I don't know, but what makes me more sure that it's the passenger side bearing is that metal on metal crinkling sound.

 

A metal crinkling sound is not typical for a bad wheel bearing, either. It should sound like a gyrating or constant groan, moan, or grind if bad enough. Not so much a metalic sound.

Do you think a recorded drive-by might let us hear this sound?

 

I do get that gyrating sound from inside but it's hard to tell which side it's coming from. I'll try to do a video too see if I can capture the crinkling sound from the outside. But what else could be making that noise if it's not the brakes?

 

Good question which is why I'd like to hear it. Maybe we have different definitions of what "crinkling" sounds like.

 

One thing I'd like to know is how does everyone else diagnose which side has a bad bearing. Or do you just replace both regardless? This is causing way too much stress for me lol. I feel like a wheel is going to come flying off or something ha, ha.

 

Hi--I know this is a thread that ended 2 years ago, but I'm wondering how this issue was resolved and if A4 2000's new bearings cleared it up. I have symptoms on my 2002 A4 3.0 V6 that sound very similar. Thanks!

 

Have you checked the splash shield next to the rotor? Those things can easily bend when doing a brake job, or can get debris stuck between the shield and the rotor causing horrible grinding noises.

 

It was the passenger side bearing. The hub was pretty worn so I 'm gl.ad I had a new one ready. The shop did end up bending the plate too and it made a scraping sound. I just bent it back into place when I got home but they were such idiots that they had no idea where the noise was coming from.

 

I'm probably going to be chastised out of this forum for reporting on this. Took the A4 to a dealer and they said it was lower control arm boot that was worn and ball joint lubrication gone. That was going to be $450, but they said more impending issue was upper control arm bushings that needed immediate replacement. $750 for that repair. I'm having it done for piece of mind, but wondering if I should've gotten a second opinion. A couple reputable independent shops in my area were too booked to even look at it. Should I stay clear from Audi dealer servicing in general? Or trust that they know Audis well...