Hello...I have a 2004 Audi S4 with low miles and every once in awhile when i'm either in first gear or backing up I will hear a very lound snap or cracking sound from underneath. At first I thought it was my tires rubbing, but now i notice it comes from the center of the car. Is this the quattro? is this normal? is my car going to die? After it cracks or pops that one time it drives absolutely perfect. Nothing else seems out of place, just those odd few times when backing up or starting. The pop is very loud and sounds like something is settling in....I'm sad since it is fairly new and I love it.

 

can you tell if the noise is coming from the front or rear. maybe differential binding? Im guessing you car is a manual?

 

Mine kinda makes the same sound...sounds like it's coming from the front of the car. It's not very loud but it happens most of the time when I'm making 90 degree turns and normal speeds. My car's a manual...is differential binding a bad thing? Haven't noticed it happening when backing up...I'll make sure to pay attention next time.

 

on the older 4x4 it was common normally the tension or pressure build up when putting into 4x4 drive like a thump into gear and was normal but never heard it on the newer type before unless it was switchable to 2 wheel drive

 

thanks for helping out...i agree budfrong, it does sound like the front right for me. it happens usually if hte car has been sitting and is on uneven ground, for example, if i start it in the morning and i back out and i am turning almost 90degrees and i need to reverse over a speed bump while my wheels are turned, the pop is the most severe. It also happens when i do make 90 degree turns occasionally. the car is a 2004 and a quattro so what avant80 says about thumping into gear seems like a reasonable answer, however, it is a newer car so maybe it is what budfrog is encountering. What year is your car budgrog? My car is a manual as well...also, what do you mean about differential binding? i'm a newbie...thanks for the help!

 

my 2004 S4 makes the same noise, seems like one thing after the other with this car, anyways Im having the brake pads and rotors replaced today and I'm also bringing up the popping cracking sound I get making turns so hopefully I will have an official answer for you tomarrow when I hear from the dealership.

 

Well I guess the noise is coming from my after market exhaust banging against the heat shields, they said I have to take my **** to a midas or meineke and get it fixed, im pissed. [:'(]

 

my 2000 audi a4 makes a diff noise when i go in reverse or forwards. its when i make a bad launch (manual) i hear a sliping noise like, maybe a fan belt?.

 

Yeah, my 04/s4 makes some sounds when turning tight at low speed, under 5 or 10 mph, almost and unexplanable noise though. I'm not sure what it is...It should be resolved when I burn the car in a insurance scam