steering makes clicking sound...

[FrankA6]

Well its been doing it all winter pretty much, and i know my tie rods are worn bad and have play, thats why i got new tie rods with control arms, but they wont be installed untill summer, the clicking noise only occurs when the car is siting still and when move the steering wheel left and right, i don't hear anything when driving...(sometimes you can hear it a little when driving really slow) so do you think its just the tie rods making the noise..since they do have play in them and it feels loose, or do you think the steering rack itself is loose??? and if so, where do i tighten it up at.....thanks in advance!

[The Stig]

I think you must be having problems with your CV joints.

This must have happened because your cv boots were worn out. The rubber boot is responsible for keeping the CV joint surrounded by grease - a tear in the boot will permit grease to fly out of the boot when the wheel is in motion, leaving tell-tale residue around the inner perimeter of the wheel (for the outer boot). Left like this, dirt will enter the joint, turning the bearings of the CV joint into grinders and destroying the CV joint. If you hear a clicking noise when in motion and while turning the car, the CV joints will need to be replaced.

[FrankA6]

nope, i had CV boots put on by audi near the end of summer, they are brand new and no black on wheels either....so its not the cv boots...and it only does it when its cold...soo i dunno its weird...im going to almost put my money on the tie rods or the rack being loose.

[itsjeo]

that is your power steering rack for sure. check your ps fluid level. make sure its not low. if it gets low that means you got a leak. and one day its just gonna pop n have oil everywhere.

[FrankA6]

i will give it a look...and when you mean rack and check for leeks...do you mean the pump...??? , thanks

[audirs]

sounds like tie-rods to me

[Stampy]

Could be a really any of the things mentioned. I don't think its the CV's though. I am in the same position as you as far as waiting for spring/summer to do some suspension work. I would check for the loose rack though. Its easy. Just pull out the battery, and its tray. Then check the two bolts under it. I have heard so many stories of the nuts backing off the bolts.

[A62TURBO]

I'm in the same boat, I hear clicking in the morning when the car is cold but goes away after it warms up, I also hear a creaking noise sometimes when turning the wheel. My guess is bushings are on they're way out.

[wofman]

Frank, that was symptom I had with bad rack. And mine was definitely bad, shot (no leak, btw, just broken). You move steering wheel back and forth (sitting still) and hear coinciding click? (there's no "adjusting" that I'm aware of with rack -- mine was cracked metal)

[FrankA6]

well im having my oil changed, and tranny oil changed, and steering rack looked at, along with the rest of the coilpacks put in......yeah i blew a coilpack about 2 weeks ago, so i got 6 new ones, i just put in...so while its there im going to have him put the rest on then he can look over the rack...it really doesnt make that much noise, just sounds creeky, (like something that needs oiled) ya know?....and wofman, how much was the rack???

[wofman]

well im having my oil changed, and tranny oil changed, and steering rack looked at, along with the rest of the coilpacks put in......yeah i blew a coilpack about 2 weeks ago, so i got 6 new ones, i just put in...so while its there im going to have him put the rest on then he can look over the rack...it really doesnt make that much noise, just sounds creeky, (like something that needs oiled) ya know?....and wofman, how much was the rack???

Mine was a "click"; not especially loud, since I never really noticed it -- was going after a different rumble sound I heard over bumpy surfaces when the rack issue was discovered (that mystery never solved -- just a slight rattling over surfaces, but all was fine, so....). Wouldn't hear it over engine, windows up, driving, etc.

But hold steering wheel still, car on lift, wiggle wheels back and forth by hand and easy to tell of rack is problem. (I think I said we wiggled steering wheel with tires on ground in prior post, but that was bad memory acting up.)

You sitting down? They go for about $1200 and "book" says 11 hrs. Sam did it in less, but $2K is $2K. When done I noticed the obvious driving difference as I now feel no resistance on steering wheel, can use my pinky tip (servotronic). I remembered when I first got the car how effortless the steering was, apparently gradually became more resistant over time and I never noticed change. [The car's acceleration is also improved since it is also considerably lighter when driving now, owing to much less weight in driver's right rear pocket.]

