I have a 1996 audi a4 2.8 quattro automatic and within the last few days i have started experiencing a clunking sound coming out form under my shifter. At first it sounded like i had a bad half shaft on my drivers side. Changed it which it was bad but still had the problem. The half shafts were original so i changed the passenger side as well. After both new halfshafts i still have the problem. Im thinking it has to do with the driveshaft. I have done some research and found a kit from blauparts Audi Driveshaft Joint / Bearing Kit - Auto Trans - A4 1996-01 w/ 6 Cylinder Engine but it is 400 dollars. I was wondering if i could narrow it down or if i really need this kit to replace it all. My car has 207,000 miles but i have no clunking in the rear like some people claim as an issue...mine is just up front. Any help would be appreciated. Also this only happens when you are accelerating or you let off as your driving.

 

well now an update its getting worse...now it does it most of the time driving and seems to make a louder sound when your slowing down. Also noticed that once in awhile i get a vibration in the car during acceleration. Any help would be appreciated the sound almost sounds like a universal joint going out.

 

Generally a steady vibration while accelerating and or decelerating (or sometimes its even a pulsing vibration) Indicates a U-joint on its way out. I can't say i've had this on my current A4 but my F-150 chews through these in the mud and i know it does exactly what your saying and sure enough ill end up throwing a couple more U-joints at it and problem solved.

I'm not sure how much deeper this can go for your model but i know also on the trucks it can be a sign of bad bearings also allowing too much play and wearing on the u-joints more than usual. (Ended up having to do pinion bearing on the truck to solve some of this. Was at approx. 287,000 km's)