Audi A6-Creaking Noise

Makood

Hi all,
My A6 1.8 (00) has a strange creaking noise in the front driver side wheel whenever i turn the wheel. Any ideas what it is?

Thanks in advance.

listermint

Makood wrote: »

Hi all,
My A6 1.8 (00) has a strange creaking noise in the front driver side wheel whenever i turn the wheel. Any ideas what it is?

Thanks in advance.

Could be bearings. Could be Tie Rods, Could be grit under the wheel

Its very hard to diagnose things like this in person let alone on an internet forum.


Best place advice is to have it checked over by someone competent with VAGs there are numerous very good independents around.

Lord Nikon

Tie Rod End. When they start creaking, it's time to get it replaced.

Makood

Thanks guys for the advice. I can book it in for a service etc next week Is it safe to drive on until then-assuming its the tie rod end?

Lord Nikon

If the noise has only really started you should be fine. I suggest asking the garage who services your car to check the Tie Rods. Don't assume they will check them, doesn't cost anything to ask.

stezie

sounds to be like a ball joint thats lost its grease. usually when it creaks the joint is stressing under the weight of the car and cant move because the grease has been lost due to a cracked boot. I would get it looked at as soon as possible by a mechanic as the creaking noise is a usually a sign of being on borrowed time. when the ball joint fails you will loose your wheelhub from the car. If its the tierod end joint then you will instantly loose steering.. it wont be a pretty outcome if that happens.

Makood

stezie wrote: »

sounds to be like a ball joint thats lost its grease. usually when it creaks the joint is stressing under the weight of the car and cant move because the grease has been lost due to a cracked boot. I would get it looked at as soon as possible by a mechanic as the creaking noise is a usually a sign of being on borrowed time. when the ball joint fails you will loose your wheelhub from the car. If its the tierod end joint then you will instantly loose steering.. it wont be a pretty outcome if that happens.

It passed the NCT 3 months ago-And had both wishbone and CV Boot replaced on same side. It's possible that maybe boot has cracked again maybe? If it was the tie rod would either the mechanic or NCT spotted it?

mickman

Makood wrote: »

It passed the NCT 3 months ago-And had both wishbone and CV Boot replaced on same side. It's possible that maybe boot has cracked again maybe? If it was the tie rod would either the mechanic or NCT spotted it?

exact same with me 99 audi a6 . passed nct first time a few months ago but creaking has been there for 6 months.

replacing the car in two weeks now anyway.

tossy

Could also be a top mount.

mickman

stezie wrote: »

sounds to be like a ball joint thats lost its grease. usually when it creaks the joint is stressing under the weight of the car and cant move because the grease has been lost due to a cracked boot. I would get it looked at as soon as possible by a mechanic as the creaking noise is a usually a sign of being on borrowed time. when the ball joint fails you will loose your wheelhub from the car. If its the tierod end joint then you will instantly loose steering.. it wont be a pretty outcome if that happens.

mechanic has serviced mine and nct guys checked and passed. surely they would have spotted a bearing issue ?

stezie

Cant say for sure.. as far as i know the nct center checks for play in the joint. they put the car on the ramp and shake the car to see if they spot excessive movement in the balljoint. if they dont see any its a pass.

They might not be able to tell that the joint was actually dry at the time and there was no grease left.

I did put a car through the nct with a torn cv boot as i only spotted it that morning, but it passed, it depends on the tester.

I cant say for sure with out looking at it, but I have seen a lower balljoint failure after 7 weeks of creaking noise. the hub came away from the car and the wheel was pushed up into the wheel arch and wing, the drive shaft also was destroyed as it came apart, the brake lines were ripped away. This luckily happened in a car park at 10mph, so car didnt crash. the car turned out to be a write off over the head of a 20 or 30 quid balljoint not being changed.

mickman

stezie wrote: »

Cant say for sure.. as far as i know the nct center checks for play in the joint. they put the car on the ramp and shake the car to see if they spot excessive movement in the balljoint. if they dont see any its a pass.

They might not be able to tell that the joint was actually dry at the time and there was no grease left.

I did put a car through the nct with a torn cv boot as i only spotted it that morning, but it passed, it depends on the tester.

I cant say for sure with out looking at it, but I have seen a lower balljoint failure after 7 weeks of creaking noise. the hub came away from the car and the wheel was pushed up into the wheel arch and wing, the drive shaft also was destroyed as it came apart, the brake lines were ripped away. This luckily happened in a car park at 10mph, so car didnt crash. the car turned out to be a write off over the head of a 20 or 30 quid balljoint not being changed.

I only get my creaking when turning and on bad roads . im on the motorway then there is no creaking at all.

would this be more likely to be tie rods then , from what i have read on the audi forums anyway ?

stezie

The motorway would be a very smooth road, so there will be very little suspension movement as it is.

A tie rod end is cheap. about €20 from motor factor, but then you will need an aligment done aswell as you took apart a steering component.

But then looking from this link, the passat/a4/a6 has 4 differnet balljoints in that area.. way too many if you ask me..

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/b5/control-arm-DIY.htm

Id def get a local mechanic to look at it and put your mind at ease.. you could be lucky and if could be a dry bushing somewhere.. A good mecahnic will quickly pin point exactly where the noise is coming from, and explain exactly what you need.

patrician

Howdy OP, I opened this account specifically to answer your question:)

I had your exact problem on my A6 and I can pretty much guarantee you that it's the sub-frame bush(es).

Cheers!

mickman

patrician wrote: »

Howdy OP, I opened this account specifically to answer your question:)

I had your exact problem on my A6 and I can pretty much guarantee you that it's the sub-frame bush(es).

Cheers!

how much to repair ? can it be driven safely ?

patrician

mickman wrote: »

how much to repair ? can it be driven safely ?

Exactly the symptoms yourself and OP describe.

It took us about an hour to diagnose (me in car up on ramp turning the wheel with mechanic under car with long lever) - you shouldn't need to do that if your mechanic directs his attention to the subframe bushes.

Engine needs to be braced and subframe dropped and new bush(es) popped in.. Price? Can't remember, but I was having new rear shocks done at the same time and total price was very reasonable. (It helps to know a good mechanic.)

Can it be driven safely? I was driving around in my car for two or three months before I'd had enough of it and got it sorted, so it can be driven, yes, but safely?... No comment.

I paid for a set (of 2) bushes but only one needed replacing so if yourself or OP needs just the one, I'll let you have it. Let me know. (A6 Avant 2003)

Good luck!

scamalert

had same problem over a year ago,car eventually became like a boat going trough the ice,creaking sounds,fix is pretty easy will cost you around 200-300 at garage.Just cant remember was it tie rods or some rubber parts,but its definitely the creaking sound,anoying as hell,i waited for about two months before i borught it to the garage.

mickman

ok thanks.

buying an octavia week after next so i just wanted to make sure that the car wouldndt fall apart in the next week :-)