Autodata Technical Issue 59 – Cracking noise from front wheel of 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan when pulling away

Each month the Autodata team answers a common technical question and provides a printable document with technical diagrams to download and keep, exclusively for IGA members.

Q. A customer of ours has a 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan and it is suffering with a cracking noise from the front wheel when pulling away in 1st or reverse gear. During road test we heard the cracking noise but have been unable to recreate the cracking noise in the workshop. We have visually checked the wheels and drivetrain components which all seem to be in good working order. Have other Tiguan owners reported this cracking noise? 

A. The cracking noise you describe has been reported before and it is due to movement between the front hub and the driveshaft. Remove the driveshaft from the front hub. Thoroughly clean the driveshaft splines. Apply thread sealing compound, available from Volkswagen parts department, to driveshaft splines (Fig 1.1).

Refit the driveshaft to the front hub. Repeat procedure for the opposite side. DO NOT move vehicle for 8 hours to allow the thread sealing compound to cure. When this time has elapsed, road test the vehicle to confirm the fault has been rectified.

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