Could wheel arch gap be causing this noise

[menousername]

Hi all

Wonder if anyone has experienced similar.

I am getting a rubbing or wind type noise when above 40/50. Not massively loud but does seem to get more noticeable the faster I go. So once it kicks in it seems linked to speed.

No other sense of anything amiss.

Q5 rear wheel liners have what looks like an attached/integrated rubber mud guard on the lower front section. The side the noise is coming from has a small gap/split and there is play in the liner section behind it.

From pictures you can see the side with the gap vs. the other side without.

Anyone experienced this and can advise whether this is the culprit?

Thanks!

[Dr G]

Not something I've ever come across (I buy/sell a lot of Q5).

Swap wheels front-rear and see if you notice any change.

[Belle427]

Tyres can make horrendous noises so that's where I'd start.

[menousername]

Getting bearings etc checked today will report back

[Discombobulate]

Yes. Had similar noise and loose arch liner that caused just this (albeit not on an Audi). Took ages to nail down but fixing liner did the job.

[menousername]

Just to report back, nothing found. No wheel bearing issue, loose nut or anything like that and the noise has subsided now

Strange one but resolved whatever it is.

[menousername]

Just an update on this

Definitely not imagining the noise and we have noticed that it happens on a frosty / cold morning.

Halfway into a morning journey it will stop. In the evening it will not happen.

So it seems to be something affected by cold and frost which goes once warmed up. And again it is speed related, starts at about 35/40 and gets proportionately louder as yku get yo to 70.

Not entirely able to pinpoint where it is coming from.

Any ideas appreciated otherwise I guess its trial and error attempting to find a fix

[eskidavies]

Brake caliper slightly sticking on maybe ,

[Doofus]

Stick a bit of duck tape over the gap. See if it works.

[menousername]

Doofus said:

Stick a bit of duck tape over the gap. See if it works.

Tried that - could not get it to stick

Think I am reduced to an exploratory diagnostic that will likely yield nothing

[Dr G]

Did the wheel swap alter the sound any?

[menousername]

Not been able to do that unfortunately

However, I had a mechanic have a test drive and check everything over and they found nothing mechanical

having been able to listen to it a bit more now, and noting that it subsides once the car us up to temperature (which it will be when I have a mechanic check it out unfortunately), I am non the wiser but wondering if it could be a frozen door seal or similar

[Dr G]

It's a stretch but (with symptom-free noises just about anything is fair game) try rubber lubricant (gummi pflege) around all the door/window seals.

[RSstuff]

I have read that when some rear tyres are getting down to around 3mm tread that they can make more noise.

[cuprabob]

RSstuff said:

I have read that when some rear tyres are getting down to around 3mm tread that they can make more noise.

On many VAG models you get rumbling / drone from the rear tyres due to tread stepping / sawtooth wear. Some tyres are worse than others and the more the tyre wears the worse the noise can become. You would swear it was a wheel bearing gone.

[Dr G]

RSstuff said:

I have read that when some rear tyres are getting down to around 3mm tread that they can make more noise.

Yup.

Swapping the wheels front/rear to listen for change is always a good plan for noises like this. It may do nothing, but it costs nothing and eliminates the wheels/tyres.

[menousername]

Tyres are all about 5mm equally wearing. Also would that be the cause if the noise stops when the car gets up to temperature or would it be constant?

[menousername]

Dr G said:

It's a stretch but (with symptom-free noises just about anything is fair game) try rubber lubricant (gummi pflege) around all the door/window seals.

Thanks I will try this

Problem is I need to wait on some low temperatures to test if it has helped - bit mild now where I am