Turning makes a moaning sound
 

Lately the car has been making a moaning sound sometimes, when I turn left or right. Usually in low speed, and especially if I hadn't been driving it for a few days.
I can't say I have heard it when I when I have been driving for hours.
I noticed the mineral oil reservoir level had dropped a little.
A little under half between min and max. So not very low.
I filled it up thinking that might be causing it.

There is a leak on the left side of the car. I saw that when I had the front wheels off. I suspect it must be the steering wheel pump.
As there is so much oil on the car, I guess that is why I didn't see a big puddle under the car. See photo.

Now I am worried that I will be embarrassing everybody if my car starts moaning in every turn I make :o

Very common for the power steering pressure hoses to fail in that area since they get sprayed with dirty water. Not too bad a job to change them on LHD. Not fun, but easier than RHD!

Does it stop moaning when the reservoir is up to max?

No it didn't.
But I haven't been driving much at all the past two weeks.

The car had this sound when I first bought it over a year ago. Then I replaced all the arms in the front suspension and started using the car regularly. And I believed that had fixed it as well. Because I didn't hear any more moaning.

Then I was without a job for 6 weeks in March-April. Again, only doing short trips to the shop.
The moaning returned at times, but not often, during that period and after.

Will it take any more fluid with the engine running?

I don't know if this is the correct (or even recommended) procedure, but I found that mine would continue to take fluid with the engine running, presumably because there was air in the system that would only be expelled with the pump running.

In fact when my power steering hoses first developed a leak, I wasn't sure what was leaking, only that something was because I would occasionally get plumes of smoke coming from under bonnet whenever it dripped onto the exhaust manifold. The power steering reservoir always seemed to be at about the correct level when I checked it. It was only when the power steering started groaning, and I tried putting more fluid in with the engine running, that I found it was a litre or so short.

I can't see that the level drops when the engine is running. Even when I turn the wheel right and left. I am only supposed to fill the reservoir up to max right, not until it is full?
Perhaps a long drive will again drop the level, and the moaning goes away again.

I am not sure either, where exactly the leak is.

You could try filling it. I think mine only started drawing the fluid in when it was at max or higher. I would frequently fill it the top. If it drops back down to max or below when you fill it, see if it'll take some more. The reservoir just slides out I believe, so it would be easy to remove some fluid if you find it makes no difference. In fact I suppose lifting the reservoir a little might have the same effect as overfilling, helping it to draw the fluid in.

I will try that then, and see if it helps. Thank you :)

Also woth checking oil level in centre differential as torsen can make noise when turning especially if it's low on oil

I tried to top it up. Seemed to be sucking in a bit more oil, but I didn't notice any change. And I doubt very much that it could be the centre differential.
The sound seems to come from centre of the engine room near the torpedo wall.
I stood outside the car while turning the wheel to try to locate it.

I decided to record how it sounds.

Notorious thread about steering hoses is troubling. If my car's oil leak is in one of those hoses I might have a problem.
What do you believe is the fault that causes the moaning, or squeaking?

Thats definitely not the hydraulic part of the power steering. Sounds more like the UJ at the bottom of the column tbh, possibly the bearings up at the top. I'd take the lower dash tray off and spray some WD40 or similar at the UJ and see if that helps :)

Mine sometimes makes similar noise, usually if car has not been used for long time. My steering is normally in the upper most position and if it makes noise I can stop it by lowering steering column even just a little. I don't think it's UJ, it's more like like rubber squeaking rubbing on something. I suppose it could be dry bearing if it uses plastic/nylon bush type of bearing but not if it's ball/roller bearing. I would not spray WD40 on UJ, it will just wash out grease then evaporate and leave the joint dry. If there is a problem with UJ it will only solve the problem temporarily but if there is no problem it might create it.

I didn't realise that the sound might be from within the car. Will take a look tomorrow.

Mm fair point about WD40. Replace 'WD40' for 'spray lube' then.

The only rubber in that assembly is in the UJ - little washers between the yoke and centre piece, and a chunk holding the column shaft in to the joint itself. If the joint is dry the washers might be able to squeak.

It sounds like an in-car noise to me rather than something mechanical outside, but thats obviously just listening to the video. Suspension arms creak when they're worn out, and power steering makes more of a howl.

Yes. It isn't the suspension arms. I replaced them last autumn, and the sound was different from them; as you say :)

Jeez, that's certainly not a sound I've ever heard before :eek3:

Not from a car at least. I did look after a friend's Guinea Pig one time that made similar noises during the night.

Low hydraulic fluid is more groany than squeaky.

Yep, had just the same noise. Took off the lower dash panel last weekend, sprayed liberally with a lubricant around the UJ, and the noise has gone.

I sprayed it, but it didn't cure the issue. I'll let it rest and perhaps the lubricant will spread and penetrate in where it is needed. Though it does sound like there is improvement.
At the moment I am not convinced the sound is originating under the dashboard.

When I bought mine it had a very similar noise. The previous owner though it was from closer to the steering wheel but when I looked into it, it was from much further down the column. Plenty of swearing and spray lube later it stopped making the noise.

See here for a similar issue:
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10532

I had a moaning sound from mine when I would take corners with any kind of enthusiasm, I tracked it down to the passenger seat... I now only take corners enthusiastically when it's empty.

As I have more or less finished repairing rust on my Jeep, and the brakes. It passed the MOT yesterday :)

I am back working on my S8.
A retired truck driver (neighbour) is certain the moaning originates from the strut/shock mount. So I am checking them.

I also need to replace the tie rod on the right side, as that was completely seized. Hence the wheel couldn't be adjusted.

No matter what I tried, it was stuck. So I cut it off to get access with the tool.
That didn't work. Probably wrong type.
Tried with a 38mm socket. Again no luck. The socket is hexagon, and not octagon :(

Is now the time to give my self a pat on the shoulder and congratulate myself for not making sure I had all the CORRECT tools?

I got one question too. As I removed the covers in the wheelbase I spotted a loose item. Where does it belong???

I wish that would have been my problem :ROFL:

I have done the right side yesterday :)

As I was working on the left side, I thought I should check how it sounded, with the strut removed. No change :Confused:

By further inspection and leaving the wheel turned almost to the max, right and left turn, I discovered that the tie rod boot is loose.

I greased the tie rod and sure enough, it improves - still some sound though when turning to the left. So far I haven't been able to secure the boot.
That is one hard place to reach!

Finally, I have found what causes the sound!!!

As soon as I started spraying lubrication on the steering dampener, there was a noticeable improvement. I continued lubricating and turning the wheel, until it no longer makes any noise. See attached photo

:D

I totally didn't even think of that thing! Mostly because FL's don't have it :D

Glad its sorted +++

Maybe there is a reason why the FLs don't have it. (Bad design?) :)
And thank you. I had started to believe it was the servo itself that was bad. A huge relief.
Thank God I didn't ask the Audi Dealer to fix this. I am sure they would have replaced the whole rack!

Thanks for this thread. Mine started moaning yesterday
.