Audi A4 B8: Why Does My Steering Wheel Shudder at Low Speeds?
An occasional steering wheel shudder is one of the known issues affecting this generation of Audi A4, read on for more information and how to diagnose and fix it.
This article applies to the Audi A4 B8 (2008-2015)
The known shudder issue with the A4 B8 series typically occurs at very low speeds and can be accompanied by a noise that sounds like rubbing tires. The problem can even occur when the car isn't moving at all. Other owners report shudders happen only on uneven surfaces such as gravel or rocky roads. Many dismiss this as a problem common to these cars, but keep reading and we'll walk you through the process of diagnosing and alleviating the low speed shudder.
Materials Needed
- Power steering hose
- Power steering fluid
- Tire pressure gauge
Step 1 – Check your power steering hose
Audi issued a Technical Service Bulletin addressing this issue.
The low speed shudder issue was a common problem for several earlier Audi models; to the point where the auto manufacturer issued Technical Service Bulletin TSB2020332/4. You can look up your car via the VIN number and see if it was affected by that bulletin. Your dealer should be able to tell you if your car has already had the repair covered or not.
If the power steering hose fix doesn't work on your car, move on to Step 2.
Step 2 – Check power steering fluid, pump, and reservoir
Some have had luck with new fluid, and some only fixed it by replacing these parts.
For some, the shuddering issue wasn't solved with a new power steering hose as Audi recommended, but only by replacing the power steering pump and reservoir. For others, simply flushing out the old power steering fluid and filling it with fresh fluid solved the problem. It's worth replacing your fluid first and then checking to see if it improves or eliminates the shudder, as this is a cheap and easy maintenance item that often gets neglected anyway. Be sure to only use the correct Audi recommended type of fluid, or you can make the problem worse. How to change it and which fluid to use are covered in the how-to article How to Change Power Steering Fluid.
If your fluid is correct, full and clean, move on to Step 3.
Step 3 – Check alignment and wheels/tires
Even a slightly out of spec alignment can cause shudders.
A misaligned suspension can lead to shudders at any speed. This is especially true if you have a lot of miles since your last alignment, or if your commute involves lots of potholes or uneven surfaces. Over time, suspension components simply get knocked around to the point where they need to be realigned.
The same goes for wheels and tires as well. Wheels that aren't balanced properly can lead to vibrations, as can uneven tire wear or tires that aren't inflated properly. Tread separation can cause shudders and noises, and can hardly be detected by a visual inspection. Even over-inflated tires can cause these issues, so make sure you tire pressures are within the tire manufacturer's recommended range. To eliminate the tires from the possible causes, swap the front tires to the back and see if it changes.
Related Discussions
- Steering Wheel Shudder at Low Speed - AudiWorld
- Slow Speed Vibrations - AudiWorld
