wheels on my car for me to road test. I am still getting the same constant warbling vibration throught the seat so the wheels can be discounted as the cause.

I want to know what else may cause a vibration similar to out of balance wheels but nothing to do with the wheels? I am thinking brake rotors, ovoid wheel hub, bearing? I dont suspect its the suspension as it is speed related and constant but if you know different please tell. Many thanks for this, the car is going back to Audi but they dont seem to be proactive in sorting the problem out, Isusspect that they know it will cost a fair bit to fix and Im not paying!

[towcestervag]

does the noise alter in pitch when deviating from straight line?
if it does then its probably a wheel bearing
if it doesnt then is anything felt through steering?
if yes then i could be a inner cv joint

[daveyboyd]

does the noise alter in pitch when deviating from straight line?
if it does then its probably a wheel bearing
if it doesnt then is anything felt through steering?
if yes then i could be a inner cv joint

There is no noise that I can hear other than the brakes seem a bit loud when applied at speed.

There is no deviation in a straight line and no feeling through steering wheel.

I'm pretty sure its not a CV joint as it comes from the rear, the bearing would have been checked when it went in to get balanced.

I am now thinking that it is something to do with the brakes, it seems to be heat related as it is more apparent when driven for a few miles. It is defo something spinning though as it has the symptoms of an unbalanced wheel but its defo not the wheels (balanced 3 times, changed back to front and now a new set of four still the same)

Can dodgy brakes either disc/pads/caliper cause this to happen?

[winnie070383]

Have you tried putting a little pressure on the handbrake to see if that changes the noise?
Also at the end of your journey feel you rear wheels and see is one or both are hot to see if you have a sticky caliper, if there both hot could be a overtightend handbrake.
Lastly try jacking the car up at the back and spin the wheels and see if you can hear anything you shouldn't.

[daveyboyd]

Have you tried putting a little pressure on the handbrake to see if that changes the noise?
Also at the end of your journey feel you rear wheels and see is one or both are hot to see if you have a sticky caliper, if there both hot could be a overtightend handbrake.
Lastly try jacking the car up at the back and spin the wheels and see if you can hear anything you shouldn't.

I have jacked the back wheels up and it sounds like the brake pads are touching the disc but only very slightly. I would assume that Audi would have checked this though so dimissed it????

[towcestervag]

if the brakes are binding this will cause a vibration

[Bill Dawes]

I know you said vibration but is it vibration or a 'droning' noise. I ask this because I have developed the same problem which I thought was wheel bearings. When I put the wheels on the front the noise moved also. I am informed it is a tyre wear pattern. I am putting up with it at the moment (back on the rear, it was unbearable on the front) as there is plenty of wear left in them, anyone else had the same?
Car is A4 Avant S line 170PS TDI, tyres dunlop SP sport as fitted new with the car. (I tow a caravan so wonder if this is related)

Bill D.

[daveyboyd]

I know you said vibration but is it vibration or a 'droning' noise. I ask this because I have developed the same problem which I thought was wheel bearings. When I put the wheels on the front the noise moved also. I am informed it is a tyre wear pattern. I am putting up with it at the moment (back on the rear, it was unbearable on the front) as there is plenty of wear left in them, anyone else had the same?
Car is A4 Avant S line 170PS TDI, tyres dunlop SP sport as fitted new with the car. (I tow a caravan so wonder if this is related)

Bill D.

Defo not related to tyres as I have explained, there is no noise that I can hear other than maybe loud brakes when I apply. I noticed that my hanbrake was virtualy in-effective after I had driven home from work today, it hardly slowed the car at all when I pulled it right up doing 20-30 mph, all this after driving 40 miles on what was a clear motorway. All this leads me to believe that it is brake related even more.

If it is overheating brake rotors will this then cause damage to the hub assembly?

[towcestervag]

if the brakes are binding enough to cause damage you would of noticed worse things by now
i would get the brakes checked
i have known calipers play up on the passat
they have the electronic handbrake so you need a special tool to rewind the handbrake side of the caliper or a vag com

[daveyboyd]

Ok, Audi have had my car for 5 days and they reckon there is nothing wrong with my car. I dont think they have even been out in it to be honest. They haven't taken it on the motorway for starters, I am not getting taken seriously.

I am getting to the point where I now want to give the keys back and walk away but I dont know where I stand.

Does anyone have any advice on the consumer credit act when claiming a refund? The car is part financed with Black Horse.

[towcestervag]

i think the first thing to do is to complain to the dealership and its head office
also write to customer services at Audi
also phone black horse finance and speak to their customer services
once this is done then you can go further i think but complain to dealer and Audi

[daveyboyd]

Thanks for the advice. I am due to speak to Audi this morning. I guess I will have to get the fault checked out elsewhere and then I have some ammo. I have never owner a car that has these symptoms and I find it hard to believe that the Maste Tech and the Manager cant feel the falut when every other person I have had as a pasenger including a qualified mechanic and the Audi chauffer have felt the vibration. It seems a bit too conveinient to me. I will give an update soon . . .

[Dr1deck]

On my 57 plate S Line cabriolet I had very loud droning noises, Audi even changed bearings but it was still there.
I didnt fix it until I changed tyres a second time and went back to Continental Sport Contacts.

I assume the stiff suspension and low profile combined make the car more susceptible to tyre tread pattern noise.

[daveyboyd]

Audi have washed their hands of it now and say that there is no fault at all but the suspension is sensitive.

I am convinced there is something wrong and I think it is brake related. For peace of mind I am changing the brake disc/pads on rear at my expense, if it turns out that the pads or discs have uneven wear when I remove them I will take them in to Audi to examine and hopefully get the bill paid!

Not pleased with Audi on the whole though, maybe I have a dud but if they design the cars to react like mine on purpose then I won't be getting another one, back to BMW I reckon.

Oh, if anyone knows of a decent parts supplier for Audi brake components could you please pass me the details, thanks.