Front diff/gear box

[Craig]

Hi gents

Hoping you guys can help with this or at least help me diagnose the problem. After getting my car back (steering rack was reconditioned), I noticed a noise coming fromthe front of the car. Its a whining sort of noise and the pitch changes with the speed of the car. We ran the car up on blocks and the noise appears to be coming from the front diff or gear box.

I'm taking it to a specialist on Tuesday, but would like to have an idea of what the problem could be before he opens it up.

Thanks
Craig

[audiman]

Is the whining worse in first and second? If so then its the input shaft bearing breaking up. Dont leave it making a noise as the input shafts wear and they are VERY VERY expensive, something like £1000, yes three zeros!!

This is what happened to mine. I found that noise 'went' away the higher gear that i was in, so in 5th it was a lot better.

HTH

[Craig]

Front diff

Hi

Actually its about the same loudness in all the gears. Just the pitch changes.

Craig

[Stick Insect]

I have the same noise from my Coupe quattro 20V.

I think the pinion bearings have gone in the diff. I won't know more till it is back on the road.

The noise was on the car at 7K when I bought it.

The pitch is varied according to road speed and not gears.

David

[s2driveruk]

I get a similar noise in the rear diff - but the sound is more akin to a wub wub wub noise which is really evident at about 40mph then the noise of the exhaust take over as the speed rises drowning it out. Audi told me that the noise isnt much to worry about and that they do get a bit noisier with high mileage cars and that its probably the pinion bearing. That was about 18 months ago and still there, but the car seems to be running fine.

Not sure if changing the pinions etc is an easy home diy job as the diff has shimms etc which need to be adjusted when re-assembling......?

Cheers,

David

[Stick Insect]

David,

Is the sound wub wub or jubjub? sorry..

yes that sounds like your diff bearings. I have the same at the moment
:mad:

it can make more noise on the over run ( backed off throttle) as well

Rebuilding diffs is a dark science. It would be easier to replace the unit with a good spare.

The cost of the bits is scary as well.

David