[FrankA6]

hmm, i think i can get it much cheaper with my guy...but...i hope thats not it, and its just the tie rods and maybe the steering pump.

also ive found some racks on the internet for around $650-700, and my guy would prolly charge $150 so, thats not bad...like i said, lets hope thats not the case! *knocks on wood*

altho the steering in the S-Line for some reason is crazy stiff, like a 911, and in our other 2.7T which is a 2001, its really soft and easy to move....but overall the steering is still stiff, it just has some play in it, and some squeaky noise..so which leads me to believe that its the tie rods...since when they go, you then get play...OH WELL!

[A62TURBO]

hmm, i think i can get it much cheaper with my guy...but...i hope thats not it, and its just the tie rods and maybe the steering pump.

also ive found some racks on the internet for around $650-700, and my guy would prolly charge $150 so, thats not bad...like i said, lets hope thats not the case! *knocks on wood*

altho the steering in the S-Line for some reason is crazy stiff, like a 911, and in our other 2.7T which is a 2001, its really soft and easy to move....but overall the steering is still stiff, it just has some play in it, and some squeaky noise..so which leads me to believe that its the tie rods...since when they go, you then get play...OH WELL!

I drove a friends 04' Sline and the steering was pretty much like mine, smooth and easy to turn. Maybe you do have a steering problem

[FrankA6]

well i got the car with 38K miles on it, it now has 91K miles on it, and has felt the same always...maybe the 2001 has a problem with it, and when i mean stiff, it feels the same as a new A4 or even the same as a B6/B7 S4, very sporty..so i dunno, i dont think its anything major, its been like this making noise for months now.

i don't know, its weird ,my cars steering feels stiff and i can tell somethings off, its starting to have some play in it, and like 3 or 4 diff garages said, you need tie rods..so i guess i will find out next week!

oh and A62turbo , you have a 2003, so i think all the facelift cars have stiffer steering....i remember a thread a while back talking about this......anyone?

i was comparing my steering to the 2001 2.7T we have, it feels more like a big luxury car, and my newer A6 feels more like a S or RS car ,also my suspension was way lower and stiffer than the 2001....can anyone tell this when driving either one?

[itsjeo]

well you know.. that rack takes ALOT of time to replace. plus an alignment. it cost me 1100 but thats because i paid in cash. i hear that some people have even been charged up to 1800. if your mechanic will charge 150 to change the rack, damn your mechanic must be your dad or a really close friend. even if i did the labor myself for my mom's car, id have to charge more than 150.

timeline: october 2008 is when i first started to hear clicking. november 2008 my car sounded like it was supercharged on a cold start. december 2008 i had to refill the ps fluid every two weeks. february 2009 i started seeing smoke coming from the right front wheel well. took it in thinking that my oilpan gasket went bad. turns out it was the ps rack that went to $h!t on me.

Good luck and i hope your ps rack doesnt "blow up"

[A62TURBO]

I'm pretty sure all C5's have the assisted steering feature where at slow speeds it assists you by making the wheel easier to turn and as you go faster it stiffens up. Some guys have talked about pulling the Relay to keep the steering permanently stiff. My 03's has very easy steering at slow speeds and stiffens as I speed up.

[Stampy]

Some guys have talked about pulling the Relay to keep the steering permanently stiff.

Worst "mod" ever! I removed it. Drove around the block. Had to make sure I wasn't in my 93 civic hatch. Put relay back in.

[A62TURBO]

Worst "mod" ever! I removed it. Drove around the block. Had to make sure I wasn't in my 93 civic hatch. Put relay back in.

lol my mother had an 87 civic hatchback when I was a kid and turning that wheel was like an hour session at the gym.

[wofman]

I think sttering assist is called "servotronic"? Started with 2000, I believe -- some racks had it , some didn't. The $1200 is for those with it (like mine).

Frank -- $150 for was for replacing the steering wheel, not steering rack. 11 hours!
(can't even access the sucker without moving engine)

[FrankA6]

well if the motor has to come out and if thats what the problem is, i might as well do , new turbos, gaskets and downpipes while im at it.... and the guy that does my car would sitll prolly charge 600-700 less than the audi garage....also, i have no leeks on my garage floor or driveway....did you guys have leeks from the rack and pump???

