Audi A6 making strange creaking or groaning noises at the front

Hello everyone!

Problem vehicle: Audi A6 avant V6 TDi, year 1998, 195,000 km.

Unfortunately, I'm having another problem. Today, I suddenly noticed that a sound is coming from the front axle, which shouldn't be there .
It's a bit difficult to describe. It sounds inside the car like a creaking or scraping noise. It's not constantly audible with the same intensity, and I haven't been able to determine any pattern as to when it's louder or quieter. I think it's coming from the front right side, and you can feel a slight vibration in the steering. At first, I suspected that something might have come loose in the wheel well and be hitting the tire. I then lifted the car with a jack. Both sides of the wheels rotate freely, and you can't hear any noise... that's strange.
'However, I've noticed a couple of things that might be the cause. Firstly, I heard a cracking or creaking sound when I manually compressed the front suspension of the car before lifting it. Secondly, and this is more concerning, the boot on the right inner joint is torn or open on the side facing the shaft.' It already looks quite dry inside .
Could it be that the ball joint is damaged and causing the noises? If so, what could happen, and is it possible to replace the joint individually?

I would be extremely grateful for a few Topps cards!

Kind regards,

DENNIS

Hello, the noise might be coming from a joint.
You don't necessarily have to buy a new one.
Try it with a new gasket and fill it with transmission fluid.

I would have located the creaking sound in the area of the lower control arms.
Try a new joint seal .

Hello mersente,

'The noise was strangely only audible once briefly today. It also seems to only occur at low speeds (up to about 30 km/h). I once had a similar noise on my Golf 4 when turning, which only occurred at higher outside temperatures. I think and hope that if it were the joint, it should actually be audible constantly? The noise I heard when turning the wheel by hand yesterday could not be reproduced.' Everything is very strange...

'What do you mean about the transmission oil? Shouldn't there also be grease inside the bellows of the inner joint? Is the oil supposed to be added in addition to the grease, or instead of it? And what advantages does this oil offer?' Help?

Regards,
DENNIS

If I hear noises coming from the joints, I add transmission fluid to the grease.
The noises will disappear depending on the level of wear.
I estimate that approximately 92 percent of the joints that are being replaced would actually still be functional.

Hello!

Thank you for your reply!
I'm now curious to know what a damaged joint on the transmission side sounds like, and in what situations it actually makes noise.
Currently, the noise has disappeared again. So, taking it to the workshop probably won't help much. Where the friendly Audi dealer will probably want to replace the coil anyway .
Can the joint be examined, or can you tell by looking at the joint that it is damaged or making noises?

Thank you for the information!

DENNIS

The normal sound in internal joints is a clicking noise when the load changes, meaning when there's acceleration or deceleration. This is caused by excessive play between the balls and the cage. In the case of tripod joints, it's the play between the rollers and the housing.
It could also be a creaking sound.
When you open the joint, it should be very dry.
Sometimes, you can even feel the game itself as you move the dial back and forth.
The noise disappears when you add gear oil, I think because the oil seals well and compensates for any play.

Hello!

First of all, thank you for the responses!
The cuff on the transmission side has now been replaced. As far as the factory service department can tell, the joint is still in good condition. So, the noise wasn't coming from there.
The cause of the noise was a loose plastic panel located between the wheel arch and the engine compartment.
The creaking noise had been gone for over a week before it reappeared yesterday. The noise can be triggered by, for example, slightly moving the steering wheel back and forth while the car is stationary. Then, you can clearly hear a creaking sound coming from the front, on the right side. However, if you move the steering wheel back and forth 4 or 5 times, the noise disappears. But it comes back as soon as you drive a short distance. The same noise can also be heard when the suspension is compressed and released. So, it must be coming from a part of the suspension system, but which part? Today, the noise was gone again, and I couldn't reproduce it even when trying to recreate the movement.
Does anyone have any idea what might be causing the creaking sound in the suspension, and whether it can be fixed, and if so, how?

'Thank you!!'

Regards,
DENNIS

The noise might be coming from the shock absorber.

I'm experiencing cracking, creaking, etc.
100% from the leadership joint on the right side.
Mostly when driving slowly in curves and when encountering bumps in the road.

I will exchange this within the next 2 weeks; it costs almost 40 Euros.

