Gritty
Member
hi there
Ive got the same noise on my car annoying as hell I listened to your audio mine is the same looked all over the car but cant find out where its coming from did you find out by any chance?
Firmer suspension but rumbling sounds :(
- Thread starter Alan_uk
- Start date
Ive got the same noise on my car annoying as hell I listened to your audio mine is the same looked all over the car but cant find out where its coming from did you find out by any chance?
audifan
A2OC Donor
Have you tried the bumper crash beam yet? With the firmer suspension other parts of the car will vibrate that previously may not have. Have a look to see if the rear number plate is vibrating against the hatch. Either put some padding around the edges or even take it off temporarily to check. If it is the plate then you could put a couple of rows of silicone on the back of the plate before you refit it or add more fixing points.
Alan_uk
A2OC Donor
At last got around to stripping it back and testing the ideas of various posts above.
Weetank2
Heat shield possibly insecure
Or exhaust against fuel tank?
At the MOT a few weeks ago I asked them to check this. They said both OK. I've also tried to shake the exhaust and its pretty firm. All heat shield fasteners are intact.
Andrew
That's a flapping sound. Wheel arch liners? - Andy
Have removed the wheel arch liners and the sound is still there
Clemy123isme
Sounds plastic to me. I have a rear boot spoiler that vibrates.
Is the boot tight ?
Loose foglight?
Spoiler is very firm. I've adjusted the 2 boot adjusters either side as in your photo. Initially it was against the top mark, Moving it to the bottom mark (fully extended) made the boot difficult to close reliably, so I moved it back to the 2nd mid mark.
Sound is definitely at the back. I even drove a little with the boot open and it's definitely at the back unless the noise is travelling under the car.
hadi
Not long back from the guy the sorts my A2 , after putting it up on the ramp he examined the nsr wheel and upon lifting it up with his arms he found the noise ,at the top of the shock there is an alloy fitting which the top thread of shock goes through and is secured by a nut , this was loose and has been tightened up and the noise has gone , hope this helps you in sorting out your noise
Here's a picture of mind. Looks OK (same both sides) and if I try to shake it the whole car moves. But see "next action" below
audifan
Have you tried the bumper crash beam yet?
Have a look to see if the rear number plate is vibrating against the hatch. Either put some padding around the edges or even take it off temporarily to check.
Took the bumper off today and all looks fine and very firm. Noise still there with the bumper off.
There is some flexing in the number plate (I have the club holders) so I took the numberplate off and drove with them on the crash beam fixed with ties. Noise still there. I have put them back with bubble wrap behind the plate and also behind the numberplate holder.
Other
I do feel there is some play on the lower panel of the boot door. This seem to be a skin. I did try forcing some rubber strips into the corners but still had the sound.
Not very happy with the corrosion on these Monroe dampers after 3.5 years and 18,000 miles. It is my hope to refurbish the chassis next year.
Next Step
Will ring the garage tomorrow and book it in for an hour to get their opinion. by going for a ride. Will ask them to check the torque of the dampers and the nut at the top though as you can see the nut on mine seems to be covered by a rubber dome. Also to check the exhaust against that it is not hitting something.
Thanks everyone for their suggestions.
Weetank2
Heat shield possibly insecure
Or exhaust against fuel tank?
At the MOT a few weeks ago I asked them to check this. They said both OK. I've also tried to shake the exhaust and its pretty firm. All heat shield fasteners are intact.
Andrew
That's a flapping sound. Wheel arch liners? - Andy
Have removed the wheel arch liners and the sound is still there
Clemy123isme
Sounds plastic to me. I have a rear boot spoiler that vibrates.
Is the boot tight ?
Loose foglight?
Spoiler is very firm. I've adjusted the 2 boot adjusters either side as in your photo. Initially it was against the top mark, Moving it to the bottom mark (fully extended) made the boot difficult to close reliably, so I moved it back to the 2nd mid mark.
Sound is definitely at the back. I even drove a little with the boot open and it's definitely at the back unless the noise is travelling under the car.
hadi
Not long back from the guy the sorts my A2 , after putting it up on the ramp he examined the nsr wheel and upon lifting it up with his arms he found the noise ,at the top of the shock there is an alloy fitting which the top thread of shock goes through and is secured by a nut , this was loose and has been tightened up and the noise has gone , hope this helps you in sorting out your noise
Here's a picture of mind. Looks OK (same both sides) and if I try to shake it the whole car moves. But see "next action" below
audifan
Have you tried the bumper crash beam yet?
