Noise at 2200-2400 rpms

B8 S4
#1

I noticed today that I’m getting a strange noise under light throttle or while decelerating in the 2200-2400 rpm range. It’s much more noticeable with the window down and while it’s really impossible to tell, it sounds like it’s coming from the back half of the car. At first I thought something was rubbing in the wheel well until I reproduced it enough to determine the rpm range. This made me think it’s something with the exhaust since that range is where drone occurs if you have any. However, drone seems most prominent under load, like accelerating up a steep hill in 6th gear.

I don’t have a garage any more (long story about splitting up), so I just quickly backed the car up on some ramps in the dark checked the exhaust clamps on the back half of the car to see if there was a leak. I didn’t find anything, but I couldn’t really check up front due to darkness, driveway, etc.

I am APR Stage 2 with a Roc-Euro intake, JHM STS, alu kreuz, rigid caliper brake sliders, VMR wheels, CPS, sway bars, endlinks, and APR exhaust. Any ideas what could be causing the noise?

Thanks,
-Skid

#2

What kind of noise, is it in every gear, and does it change with speed?

#3

Does it increase or decrease when cornering? Does it increase when braking?

#4

hit the exhaust, my apr exhaust started to rattle. let me know if you need to jack it up, you can use my garage

#5

fink are you in norcal? You going to hit up sacramento raceway soon?

#6

If it’s rattling, you should hear it during cold start.

#7

Initially the noise sounded like something rubbing in the wheel well. Which in my mind could also sound like a humming exhaust sound as well. Kind of like if one of the plastic covers near the wheel were rubbing on it. It’s hard to determine if it happens in all gears due to speed and wind noise, but it happens in first and I’m pretty sure it was there in second. I’ll test it out more tomorrow morning on my way to work. It’ll be hard to tell if it’s affected by cornering since it’s such a short window in the rpm range, but I’ll try to determine that as well.

-Skid

#8

May be a wheel bearing and its not loud enought to be heard over the road and engine noise at high speeds. How many miles on the car?

#9

I was able to reproduce it in every gear yesterday and it only occurs in the rev range I mentioned. I’m thinking it has to be exhaust related. When I get a chance to actually get it off the ground, I’ll be able to look more closely. I’ll also try to get a friend to sit in it while idle and rev it up while I stand outside to listen. That will help me rule out any other drive train items.

-Skid

#10

For what it’s worth I just replaced the wheel bearing, drivers front. It’s weird, it sounds more like a two-stroke exhaust, then the typical roar sound

#11

^get ready to do the pass side. My went within a month of each other

#12

well I hope it happens soon then, under warrantee, I fucking hate pinch bolts and I’m assuming this is the same deal again.

Hey did you have Brembos too? High offset wheels? Just thinking, wondering why they are failing so early.

#13

stoptech 355mm, semi high offset wheels but nothing too crazy. I had around 60-65k when the first went out. Including drag, highway, local, and some sprited curves/ snow drifting.