Intermittent Heavy Steering At Low Speeds

[Campblett]

I have done some searching around but I have not found anything really specific to my issue so I am wondering what people here might think it is.

I have a 2012 A4. I went to start the car yesterday morning and as soon as I pulled out of my garage I noticed that my steering at low speeds became very heavy at points, but not all the time. If I go to turn the wheel it will get tough for a second or two before returning back to normal for a few seconds and then repeating.

As of now I have checked the following:

Checked garage floor for any signs of a leak: None
Checked Fault Codes/Warning Lights: None
Checked steering fluid: Full
Listened for any noises when turning: None
Disabled adaptive steering via Vag-Com
Checked driver side fuse box (fuse #7) for power steering: Fuse is good.

I have an appointment at the dealer for Thursday, if the car needs to go in then I will need to remove my tune before my service. So I am wondering if there is anything I can do as I would like to avoid a trip to the dealer at all costs.

I recently did a steering wheel conversion to a flat bottom b8.5 s4 wheel a few weeks ago, but I doubt that would have anything to do with this as it only just started, any ideas?

[Lockon_B7]

It's not common, but one thing I've seen is in the intermediate steering shaft. In the joint where the shaft meets the rack the needle bearings will start to bind and release, causing it to be intermittent. Hope this helps!

[Nardogg]

Just brought mine in for the same problem never found a leak and happened intermittently. Brought to dealer and showed them what was happening. they replaced my power steering pump as it was not making enough pressure all the time. Has been a week since and problem is gone

[Campblett]

I'm going to try a steering wheel adaptation through VCDS as a final solution. If that does not work I guess it looks like I will be going to the dealer. I feel like my problem is similar to yours Nardogg. I will update once the issue is sorted out.

[bluetori]

Is it a shudder when from the steering wheel when you turn, u had the same issue if that's it and there was a TSB on my 09 to change the steering hoses.

[SDF1]

There are 3 Steering problems.

1) Flex Hose - When your parked and turn the steering wheel you feel a vibration
2) Lower Control Arms - At 110-115km/h the steering wheel shakes
3) Steering Shaft - When your car is parked steering is stiff TSB 2036032/2

[Campblett]

Brought the car into the dealer today and as soon as the Tech got in the car to feel the issue it went away and has not returned. I am not sure if the tech did some trick while he was testing it out but so far the problem has not come back. The only thing I could think is the Tech mentioned he did a full left turn and held it for a few seconds, followed by a full right turn and held it again for a few seconds, allowing the steering to re-learn its parameters.

Very odd indeed, I am hoping it does not return or I will have to go back.

[mkasperzak]

Brought the car into the dealer today and as soon as the Tech got in the car to feel the issue it went away and has not returned. I am not sure if the tech did some trick while he was testing it out but so far the problem has not come back. The only thing I could think is the Tech mentioned he did a full left turn and held it for a few seconds, followed by a full right turn and held it again for a few seconds, allowing the steering to re-learn its parameters.

Very odd indeed, I am hoping it does not return or I will have to go back.

hmm i have a very similar issue. doesn't do it all the time, but sometimes when I'm stopped or parking really slow and turn the wheel quickly i get the vibration/shutter. It wasn't doing this when i bought the car. I may try this trick and see it it works. I've read the 09's have the Flex hose issue but after 10/11 the flex hoses were updated.

[SDF1]

hmm i have a very similar issue. doesn't do it all the time, but sometimes when I'm stopped or parking really slow and turn the wheel quickly i get the vibration/shutter. It wasn't doing this when i bought the car. I may try this trick and see it it works. I've read the 09's have the Flex hose issue but after 10/11 the flex hoses were updated.

It depends what tires you have and where you are parked. For me it happens all the time on indoor parking where they have the nice slippery finish.

[Crucible35]

Had the same thing on my '09 where they indicated that the central shaft was "binding" as mentioned above. They applied some grease to the shaft to reduce the binding which helped...but it's come back recently. The full fix for this is pretty costly.

[Campblett]

So the issue returned today. I was able to get rid of it for a brief period of time by doing what the tech at Audi had done when he tested my car the first time, but it came back a little bit later. I was close by the dealer so I got the tech to come out again and try to feel it. This time he said he could and said he thinks it could be either a faulty steering column or rod. Luckily they won't have to plug my car into the system to complete the service so I can keep the tune while they work on it (very mod/tune friendly dealership)

Just to be clear since I think some people think my issue is that the steering wheel vibrates/shakes when I am turning at low speeds, this is not the case. In my case the wheel seems to get caught up or stuck on something at specific intervals when turning, making it very difficult to complete a turn and if I do not pull the wheel back the car will stay in a turn.

The car is going in on the 26th (first appt available with a loaner and not rental car ) I will update once they have sorted the issue out.

[audi5574]

Campblett

Please update us with what the dealer found as my car is doing the same thing.

[blbroo]

So the issue returned today. I was able to get rid of it for a brief period of time by doing what the tech at Audi had done when he tested my car the first time, but it came back a little bit later. I was close by the dealer so I got the tech to come out again and try to feel it. This time he said he could and said he thinks it could be either a faulty steering column or rod. Luckily they won't have to plug my car into the system to complete the service so I can keep the tune while they work on it (very mod/tune friendly dealership)

Just to be clear since I think some people think my issue is that the steering wheel vibrates/shakes when I am turning at low speeds, this is not the case. In my case the wheel seems to get caught up or stuck on something at specific intervals when turning, making it very difficult to complete a turn and if I do not pull the wheel back the car will stay in a turn.

The car is going in on the 26th (first appt available with a loaner and not rental car ) I will update once they have sorted the issue out.

That sounds pretty scary man. I'd be worried each time I turn that I won't be able to stop myself from going off the road or into oncoming traffic.

[andyzaharia]

From what I can think of, he must have changed the steering shaft, thats the most probable cause for his issue. These are prone to rust as there is not protection for the small bearings at the end of the shaft.

[audi5574]

Thanks andyzaharia. I sprayed the joint with wd-40 and it helped the issue greatly so the shaft needs to be replaced. I don't drive the car to often these days as I have a rental for work sometimes it sits for 6 weeks and the summer weather has run its course on it.

Any tips on changing the shaft other then keeping the steering wheel locked?