i have a 2000 S4 6 speed, that has alot of play in the drivetrain. here are my symptoms:

1. with the car on and not moving, and the shifter in 1st gear, quickly but lightly popping the clutch pedal i hear and feel the play. its like a thud/clunk coming from right behind my back (it could also be right under me). also, i had my dad look under the hood when i was doing this, and he said that there was barely any movement at all of engine (~1/8 to ~1/4inch)

2. when coasting at any constant speed and then quickly flooring the gas pedal i feel and distinctly hear the clunk/thud and the shifter moves a tiny bit.

3. as i coast and unload the drivetrain the same clunk happens again.

4. i cannot shift smoothly as i feel the drivetrain slack on every shift, a constant loading and unloading of the drivetrain.

as a last note, i just replaced the two rear diff bushings and installed the stern power ring. neither helped the actual "play" that i am experiencing, and if anything they just made the clunking occur more often and more distinctly. i also have a DTS that was installed by the previous owner. what do you guys think could be my problem here? could it be internal to my tranny or diff? how about CV joints or universal joints on the driveshaft?
thanks

 

Im gonna thorw out some guesses to check, Engine and tranny mounts, even though the play isnt to much when u look at it they still might be shot. Other maybe the center diff because the area u are talking about right by your seat is the area.

 

k thanks i will look into the center diff, anywhere else that play could come up to cause my symptoms?

 

There's no clunking or thudding on my '00 S4 but I can tell the difference in the shifter between coasting and driving under power.

 

Mine has some slop that drives me insane....After the snub mount upgrade I noticed a little difference, but I'm going to order and AWE Drivetrain Stabilizer - hopefully that helps alot.

 

Assuming my mounts are good - Need to check those this weekend!

 

can anyone else comment on what else i should be looking at? what else could cause play in the drivetrain?

 

I know when i go on and off power there is some movement in my shifter. Im doing snub mount, DTS, and JMH shifter im hoping that will help clean it up a bit.

 

I also had the same problem, but the clunking on mine had nothing to do with the mounts, to problem on mine was the upper links on my front end. You should get thoes checked out.

 

its def not suspension related. like i said before i hear the distinct clunk/thud when i load up the drivetrain without moving the car (lightly popping out the clutch right before it engages, right before the car moves), i heard that it could be the driveshaft center support bearing? anyone replace one of these bearings yet? btw, u can replace the bearing alone, there are rebuild kits out there (for those disbelievers).....i am not paying 1200 for a new driveshaft lawl