Constant clicking noise when decelerating and braking.

**BrileyR** · 09-04-2019 07:57 PM

2008 2.0T Quattro.

Anytime I’m decelerating, I can hear a clicking like a playing card in bike spokes. As soon as you give throttle it stops, but let off and it starts again.It does change with road speed not engine speed. It also happens when braking, and gets louder than faster I decelerate or brake. Usually can’t hear it when under around 20 MPH. It sounds to me like it’s coming from Right front, but passengers think it’s left front. I’ve checked in both front wheel wells for splash shields rubbing, checked brake backing plates, no issues there. I really hope this isn’t a diff issue. I just bought the car, and haven’t gotten to all the regular maintenance items yet like checking diff fluid levels. Could low fluid cause this? Am I being paranoid about a diff problem?

Any thoughts of what I should check.

First post, love this forum!

Briley.

**EvolutionArmory** · 09-05-2019 03:15 AM

Usually the first thing people think of around here when people mention the bike spoke sound on decel is a loose wastegate door in the turbocharger exhaust housing.

Could that be what you’re talking about? It would explain the noise coming from the right front of the car. Buy an automotive stethoscope and stick it right on the exhaust housing of the turbo and have someone rev your car up to 3-4K. If you hear the clicking it’s your turbo.

**BrileyR** · 09-05-2019 03:31 AM

Originally Posted by EvolutionArmory

Usually the first thing people think of around here when people mention the bike spoke sound on decel is a loose wastegate door in the turbocharger exhaust housing.

Could that be what you’re talking about? It would explain the noise coming from the right front of the car. Buy an automotive stethoscope and stick it right on the exhaust housing of the turbo and have someone rev your car up to 3-4K. If you hear the clicking it’s your turbo.

The sound is definitely road speed related.

Thanks.

**EvolutionArmory** · 09-05-2019 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by BrileyR

The sound is definitely road speed related.

Thanks.

Thanks for clarifying. Being RPM related or speed related is good info to have. Maybe start inspecting the CV joints or main drive shaft if Quattro. Maybe check to make sure it’s not something stupid like the brake dust shield rubbing on something?

The fact that it stops when you give it throttle still makes me think it could be the wastegate door though. I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it as a possibility.

**BrileyR** · 09-05-2019 05:07 AM

Update from my drive into work this morning, it sounds more metallic, and in the right situation, it will click with a small amount of throttle if I'm on a down hill stretch. So I guess this would rule out turbo. I'm still trying to determine if the clicking is due to the transfer of weight forward and something is rubbing, or if it's mechanical in nature. Hmmm....

**Theiceman** · 09-05-2019 08:59 AM

cv joint

**BrileyR** · 09-05-2019 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by Theiceman

cv joint

Do you think it's come apart? The boots are both good, no leaks. So, if I jack up the car, I should be able to spin the wheel freely?

Thanks.

**Theiceman** · 09-05-2019 09:50 AM

no . when mine went bad the housing started to disintegrate and the clicking was the balls catching on it..

. i just went to rebuild and saw the damage. If you can get a positive diagnosis i have heard half axles are the way to go.

not my b8 but you get the idea

**BrileyR** · 09-05-2019 10:09 AM

Hmm... this would make sense. I'll get in there and check it out. I would think there would be some play in the cup and bearing though right? I agree, an entire axle is easier.

Thanks!!

**Theiceman** · 09-05-2019 10:12 AM

there is supposed to be play that's how it works .. i would not use that as a guideline..

**Brillo** · 09-05-2019 10:26 AM

I would guess the CV joint too. On deceleration is the noise different when in gear using the engine to decelerate rather than in neutral (or clutch depressed) and decelerating using only the brakes? If the clicking is more pronounced when engine braking that would point to CV joint. Also, failing CV joints (in the front) tend to be noisier while turning.

**BrileyR** · 09-05-2019 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Theiceman

there is supposed to be play that's how it works .. i would not use that as a guideline..

I meant I'll take the axle out and see if there is any torsional play in the joint.

**BrileyR** · 09-05-2019 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Brillo

I would guess the CV joint too. On deceleration is the noise different when in gear using the engine to decelerate rather than in neutral (or clutch depressed) and decelerating using only the brakes? If the clicking is more pronounced when engine braking that would point to CV joint. Also, failing CV joints (in the front) tend to be noisier while turning.

No difference. In fact, the harder I brake the more pronunced the clicking. I don't hear any CV noise or rumbling when turning. No I'm thinking it may not be a CV......

**audilove3** · 09-05-2019 11:03 AM

im still thinking its the wastegate

**Theiceman** · 09-05-2019 11:11 AM

guess we will know soon enough...

**BrileyR** · 09-05-2019 11:45 AM

Just went out to lunch with all this info in my head, and let me throw this in the mix, anything less than 30 MPH, no matter how hard I brake or engine speed, there is no clicking. This really sounds like a metal shield hitting something rotational. I suppose I'm going to have to get it as high up on stands as I can, and start checking everything.

