Hoping you all can help...
2009 a4 2.0

Last year during the storm I hit a pretty good pot hole on the right front. I always felt that the car seemed a little off but others who drove it said it felt fine.

What I am feeling is a vibration from what seems to be under the gas pedal or the front right side. Tires are new. Brake pads and rotors changed. Mechanic said axle and tie rods seem fine. Steering wheel vibrates lightly sometimes.

They can't seem to isolate it as they don't notice it like I do.

Tires are clean with no debris so it doesnt appear to be anything on the tire.

Any help would be appreciated. Mechanics are willing to help but dont want to just throw parts at it (which is nice) so figured I would check here.

Thanks in advance!

 

Just to clarify the tires are new since you hit the pothole? Rotate the right front tire to the rear and see if anything changes. If not then move the left front to the rear. That should tell you if it is a tire. Next thing would be have it aligned. Hitting a pothole could have knocked it out a bit. After that have another mechanic take it for a ride and have them check it out. Maybe the first one missed something.

Might also consider checking the engine mounts. Normally I read about a clunk when those start to go. Since you say you feel it under the gas pedal it might not to a front end vibration at all.

 

Hey Rhodes!

Sorry -- missed that -- I don't remember if the tires were done pre or post hit as it was all in winter. During the early summer, I had them rotated though. I initially thought maybe I warped a tire but after the rotation, it seemed to be there.

The noise is hard to describe ... it almost feels like if something is "on" the tire -- kind of like when you get tar on the tire and it feels like something is constantly being driven over, albeit very slight. Once they did the rotation, it was still there, so I figured the tires were OK, and something else was up.

I was definitely thinking it might be an alignment being out of whack. Would that cause the vibration only or also a pull of the wheel? I don't remember there being any pull (I could be mistaken, our roads are windy but will check) but I could be mistaken. Didn't mean to elude a clunk noise, rather a thump thump thump as if something is being driven over (almost like when something is being brushed up on like when people would put a playing card in a spoke of a bike) (that actually might be a good analogy!)

Thanks in advance!!!

 

That sure sounds like a tire issue. Would have thought it would have moved to the rear with the rotation of tires. A alignment issue might not have a pull if it is just a little out. I would get the tires re-balanced. That is the cheaper option to start with.

 

thanks! Brought it in for the alignment and balance today... seems to be better. Hoping that was it.

THanks again!!!