Have a look to see if the rear number plate is vibrating against the hatch. Either put some padding around the edges or even take it off temporarily to check.
Took the bumper off today and all looks fine and very firm. Noise still there with the bumper off.
There is some flexing in the number plate (I have the club holders) so I took the numberplate off and drove with them on the crash beam fixed with ties. Noise still there. I have put them back with bubble wrap behind the plate and also behind the numberplate holder.
Other
I do feel there is some play on the lower panel of the boot door. This seem to be a skin. I did try forcing some rubber strips into the corners but still had the sound.
Not very happy with the corrosion on these Monroe dampers after 3.5 years and 18,000 miles. It is my hope to refurbish the chassis next year.
Next Step
Will ring the garage tomorrow and book it in for an hour to get their opinion. by going for a ride. Will ask them to check the torque of the dampers and the nut at the top though as you can see the nut on mine seems to be covered by a rubber dome. Also to check the exhaust against that it is not hitting something.
Thanks everyone for their suggestions.
Alan_uk
A2OC Donor
Thanks Audifan
Sometime ago I took out the rear seats and it made no difference (sorry, forgot to mention it). Of course the seat belts remain. Which part would be making the noise? They don't seem easily accessible.
Haven't checked tyres for sometime so unlikely to be hard. They're normally standard pressure - I only highly inflate for a long fully loaded drive.
Someone else suggest the anti-roll bar also at the front - like the under tray the noise would need to travel down the car.
In the past the noise is less if fully loaded with 4 passengers but this last week I had 4 up and it seemed just as bad - one passenger was critical of the noise so hence getting my finger out!
After chasing many noises in my cars over decades I have given up trying to locate them. Well not actually true, my current policy is to investigate the opposite of where I think it is located. Don't put all your eggs in one basket regarding the noise coming from the rear.
Andy
bretti_kivi
Member
the aluminium is very good at transmitting noises, so it's really possible there's something loose in a very different part of the car and it's just becoming audible there.
- Bret
- Bret
audifan
A2OC Donor
Ok, suspension bushes worn, worn or wrong spring cups, drop links worn, ARB bushes worn, under tray, service flap, bonnet, front number plate, fog light surrounds, fresh air intake, power steering pump loose, tyres , tyre pressures, glove box, something behind the dash loose, gear selector cables, boot trim panels, tailgate trim, boot foam, battery, fuel cap not tight. You get the idea, lots can cause vibration / rattles. Stiffer suspension can make things vibrate at a different frequency. If you drive past someone can they hear it, or is it only from inside the car
Alan_uk
A2OC Donor
OK Guys garage has found the problem.
I gave them the car minus rear wheel arch liners, rear bumper, my junk in the boot and tool kit and spare wheel.
First we had a drive with the technician in the back. He agreed the noise came from the back and suggested the offside. They checked all the nuts on the suspension and removed the shocks and checked the nut at the top of the damper. Another drive but noise was still there.
2nd technician suggests it might be the damper, so they swapped them over and the noise moves to the nearside. These were Monroe Reflex dampers which were £60 each 3 years ago (18,000 ago).
Obviously I'm annoyed that an expensive brand of damper should fail so early (had the noise for a long time) but very unlikely to get any redress.
The garage said they spent over 2 hours on the diagnosis but have charged me for 1.5 hours (£100).
So options:
1. Replace both rear dampers. What dampers would people recommend to go with Lesjöfors spring bearing in mind the front remains Monroe's Reflex dampers and Lesjöfors spring
As the ride has been much firmer I presume these must be uprated springs, so I wouldn't mind a ride a tad softer but maybe it's the springs that give the firmer ride and the dampers have to match. If so option 2:
2. Replace both rear dampers and springs (for what?.) again bearing in mind the front remains Monroe's Reflex dampers and Lesjöfors springs
Garage is not happy to source any dampers/springs other that Audi OEM but happy for me to source for them to fit.
3. Full works
At the moment the noise is less noticeable so I may have a option to have the work done whilst renewing the subframe (axle). I have Birchall's old axle which I've been meaning to restore but was delayed due to ill health and a full garage. But with fine weather forecast I could strip it down outside spread over a week This would save me 2 hours labour compared to doing the dampers now and the axle later.
Cons are I need to find a decent sandblaster/paintshop. I haven't costed this out but additionally need probably new brake pipes, handbrake cables, wheel bearings, shoes, axle bush. It's working out what should sensibly be renewed and what can be moved over from a car with 87,000 miles. Also what special tools are needed?