[wofman]

well if the motor has to come out and if thats what the problem is, i might as well do , new turbos, gaskets and downpipes while im at it.... NOW you're talkin'!


and the guy that does my car would sitll prolly charge 600-700 less than the audi garage....also, i have no leeks (onions? ) on my garage floor or driveway....did you guys have leeks from the rack and pump???

No oil leak, just broken hardware. I've gotten over it now, but I was definitely po'd about it. Hey, 10 yr old car....

[FrankA6]

well i will have the guy look at it, thanks!

[wofman]

Good luck, Frank! Hope it's something trivial.

[FrankA6]

thanks...and after reading bad tie rod symptoms...i have just about all of them on the check list...lol....so lets hope thats the case!

[TWINTURBOA6]

dude frank... I had some clicking noises when turning and it was actually due to a bad axle...the Axle is cheap I beleive I got the whole repair done for under $500! ... Just make sure to align it afterwards...

[FrankA6]

yeah i have them take a look at it....its just , i could be a bunch of things

[xpl0sive]

my car does that too, its werid tho, when i'm sitting still, and i quickly turn the wheel back and forth, it clicks, i chekced my tie rods, they look like, if i turn the wheel one way all the way, it doesnt click at all, its just when im doing it back and forth quickly it feels like one of the tie rods is loose or something... could it be the inner tie-rod thats shot?

[A62TURBO]

my car does that too, its werid tho, when i'm sitting still, and i quickly turn the wheel back and forth, it clicks, i chekced my tie rods, they look like, if i turn the wheel one way all the way, it doesnt click at all, its just when im doing it back and forth quickly it feels like one of the tie rods is loose or something... could it be the inner tie-rod thats shot?

most likely the steering rack

[xpl0sive]

hmm well i'll check if the bolts came loose first, then go from there i guess

[bostons6]

My V10 S6 has had this twice. TIGHTEN the steering rack bolts. It will go away.

[MooF]

If it sounds like a 'twang' noise, and less like clicking, then its likely worn strut mounts. I know it seems left-field, but I've come across this on other models.
Good luck.

[FrankA6]

mine sounds more like a creeking door.

[MooF]

mine sounds more like a creeking door.

yep, thats also a description of a worn strut mount. Please rule out that as well... please keep us posted.

[flatfootedboy]

I'm resurrecting this thread as it's the closest I could find to my situation, but not quite the same.

I recently had a transmission rebuild (72k miles, boo!) and when I got the car back it was making a clicking sound which was particularly noticeable when reversing out of the garage, turning the steering wheel to the left or right, not full lock but quite full. I also felt and heard a slight vibration, as if something was rubbing a bit. There is no vibration when straight (front or backwards) and I don't think the clicking was as bad when going forwards.

We've driven the car a couple of hundred miles since then and if anything the clicking has got worse; I can create the clicking sometimes if I brake moderately hard from slow speed even if I'm in a straight line. We also managed to get the clicking sound with the engine switched off with the car rolling slowly, turning the steering wheel one way or the other (so I suppose it's not drivetrain related). We've tried to find the source of the clicking by listening to it with the car on a ramp and also with the front wheels lowered, no luck. It doesn't appear to be coming from any of the suspension joints (which all look in reasonable condition) but sounded like it might be a bit higher up. I haven't looked at the steering rack bolts (recommended above) yet but I'm wondering if the clicking could be related to the subframe as I believe that they would have had to remove this to get the transmission out.

Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom out there? (The car is an '02 S6). Thanks for reading.

[desmo]

Sounds like the bearings in your cv joints.

[G Men 08]

either that, or the strut bearing mounts. I had the same issue in an old car of mine.

[flatfootedboy]

Thanks for your thoughts, desmo and G Men 08, much appreciated.

I think it's likely that the transmission removal/replacement had something to do with it (because I didn't have the symptoms beforehand). Could the bearings in the CV joints or the strut bearing mounts have been disturbed when the transmission was removed/replaced? I also read in another post that clicking can be caused by 'subframe separation' (http://audirevolution.net/forum/index.php?topic=80.0). Is that a possible culprit?

Thanks again.