Bad CV Axle or Wheel Bearing? Video!

[Tusin]

Ok well a really crappy video;) Only thing I had with me was my cell.

05.5 A4 6MT Quattro 32k

This is the front drivers wheel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw1vWzsDkRQ

I did the same test with the passenger front and it is silent.

Symptoms have been, a howling/humming noise that has been getting more apparent over the past few months. And random vibrations, but not really in the steering wheel, more in the floor board/pedals. I had it inspected about 2 months ago, but at the time it wasn't making a noise like it is now.

I am leaning towards bearing due to the symptoms. But the clicking in the video of course would make me think CV Axle.... But I have never heard clicking while driving/turning/etc....

Oh please ignore my dog barking, I just moved into my place and haven't cleaned out the garage enough to pull the car in all the way;)

[audidude89]

check the cv axle boots. if neither is leaking, you shouldnt have any issues with the cv grinding. i would guess the bearing if there arent any tears

[Tusin]

Yeah I inspected and felt the boots and didn't see anything. I am really learning towards bearing as well.

[Brownie85]

When I had a bad wheel bearing as I would drive and turn the car left a little bit the right side would make a noise, if I went straight or turned towards the right it wouldnt make any noise, has to do with the weight of the car on that bearing. I guess give that a try?

[Tusin]

Anyone else with an idea? Is there anything else that it could be other than the axle or wheel bearing?

[illegitimus]

jack up the car on the side where you suspect the problem is, grab the wheel at 0 and 90 degrees with your hands and push-n-pull on it. if there's play, your bearings are shot.

[Latin Audi]

jack up the car on the side where you suspect the problem is, grab the wheel at 0 and 90 degrees with your hands and push-n-pull on it. if there's play, your bearings are shot.

Yep. My bearing went out too and had a scrapping sound while turning (the car not the wheel). Didnt have that knocking sound though. Replaced the wheel bearing and hub. Not that hard of a DIY

[Tusin]

Yeah I have no play (second thing I checked for). But according to a few VW guys, we won't get play until our bearings are completely shot.

[illegitimus]

Can you check the control arms play and maybe even the drive shaft and see if you can hear any clunking? Might need to take the wheel off though, I think. Just need to eliminate anything else and zero on the wheel bearings if nothing else seems abnormal. Keep us posted. I am very curious to know what this ends up being...

[Tusin]

Yeah, I am taking it out to a Indy Shop (The Guy worked at the local VW/Audi dealer for 8 years) tomorrow. So I will keep you updated. Now that you mention a control arm, could that be a possible cause? I know I need to replace the front upper on that side (a little mishap during the CO install, didn't crack the bushing, but did end up pushing it up). But would that cause a clicking noise just when I am spinning the tire?

[illegitimus]

The spinning of the wheel might easily agitate some vibration in the tie rod end. I mean, I am not a mechanic by any means but who knows. It could also be a drive shaft too. In any event, I'd like to know what this ends up being.

[barkerd427]

It's probably a wheel bearing. It isn't too expensive to change or too difficult to change either. It just doesn't seem like an axle to me. Have you hit any hard bumps lately? If your wheel becomes bent or out of balance then the bearing will go quickly.

[Tusin]

No I haven't hit anything hard recently. But this issue has been going on for awhile, it just would never emit symptoms like it is now. The owner of the Indy shop (well it is his and one other guy lol) couldn't locate it when I went out there a couple of times a few months back. Can't blame him though, nothing obvious when diagnosing (like it is now), low miles (it was 30k at the time), etc.... Last time I went out he spent like two hours on it, and only charged me for a wheel balance.

I have a few ideas on if it is a wheel bearing how it could have happened. When I installed my CO's/Wheels/Rear Sway. I also put on spacers (8mm front, 12.5mm back). Everything rode smooth (slight vibration in the steering wheel). Figured we didn't center the tires good enough. But found that a few of my wheel bolts were pretty dang loose (of course on the side my friend did lol). At the time I lived on a very bumpy dirt road. I would never go over 10mph on it, but still....

One other thing that I almost forgot about it (because I haven't ran the front spacers for a very very long time). That after I tightend everything down, my steering wheel would wobble like crazy. I must have tried to put on the 8mm spacers at least 10 times, even tried a set of 5mm spacers (the 8's are hubcentric, the 5's arent), and could never get it smooth. I have yet to try it after I got a good road force balance though.

If it is an axle, I am a bit at a loss at this one. I took this video a little over a month ago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ebPflqTpgs. Same side (you can tell by the fill whole on the front diff/trans case). I had the drivers front suspension out (was making sure my install of CO's was not a cause for these issues), and this much movement just struck me as odd. As in I didn't remember my passenger front moving this much. But as I already had that side buttoned up, I wasn't going to tear it down. Some have told me that is wrong, others have said it is fine. So who knows.

Is it possible to pull out a CV joint to far? Again my friend (whom is a BIG BOY) did that side, so I am not 100% sure what he did.

[KiddEng]

Bumpage...

did you ever figure out of it was the wheel bearing or not?