I drive an A4 Q '98. Recently I have noticed a small drone coming from the left rear of the car. It happens at around 30 mph and stays on at speeds higher than that. And when I release the gas pedal to stop at a light, it happens during the deceleration too.

I suspected a wheel alignment or a suspension issue (I am not an expert in these, so just guessing), and some of the threads in these forums suggest that it might be a wheel bearing issue.

In case htat is the issue, can I get it done in Firestone Auto (Stamford, CT) or one of the guys at Bronx ? Or do i need to go to a Foreign car mechanic?

 

From what you're saying, it's probably the wheel bearing ... I know for a fact that B5 A4 have some issue with wheel bearing ( I changed all of them in the past year )... and the one at the rear are usually the one who break more often ( from my bills, I know mine, the rear one, usually last 2 to 3 years )... if the noise is getting worse in the next couple weeks, that's definitely the wheel bearing ... but you can also check for wheel balanced, happen to me before and the symptoms where close from what you describe.

Good luck

 

jus chked at Firestone...they gave me a quote of $450 for the rear bearings. Is that reasonable?

 

For both sides, yes. For one side, absolutely not. Dealer price is $385 per side (bearing $75 + 2.5 hours labor). Most Audi aftermarket specialists run $350ish. $450 is absurd, especially from a place like Firestone. BUT... if that's for BOTH sides, then it's a good price. If not, then just go to the dealer. Faifield Motor Cars Audi and Danbury Audi are two of the best dealers for service in the area.

 

Varun, try to find an indie Euro shop. You can order the bearing for around $50 from any of the typically quoted shops on AF (ECS, PureMS, German, etc), and pay the indie shop for labor. What we've been doing here is removing the spindle from the car and taking that in to a guy at the local dealership - he presses the old one out and new one in for a few bucks, and then we just reinstall the spindle and put everything back together. You may be able to get a similar arrangement somewhere, or at least a simliar price from an indie Euro shop that has more experience with Audi than the local Firestone. Plus, many franchise shops will not install customer-supplied parts, whereas the Euro shop may do so. My local Firestone will install anything I bring them, but that's because the manager and I go back almost 15 years. Typically, a lot of them won't do it and you pay a grossly-inflated price for the part.

 

Trust Jeremy to come up with an answer! And thanks to everyone else too for the suggestions... Let me go find out what an indie Euro shop is and where to find it in Stamford...

 

In ECS Tuning, there is just a wheel bearing (Part ES#260914) that costs around $61.36. I just have to buy this part right? Or do I need the wheel hub itself?

There is this foreign car mechanic guy near my palce and he is ready to install the part if I can get it to him...for about $160.

Am taking the car to firestone tomorrow to make sure the problem is indeed the wheel bearing.

Appreciate any help..

Thanks

 

Yep that's what you need. You don't need to buy the whole hub. Check www.germanautoparts.com too - they're in Albany so shipping should be faster and cheaper too. If the noise gets louder at highway speeds when you turn right (loading the left side of the car) and quiets down in a left turn then it's almost surely the bearing. Jack up the car on that corner and grab top and bottom of the tire and shake like crazy. If the bearing is worn enough there will be play and you'll be able to tell. That will confirm it.

 

last question... have finalised one person in Bronx who will supply the part (he said something that sounded like 'Vintin' or something...not sure) for around 140 bucks, and then the labor for around 100. So it came to around 230 dollars overall...

Another guy said he will take the part from a dealer for around 200 and labor for 100, taking total for around 300. but he also warned me that the lower quote might be because the part is not a genuine part and to be aware... hope he is wrong

 

order this http://www.mjmautohaus.com/catalog/p...oducts_id=3491

it's for both rears, might as well do them at the same time. or if you just want to do one side, mjm has each one for 50 bux. i had the dealership do both of mine because there's a mechanic at out local dealership that we trust. ask those guys if they will do it for the same labor if you supply the parts