Knocking sound from front wheels

[fireplace63]

Guys, anyone experience audible knocking sound coming from the front wheels area while circling down multi-story carparks? The sound goes away once on the ground level. It sounded like some tension knocking when the steering is turned and the car is in motion going down slope. Other than that, it drives fine.

[Raptor09]

I've noticed something like this when I'm at near full steering lock say reversing out of my garage, you can hear a kind of knocking sound from somewhere in the front wheel area.. I'm not sure what it is and was planning on bringing it up with audi when my car goes in to be serviced.

[fireplace63]

Yes, about 70-80% turning angle and especially on a downward slope where the knocking sound gets more noticeable. Just need to gather more feedback before checking with the dealer.

[swansailor]

Guys, anyone experience audible knocking sound coming from the front wheels area while circling down multi-story carparks? The sound goes away once on the ground level. It sounded like some tension knocking when the steering is turned and the car is in motion going down slope. Other than that, it drives fine.

It is very probably the "scrubbing" of the front tires which occurs at low speeds in tight turns. If it is this, there are many posts about it in the forum and you can find them with the search feature. It is related to the steering geometry and Audi will tell you it is normal.

[hmp10]

If it only began sometime after you acquired the car, it could also be a symptom of low power steering fluid.

[ianerrid]

The admins need to mail a link to new members with the FAQs methinks?

[Raptor09]

Yes what I'm referring to isn't quite the same as the tyre scrubbing, that is a sustained sound and comes at virtually full lock, this is more of a single 'knock' sound (just for a moment) while in the process of turning the wheel, 70-80% lock sounds right. The car will be serviced again soon and I will ask them to check the steering fluid, it was low once before so it could easily be responsible. This only started in the last few weeks (about a year after delivery).

[mlpor]

Do you notice any correlation with temperature? I.e. is the car more likely to exhibit the "knocking" on tight turns when cold, just started etc.? Does it go away or less prevalent when the car has been warmed up? I wondering if it might not have something to do with the center diff in the car, particularly when cold. I've not been going up or down tight parking garages, but I have, on cold mornings noticed a "stiffness" on turns in the car till it gets warmed up. Cheers

[hmp10]

My car began making a knocking sound when I would turn out of my parking lot with the car still cold. There was no sound going straight or when the car warmed up.

After a few days of this, I stopped by the closest Audi dealer (not an R8-authorized shop) who said it could be low power steering fluid. He topped it off and, sure enough, the sound stopped.

Several months later, the sound returned and again stopped when I topped off the power steering fluid.

On my next visit to the Audi dealer who regularly serviced the car, he checked and found the steering rack had a leak. It was replaced under warranty, and the sound never returned.

[Raptor09]

My car began making a knocking sound when I would turn out of my parking lot with the car still cold. There was no sound going straight or when the car warmed up.

After a few days of this, I stopped by the closest Audi dealer (not an R8-authorized shop) who said it could be low power steering fluid. He topped it off and, sure enough, the sound stopped.

Several months later, the sound returned and again stopped when I topped off the power steering fluid.

On my next visit to the Audi dealer who regularly serviced the car, he checked and found the steering rack had a leak. It was replaced under warranty, and the sound never returned.

Thanks! This sounds exactly right. In response to mlpor as well, this is completely true the sound is present when the car is cool, I've noticed sometimes its present afterwards as well but that is very rare. Its generally noticeable if I haven't reverse-parked my car, since then I've got to turn around with the car cold. Otherwise no other conditions cause it to appear, only moving towards 70-80%ish lock. I'm sure they'll discover I have a similar steering fluid related issue since it was low once before as well.