joelj

So there's this weird noise that happens after starting the car and driving a few feet. Sounds like it's the brake system since I usually keep my foot on the brakes when getting out of a parking spot and I can actually feel a little vibration through the pedal. It's a quick crunch, like someone stepped on a can and then nothing else. Just wondering if it's normal, but it actually is louder the faster my speed is at the time it does it.

Diztek

Normal. I take it you have Quattro.

Gingerbread man

There's an automatic brake test after starting the car (when you first reach 4 km/h (IIRC)). Could that be it?

joelj

I've never seen it on any other car...and I have FWD 1.8t. Maybe it is the brake test, as that seems the most logical, but is it supposed to be that loud? I should take a video of it or something just to clarify

Gingerbread man

I can definitely hear a nice clump when the car first moves. It's easily audible. The car's been like this since I got it. I'm not saying what you're hearing is OK.

lyleswk

CVT? If so...well could not be good. They have a bad reputation. I don't hear any clunking in my transmission (1.8t manual with 200K miles), but I do hear a couple clunks from the control arms. And trust me, if anyone's is going to clunk, it's my well used girl.

On a side note and not hijack (maybe new thread), not aware of the brake test; gingerbreadman, can you elaborate?

Gingerbread man

I read about it years ago. I can't find anything right now.

Start the car (best on incline) and open the window, then just let go of brakes. As soon as the car starts moving there's a quick clump from the test.

You can't hear it?

lyleswk

Maybe the clunks I have assume were control arms are really this brake test because once it happens, I never hear it again and if it were control arms, I would assume I would hear them periodically. Interesting...

Gingerbread man

Sounds like you are hearing the brake test. You would have heard the control arms all the time if they were faulty.

The easiest test for control arms is to jack up a corner of the car and just jerk the wheel. If it moves (and clunks), you got control arm problems. I do the test every time I switch the summer/winter wheels.