Popping noise when turning steering wheel slowly

Sylvester

Member
Hi fellas, since I got and started to use the car in march, there has been noise when turning the wheel slowly. Its like rubber bands break or popping one by one. During driving there's no noise, steering feels stable. Mot passed in February, no mentioning of any issues. Any ideas? Cheers
 
Don’t worry about it both of my A2’s make the noise now again :)

Every car does :)

If it makes the noise every time you turn the wheels of course something must be wrong :)
 
Hi fellas, since I got and started to use the car in march, there has been noise when turning the wheel slowly. Its like rubber bands break or popping one by one. During driving there's no noise, steering feels stable. Mot passed in February, no mentioning of any issues. Any ideas? Cheers
It sounds like the suspension top mounts,could be the problem.The bearings get covered in road grime over the years and stick,the noise you can hear is the coil spring moving on the bottom of the mounting,if left will in time course the coil spring to break
 
If the noise happens every time you move the steering when stood still, as stated, you *will* have a problem at some point. Rain might ease the noise, it's possible you won't hear it after a while when everything is dry, and then it will start again after rain.

The logic to this is simple: most of the movement of the spring is when stationary. It allows the strut to rotate relative to the spring as the spring is hooked in place on the strut. Water can get in and provide some lubrication, dust may also do the same. Longer term, replacement is necessary.

It won't happen with no pressure on the wheels if it is the top bearing, but it's a pain to replace as you'll need to take the strut out and for that you'll need spring compressors.

Not worrying about it is stupid in the medium term. Pay attention to how often it happens and when and you should be able to replace the parts at your convenience.

- Bret
 
If the noise happens every time you move the steering when stood still, as stated, you *will* have a problem at some point. Rain might ease the noise, it's possible you won't hear it after a while when everything is dry, and then it will start again after rain.

The logic to this is simple: most of the movement of the spring is when stationary. It allows the strut to rotate relative to the spring as the spring is hooked in place on the strut. Water can get in and provide some lubrication, dust may also do the same. Longer term, replacement is necessary.

It won't happen with no pressure on the wheels if it is the top bearing, but it's a pain to replace as you'll need to take the strut out and for that you'll need spring compressors.

Not worrying about it is stupid in the medium term. Pay attention to how often it happens and when and you should be able to replace the parts at your convenience.

- Bret
Sorry guys I made a mistake with the description, the steering wheel makes that noise when DRIVING slowly, so if I turn the car is in 2nd and above, there's no noise. If the car is stationary or speed is low, like reversing or getting out of parking bay, the popping noise is there even if I turn the steering wheel slowly or faster. Does it mean it'd be still the same issue? If so does anyone know how much would the repair cost? Thanks
 
Oof. Then I'd treat it as rather more urgent, and yes, that's the most probable cause.

Repair cost? It's probably 90 minutes at a minimum and 2.5 hours max to get the car up, shocks out, and back in again. If your hourly rate is £50, that's a £150-200 repair bill. But I'd consider fixing other parts at the same time if it's necessary. Shouldn't need to do an alignment afterwards.

- Bret
 
Oof. Then I'd treat it as rather more urgent, and yes, that's the most probable cause.

Repair cost? It's probably 90 minutes at a minimum and 2.5 hours max to get the car up, shocks out, and back in again. If your hourly rate is £50, that's a £150-200 repair bill. But I'd consider fixing other parts at the same time if it's necessary. Shouldn't need to do an alignment afterwards.

- Bret
Great...how come that didn't show up on the MOT? I'm moving house now so need money for that too, how long is it gonna be okay to drive like that? Will it get worse or suddenly just breaks? Thanks
 
when they fail, the spring is no longer held in place correctly at the top.

The exploded view is here: https://workshop-manuals.com/audi/a...ion_strut_(basic_running_gear)_exploded_view/

It's item 8, the ball bearing race; if it fails, your spring can no longer turn or turns freely. This will not happen overnight, but if you're still getting noises when moving slowly, I'd consider it to be a good idea to switch it out sooner rather than later. I can't tell you how long it will be "OK", it's not really OK now. I would personally avoid high speeds and long distances until it's fixed.

- Bret
 
when they fail, the spring is no longer held in place correctly at the top.

The exploded view is here: https://workshop-manuals.com/audi/a...ion_strut_(basic_running_gear)_exploded_view/

It's item 8, the ball bearing race; if it fails, your spring can no longer turn or turns freely. This will not happen overnight, but if you're still getting noises when moving slowly, I'd consider it to be a good idea to switch it out sooner rather than later. I can't tell you how long it will be "OK", it's not really OK now. I would personally avoid high speeds and long distances until it's fixed.

- Bret
I just did 180 miles to airport 3 weeks ago and week later back, no issues then. I'm gonna ask the garage what's their quote on the top bearing replacement and see it from there. How can I check if that's the issue? Do I need to jack the car up or so? Thanks Bret
 
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Well if it occurs only when driving slowly but it doesn't when stopped, it is propably CV joint. Not suspension top mount.
 
The spring needs to be under load for the resistance to be significant
During the Mot depending on how they position the jacking beam to check for wheel bearing etc if they jack on the subframe such strut top bearing wear may go undetected
If it is really notchy and you have a safe and suitably quiet location it is possible for a second person to observe the spring and strut while you move the wheel lock to lock whilst stationary
A long run wouldnt necessarily reveal this issue more likely to be apparent during slow or parking lock to lock manouvres
 
I just did 180 miles to airport 3 weeks ago and week later back, no issues then. I'm gonna ask the garage what's their quote on the top bearing replacement and see it from there. How can I check if that's the issue? Do I need to jack the car up or so? Thanks Bret
It appears when the car is stationary and at low speed, so like below 5mph. Over that no noise at all. Cheers
 
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I would get the car checked over ASAP. As well as the front springs you could have issues with the track rod end ball joints or wheel bearings. Less likely than the springs top mounts or bottom mount could be badly rusted and the spring is riding up over the stop.
 
I've been very busy at work and just had time now to sort few things out, like throttle body cleaning as that.
About the popping noise when turning at low speed or when the car is stationary, I've noticed the noise is coming from the steering column, or very close to it and not from outside around the wheels or so. I've checked the cv boots by the tyres but the big one and the small one, opposite end on same rod, all looks good and undamaged. I've seen the diagram how the column looks like, just not sure if it's good news or just even worse as gotta take a lot more parts out, just even to have a look at it. Thanks
 
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Had to replace several UJ on commercials and 4x4 steering columns
Never so far on an A2

More involved than strut top swap tho
 
Had to replace several UJ on commercials and 4x4 steering columns
Never so far on an A2

More involved than strut top swap tho
It sound like rubber bands popping behind the steering wheel, but only up until like 5mph, after no noise. Sounds like an expensive job, so until it comes up in MOT or gives more issues apart from the quite popping noise, I just leave it. Cheers
 
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