I’ve a droning noise from gearbox area when car is put under pressure around the 2000 rpm seems to happen in 3rd or 4th gear.

I have also noticed lack of traction with caravan on back don’t know if the two are linked or not?

Anybody any ideas

What engine is fitted? What transmission? 2 or 4 wheel drive? What is the service history like?

2 litre 170 bhp estate 4x4

dealer serviced on recommended times

83 000 miles on clock

2014 registered

 

Mileage sound right for the rubber doughnut ptopshaft coupling to have had it and it ties in with the droning under load at those rpm... 

Makes sense

thanks skomaz

Does it sound like that when you dont have the caravan on the back ?

 

think i *might* have the same noise on mine !

Yes but not so bad

Going into main dealer end of March.

Independent garages don’t seem to want to know when you mention Haldex which Iam almost sure it’s linked too.

Will post outcome.

Blackbull

Been to main dealer they can’t find anything wrong.

So frustrating when I know there is.

Didnt charge me but didn’t find problem.

Blackbull

Could this be tyres? The Superb II is known for strange wear patterns especially on the rear. Noises such as this can be difficult to pin point - try swapping wheels front to rear / rear to front to see if the noise changes.

Tried that

Big John

Mines up at the dealership in Colne t the moment. They’ve come back with the prop shaft bush that has sized. 
might be same on your car. 

I wonder if that’s the rubber doughnut that’s been mentioned in earlier posts sounds like it

Let me know what they come up with please.

5 hours ago, Blackbull said:

I wonder if that’s the rubber doughnut that’s been mentioned in earlier posts sounds like it

 

It is the exact same thing... 

I'm getting a small amount of vibration under heavy acceleration on my 4x4. Is this the prop shaft coupling 1K0521307, 1K0521307A subject of this thread ? There seems to be quite a variation in price?

 

Yes that's the one at the rear.  There is a slightly different one at the front.  Cheapest for the rear is febi at about £100 but if you ask Skoda they will only sell you the full propshaft including the coupling at well over £700, so search for Audi A3 or A4 parts.

5 minutes ago, skomaz said:

Yes that's the one at the rear.  There is a slightly different one at the front.  

 

So they are both prone to wear ?  I would imagine it's probably difficult to tell just by looking how bad the wear is if not under load? Or the rubber isn't noticeably deteriorated?

I couldn't say if it's the front or rear I'm getting the vibration from?

It wont be wear, and it most definitely wont be "sized" [sic], the bond will have failed with the outer annular harmonic damper, it needs a carefull eye and diligence to spot it something that the main dealers seem to be lacking although they do make up for it in bullsh1t.

 

Cheapest I found was €84 = £70 inc delivery from Germany

Thanks JR

Information building up nicely

I would think the main dealers supply the complete prop shaft assembly because it's balanced with both couplings in place. Changing a coupling may well put the prop shaft slightly out of balance but not enough to be particularly noticeable?   

4 hours ago, Derbyshirebod said:

I would think the main dealers supply the complete prop shaft assembly because it's balanced with both couplings in place. Changing a coupling may well put the prop shaft slightly out of balance but not enough to be particularly noticeable?   

 

Possibly but Audi will sell you the doughnut alone...   Which kind of blows the balancing theory out of the water...   The individual parts should be balanced themselves anyhow. 

 

Having said that when I was researching mine the general concensus was fit and drive and if the new one was found to make a noise loosen one side and rotate one bolt hole then try again. 

 

But yes they are both prone to wear although it's the rear that generally causes the droning issue.  The front is a slightly different design and tends to be better protected so lasts longer. 

 

The indy I spoke to had done a few A3s replacing just the rear unit with success. 

Edited 8 April, 20224 yr by skomaz

Mine will be done whenever I am back in either Northern France or the UK where I have the tools, equipment and facilities to do the job, the nice French CT system has given me 2 months to fix this "défaillance majeure" and present it for retest.

 

If I am still screwing around here in Nouvelle Aquitaine trying to make a hovel slightly habitable then I simply submit it to another local testing station, get the same failure and buy myself another couple of months.

 

The car is getting lighter by the day, the aircon pulley shear plate sheared last week, it took 2 years to finally let go after my hydraulically locking the pump while regassing, well reliquiding to be precise!!, the broken hub has now been removed as will the Guibo coupling harmonic damper if it gets any more wayward.

1 hour ago, skomaz said:

 

Possibly but Audi will sell you the doughnut alone...   Which kind of blows the balancing theory out of the water...   The individual parts should be balanced themselves anyhow. 

Oooh so based on that theory if you buy tyres online you don't need to get the wheels balanced when you go and have them fitted?

 

IF you want to make sure it's done properly after you've replaced the couplings you'll take the prop shaft and have the balance checked and adjusted if necessary. There are places who specialise in drive shaft repair and modification who can do it.

 

https://www.firowpropshafts.co.uk/services/propshaft-balancing

Edited 8 April, 20224 yr by Derbyshirebod

2 hours ago, skomaz said:

Having said that when I was researching mine the general concensus was fit and drive and if the new one was found to make a noise loosen one side and rotate one bolt hole then try again. 

Hence why the main dealers supply complete balanced coupling and prop shaft assemblies. They don't want to be messing around wasting time and money after a coupling has been replaced keep trying to get an out of balance prop shaft to stop vibrating.

Oh dear...   please don't patronize me or assume I'm stupid...

 

Take a look at the picture you posted and you'll see a small balancing drill hole on the outer steel ring...   The part is balanced during manufacture, as is the rest of the prop prior to assembly.

 

By all means get the prop off the part replaced and balanced and then refit it but you'll be wasting time and money.

 

I'll not offer you any further advice on this as I think I'm done here...

 

Blackbull...   Good luck getting yours sorted!