Hi all,

I've had this issue for a while: vibration between 60-72mph. I can feel it in the driver's seat and the front passenger seat visibly shakes. There is no vibration in the steering wheel, leading me to believe the issue is in the rear of the car.

+ Rotating the tires didn't change the symptoms or correct the issue.

+ I have an extra rim/tire that I tried on all four axles, didn't help.

+ I replaced both rear wheel bearings, didn't help.

Any ideas?

+ The car tracks 100% straight even after the wheel bearing swapout (I marked the positioning), but I have not tried an alignment.

+ How do I check the CV joints?

+ Is there a driveshaft bearing that could be causing this? What could be failing in the differential?

What else should I be looking for if I put the car up on jacks and crawl under for an inspection?

Thanks--

 

Check your control arms. That can cause the vibration.

Also check and try to move/shake the CV's/axles and see if there is any play going on.

 

Thanks -- I am getting a clunking sound from the right suspension when I hit potholes. Control arm components as the cause does make sense, though I'm not feeling vibration in the steering wheel. What's the best way to check for individial suspension component failure on the front -- i.e. I'd like to replace a single arm instead of buy a whole kit.

 

Try looking at your rear sway bar bushings, where it mounts between the frame and the sway bar look for a gap in that bushing. No doubt if you see that you will hear some noise, as for your vibration issue, hm 60-70 mph? swapping tires and rims was a good start, your question was what else could be failing the rear? A universal joint perhaps. I'm new to AWD just purchased an audi but, i am familiar with 4WD.

 

At this point I'm thinking universal joint or CV joints. Just looking for guidance on how to identify the problem(s) when I crawl under the car.

+ How do I identify bad u-joints

+ How do I identify bad CV joints (play in half shaft, orange rust from joint, etc.)

The rear CV joints at least look easy to do. How much of a mission is it to replace u-joints.

Thank you..

 

Universal joints are easy to replace. Drop the drive shaft, there should be circlips in the joint, remove them and press out the universal joint, installation is reverse.

 

my drivers front cv boot has been cracked for a while now and i have the same vibration.... just haven't had the money to replace the axle

 

Problem solved. It was badly worn control arms all around and two out-of-balance tires.

I switched out all of the control arms and the sway bar links. This reduced the vibration a lot. Then I got my tires rebalanced, this time at a better shop. Two were out of balance.

No more damn vibration at highway speed!!!