This, I think, is the 3rd time I'm posting up on this friggin noise. A little background: this noise has existed since I've had the car. Since then, I've rebuilt the tranny, new gears are in, changed out the differential fluid twice, replaced the springs, replaced the shocks, it got weld sfcs, replaced the lcas, and it STILL MAKES THIS NOISE. Basically, a squealing noise, accompanied by some grinding and what feels like stuttering friction.........comes from the rear of the car, but only when under 10 mph and turning. Steering pump? Keep in mind, the noise is coming from the rear. This problem has been "diagnosed" so many times it's ridiculous. 94 A4, btw.........solve my problem, be my personal hero.

 

Is it coming from one side more than the other? My first thought is one or both rear wheel hub bearings. My girlfriend's front left side was doing the same exact thing and we replaced it pretty easily. The only difficult part is driving to a local machine shop to have the bearing removed and the new one put in.

-Lucas

 

When you changed the fluid, did you add limitive slip additive in with it?

 

Sounds like the brakes. Mine does the same thing even after I replaced the pads and roters. It makes a slight grinding noise slowing to a stop.

 

Brakes, bearings, differential, etc.

When my front pads needed changed they let me know by squeaking, but only when I turned slowly.

 

I have the same problem my rear makes all kinds of noises and they all make my g/f mad and embarrassed...








Oh wait, um, my 10 bolt makes noises too, similar to what is being described by the thread starter. It only occurs like turning at slow speeds in parking lots. Almost like a whine plus slight grinding, although the exhaust has made it easier to ignore for the time being.

-Dustin-

 

thanks for the input guys. to one poster, yes, i added the limited slip fluid when changing out the diff fluid. at this point, i'm leaning towards the one poster who mentioned the wheel hub bearings. my question though, what kind of labor are we looking at here? can i have them replaced when i put the new rims on?

the hub bearings actually makes perfect sense. i just never thought of it before. i know its not the brakes (99% sure) b/c of all the accompanying sounds that go with the squeal. imagine someone dragging a pipe across a suspension spring, but very slowly, and no metallic pitch. that's the noise that goes with the squeal when i'm turning at very low (parking) speeds. if it turns out that this noise has been diagnosed, i'm putting the poster in my signature as my hero.

 

What you want to do first is identify which side the noise is coming from. Drive with both windows down and while turning, stick your head out the drivers side window to listen. Then, do it a gean, leaning as far as you can towards the passenger side. This will at least give you an idea if it's coming from the wheels and if so, if it's coming from one or both. If you still think it's the hub bearing, loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels and start taking **** apart until you get down to the wheel hub. Tug and pull on it's sides, top, and bottom and see if you've got any play. The Haynes or Chilton manual can guide you through getting the wheel hub off if it feels sloppy. From there, take it to a shop with a new bearing and have them press out the old and press in the new. If you're not sure where a local machine shop is, just call your mechanic and ask him where he goes to for machining. This isn't a tough job at all and new bearings are inexpensive. You're talking to someone who never worked on a car up until a year ago. All this **** really isn't difficult or tricky as long as you can follow basic instructions, take your time and learn to search the forums here when you get stuck.

 

So this is a long shot way old post but was there ever any solution to this issue? I have the same exact issue. I’ve done almost everything replaced in the rear I tried the m12 washer spacer on the brake bracket. Didn’t help at all. My rear bearings are brand new koyo bearings , new lsd unit , gears , brakes an u- joints rear suspension is new. Same issue starts at a slight squeal an then a metal on metal grinding noise only after ya drive a little at low speeds in circles basically. It comes from both sides , in reverse or drive an if you go into neutral it just squeal my guess cuz there is no load on it. The end play seems normal on the axles , caliper pins slide nice , idk I’m at a loss I just put 1k into rear end an now I notice this. An I don’t know If it ever did this prior.