Your words of wisdom appreciated
I gave them the car minus rear wheel arch liners, rear bumper, my junk in the boot and tool kit and spare wheel.
First we had a drive with the technician in the back. He agreed the noise came from the back and suggested the offside. They checked all the nuts on the suspension and removed the shocks and checked the nut at the top of the damper. Another drive but noise was still there.
2nd technician suggests it might be the damper, so they swapped them over and the noise moves to the nearside. These were Monroe Reflex dampers which were £60 each 3 years ago (18,000 ago).
Obviously I'm annoyed that an expensive brand of damper should fail so early (had the noise for a long time) but very unlikely to get any redress.
The garage said they spent over 2 hours on the diagnosis but have charged me for 1.5 hours (£100).
So options:
1. Replace both rear dampers. What dampers would people recommend to go with Lesjöfors spring bearing in mind the front remains Monroe's Reflex dampers and Lesjöfors spring
As the ride has been much firmer I presume these must be uprated springs, so I wouldn't mind a ride a tad softer but maybe it's the springs that give the firmer ride and the dampers have to match. If so option 2:
2. Replace both rear dampers and springs (for what?.) again bearing in mind the front remains Monroe's Reflex dampers and Lesjöfors springs
Garage is not happy to source any dampers/springs other that Audi OEM but happy for me to source for them to fit.
3. Full works
At the moment the noise is less noticeable so I may have a option to have the work done whilst renewing the subframe (axle). I have Birchall's old axle which I've been meaning to restore but was delayed due to ill health and a full garage. But with fine weather forecast I could strip it down outside spread over a week This would save me 2 hours labour compared to doing the dampers now and the axle later.
Cons are I need to find a decent sandblaster/paintshop. I haven't costed this out but additionally need probably new brake pipes, handbrake cables, wheel bearings, shoes, axle bush. It's working out what should sensibly be renewed and what can be moved over from a car with 87,000 miles. Also what special tools are needed?
Your words of wisdom appreciated
greywolfhound
Member
I’m at a total loss Alan i must admit we have had 5 of these and a couple of the a2s we have put 115k on one and the other had 160k when we sold it now over 260k neither did we have to renew what you are suggesting above ...they rode and drove a dream ..unless you are doing these replacements because you want to ..I can’t see it necessary ..? I’ve done a few mods on our two we have now but only because I want to ...certainly not necessary .
Alan_uk
A2OC Donor
greywolfhound: yes the garage were surprised. Originally I replaced the suspension because of an MOT advisory re a weeping shock at c70,000 miles and decided to replace the whole lot to get a firmer ride (less wallowing on bends).
I supposed in the quest for lower costs manufacturers can reduce specifications or ship production to countries that have lower quality standards so that failures become more common. Maybe they take the risks knowing that consumer expectations re longevity are lower.
The sub frame refurbishment is a bit of a vanity thing but done in the expectation I would keep the A2 another 10 years when based on current milage it would have done 150k hopefully with no major problems - but it's a risk.
I supposed in the quest for lower costs manufacturers can reduce specifications or ship production to countries that have lower quality standards so that failures become more common. Maybe they take the risks knowing that consumer expectations re longevity are lower.
The sub frame refurbishment is a bit of a vanity thing but done in the expectation I would keep the A2 another 10 years when based on current milage it would have done 150k hopefully with no major problems - but it's a risk.
Alan_uk
A2OC Donor
Update
Having done some longer trips I now feel that the noise has mostly gone so I will wait and see if it comes back. Maybe something was not seated down properly after the suspension overhaul way back, or maybe taking the shocks off and letting them expand "cured" the problem.
When I replaced the wheel arch liners I did notice that they has a tendency to flap against the body at the to the top left of the springs where the liners seat in a sort of cup. So I put a dollop of hot glue there (no I didn't block the drain hole). Don't know while Audi didn't have a fastener at that point.
Thanks to all those who gave suggestions.
Having done some longer trips I now feel that the noise has mostly gone so I will wait and see if it comes back. Maybe something was not seated down properly after the suspension overhaul way back, or maybe taking the shocks off and letting them expand "cured" the problem.
When I replaced the wheel arch liners I did notice that they has a tendency to flap against the body at the to the top left of the springs where the liners seat in a sort of cup. So I put a dollop of hot glue there (no I didn't block the drain hole). Don't know while Audi didn't have a fastener at that point.
Thanks to all those who gave suggestions.