I think this could be the start of a new Motor Trend TV reality show, "Automotive Detectives". Corny, I know, but they put dummer stuff on TV.

**audilove3** · 09-06-2019 12:35 AM

caliper sticking? when it starts clicking does pumping the break stop the car from rubbing?

**BrileyR** · 09-06-2019 04:46 AM

Originally Posted by audilove3

caliper sticking? when it starts clicking does pumping the break stop the car from rubbing?

No.

**audilove3** · 09-06-2019 06:54 AM

does it happen when the car is downshifting and exactly at certain points (MPH)

**BrileyR** · 09-06-2019 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by audilove3

does it happen when the car is downshifting and exactly at certain points (MPH)

It happens anytime the car is slowing, so downshifting, braking, decelerating, it even happens when on a down grade and WITH partial throttle. Noticed this morning it even briefly happened when I would hit a bump, not nearly as bad, but I could slightly hear it.

**EvolutionArmory** · 09-06-2019 07:59 AM

Does it sound like this?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9laswnZ_DH8

**EvolutionArmory** · 09-06-2019 08:01 AM

Or this?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HXDaDivGdp0

**BrileyR** · 09-09-2019 03:56 PM

Found it!!!

One of the heat shields over the drive shaft had corroded away from its retaining nuts. Most of the time it wouldn’t hit the shaft, but anything over 30 mph would catch the front edge and pull it down into the drive shaft. I guess the weight transfer of braking and decelerating would move the shaft up into the shield as well. Anyway, 2 large fender washers and all is good.

Next project, timing belt, DV, PCV......

Thanks all for the suggestions!!

**EvolutionArmory** · 09-09-2019 04:33 PM

That’s great news. Congrats on it being a dollar to fix and not a few hundred. 😀

**audilove3** · 09-09-2019 04:50 PM

here you go from nothing to something. why did you not post sound video this spoke in a bike did it sound like any of the videos that above posted? or just an over reaction heat shield? i always thought mine was the same too

Originally Posted by BrileyR

Found it!!!

One of the heat shields over the drive shaft had corroded away from its retaining nuts. Most of the time it wouldn’t hit the shaft, but anything over 30 mph would catch the front edge and pull it down into the drive shaft. I guess the weight transfer of braking and decelerating would move the shaft up into the shield as well. Anyway, 2 large fender washers and all is good.

Next project, timing belt, DV, PCV......

Thanks all for the suggestions!!

**MountieInAudi** · 07-25-2020 09:33 PM

Hey - thanks so much for making the time to post your very detailed description and the resolution you discovered!
I experienced the identical symptoms after getting caught-out in a tornado (for real - I watched the funnel pass directly over me while I was driving), and having to get safely off the road to wait out the storm. I didn't get to high-ground fast enough, it seems - the streets were deluged in moments, and the water disturbed the heat-shield enough for it to catch and flap, just as you described. I too hearkened back to the old BMX baseball-card-in-the-spokes days! At first, I was terrified that the cold-air had sucked in some water, and that a main-bearing had slipped - it sounded identical to that, however after reflecting on it, I realized that the rattling noise was not linked to the engine-rpm at all.
I spent two days digging around in the passenger wheel-cavity, poking around the suspension assembly. The noise must have been carried to the body-mount by the drive-shaft. I would never have guessed it was that far back (just before the resonator, in my case), and I was focused on the passenger-side, convinced of a worn-wheel bearing or axle/transaxle or some component therein. Again though, the rattling only occurring during deceleration was baffling - and like you described, it went away below 30km/hr.
In my case, the water seems to have pushed up the exhaust in the same area, and the force snapped the weld on the exhaust mount also - so a minor tack-weld is in order (I hope "minor", at least).
Thank you so much for your specifics and for making the time to post and follow-up with your solution - saved me so much stress, and likely a good pile of paper too!
Blessings and peace to you and yours!

**hammond** · 07-25-2020 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by BrileyR

2008 2.0T Quattro.

Anytime I’m decelerating, I can hear a clicking like a playing card in bike spokes. As soon as you give throttle it stops, but let off and it starts again.It does change with road speed not engine speed. It also happens when braking, and gets louder than faster I decelerate or brake. Usually can’t hear it when under around 20 MPH. It sounds to me like it’s coming from Right front, but passengers think it’s left front. I’ve checked in both front wheel wells for splash shields rubbing, checked brake backing plates, no issues there. I really hope this isn’t a diff issue. I just bought the car, and haven’t gotten to all the regular maintenance items yet like checking diff fluid levels. Could low fluid cause this? Am I being paranoid about a diff problem?

Any thoughts of what I should check.

First post, love this forum!

Briley.

replace both front axles.