Re: Evil Quattro Driveline Noises...HELP!

["Sherry & Chuck Clark" <clark@rmi.net>]

> From:          Audial <Audial@aol.com>
> Date:          Sun, 4 Jan 1998 17:06:40 EST
> To:            quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject:       Evil Quattro Driveline Noises...HELP!
> Organization:  AOL (http://www.aol.com)


Alex wrote:
  At the first moderately tight turn, I began to hear and
> feel a grinding and a vibration emanating from the area aft of the shifter and
> the floor between and rearward of the front seets.  It starts as a vibration
> and a _loud_ metallic grinding noise that sounds almost as if the driveshaft
> is rubbing on the exhaust system.  Turning the wheel a few degrees more causes
> the grinding to transform into a pulsing/throbbing vibration that sounds like
> it's occuring each time the driveshaft turns.  It is _loud_ and sounds like
> someone is rapping on the floorpan with a hammer.  It occurs in every gear.
> 
> With the diff unlocked, the driveline is completely normal - no strange noises
> in any gears including reverse, smooth turning at full lock, no shuddering,
> etc.

   Oh boy! Isn't that a lovely noise that just sends chills down your spine! 
Alex and others, I had the exact same problem with identical noises under
the same circumstances in my '87 5k Tq. The noises completely vanished
(where's that chunk of wood) after replacing both motor mounts and the center
carrier bearing on the prop shaft. I found that to really check the motor mounts,
they really should be removed from the vehicle which isn't too tough to do.
Both of mine were broken as in *sheared* but appeared ok when I had checked
them. The prop shaft bearing wasn't shot but it did have some sag in it. 
I would recheck your motor mounts first. Seeing as I did all these repairs at once,
I can't tell you for sure which of the fixes cured my problem and I can't tell you
how happy I am that all those horrible noises are gone.HTH

Chad Clark '87 5k Tq
Colorado Springs, CO
P.S. Broncos just Won!