Hello,

I'm assuming that your A6 has the same front axle construction as my A4. If that's the case, I would suspect the control arms, as that was the issue with mine. Have they been replaced on your car yet? If not, it's not surprising that you're having this problem with your mileage. Also, if I were you, I would have the entire front axle overhauled at the same time, because after replacing the control arms on mine, the rest of the front axle started to fail after 30,000 km, which manifested as rattling noises. A complete overhaul is definitely cheaper than constantly replacing individual parts.
I then also immediately got rid of my original shock absorbers and springs and had an *** suspension installed. Is it really worth the money, considering you're not getting a stable ride and the shock absorbers won't last forever anyway?
Okay, so I've now presented my final investment. I don't want to pressure anyone into anything, but I'm so happy with the result that the idea of buying a new car has completely disappeared from my mind.

Hello!

A complete overhaul still doesn't sound very cheap .
I don't want to drive this car forever. The estimated remaining time is about 1.5 years, which translates to roughly 50,000 kilometers.
I'm just not sure how I'm supposed to demonstrate the noise to my mechanic, since it disappears as suddenly as it appears. Do the tie rods have any play, or how can you determine if they are causing the noise?

DENNIS

The repair kit costs €432.00 for an A4, and the installation costs €232.96. There are also some small additional parts, so the total cost ends up being over €1000. However, it doesn't really make sense for 1.5 years. I would just drive it as it is and not put any more money into it. It won't fall apart that quickly.
The ball joints on the control arms have some play, but I don't think you can detect that when they're installed. However, it's also possible that some other joints on the front axle are the cause. If you have a lot of time, you could disassemble everything, carefully remove the protective covers from the joints, fill them with fresh grease, and then secure the covers back in place with wire. In the initial stage, the joints are not yet worn out, but rather dry, as the small reserve of fat does not last forever.
A reputable workshop should be familiar with this problem, as it eventually occurs in every A4 (or A6?). A few thousand more kilometers, and the noise will be easily reproducible; it will then occur with every steering movement and when the suspension compresses.

Hello!

The problem became more frequent and noticeable over time, and it also seemed to be exacerbated by the higher outdoor temperatures. Finally, it just wouldn't stop, and the car creaked like an old stagecoach .
My (independent) mechanic immediately suggested replacing the steering tie rods and recommended replacing both sides due to the already high mileage (199,000 km). I picked up the car yesterday, and everything seems quiet again. I also think the handling feels better! Now I'm curious to see the bill. It will probably cost around €500, including the measurements. *sigh*
Thank you again to everyone who wrote to me here!

Regards,
DENNIS

Hello everyone,

'On my Passat 3B Variant (TDI PD, 12/99, approximately 140,000 km), I'm experiencing a similar noise, but only when cornering.'
It's particularly noticeable on the front right side when taking long curves between 60...120 km/h. It's a rhythmic thumping sound, like something is rubbing against the wheel (the frequency is related to wheel speed, so it's speed-dependent). Nothing is rubbing inside the fender well, and the noise occurs regardless of whether the 16-inch summer tires or the 15-inch winter tires are mounted.
Is it possible that the same problem exists here?
Could this also be related to the current Volkswagen recall affecting Passat, A4, and A6 models (my vehicle hasn't been to the workshop yet)?

Best regards.
Tom.

Don't take those noises coming from the front axle lightly.
The Audi and VW recall affects one of these steering components. This is the Lower Straight.
If the joint breaks there, the wheel will simply come off while driving.
Last week, we received an A4 B5 where this issue occurred.
I'm just saying the damage is 16,000 euros. If you're hearing a noise when the front suspension is compressing, it's likely the coil springs.

This action should also apply to the A6 models from GarfieldMZ. Why don't you go to a reputable mechanic and have them check it out for you, free of charge?

Hello everyone,

Meanwhile, I had taken my Passat to the workshop, and the tie rods (due to a recall campaign) were checked and found to be in good condition.
During a joint test drive, the workshop foreman mentioned that the noise could be coming from the front drive shafts, but that it was not yet critical at this stage.
If the noises become louder or occur continuously, a (unfortunately quite expensive) replacement of the drive shafts would be necessary. Has anyone had experience with this issue? My Passat is a B4 Variant TDI PD model, manufactured in December 1999, with approximately 140,000 kilometers (or miles) on the odometer.

Best regards.
Tom.