Knocking suspension / DRC?

[Piers1989]

So my car has suddenly (Literally just this morning)started knocking from the suspension on bumps and feels less damped when driving on the road. I have savage speedbumps on my road, and one directly on the turning so you have to hit it at an angle.

A quick Google makes me think its the DRC, especially since it only sounds like the front right and rear left that are knocking, which I understand are the 2 linked ones as the go cross the car.

It just feels like theirs no damping when hitting potholes or bumps, is this what DRC failure feels like?

Should we get any warning lights if that is the case?

The warranty I have on the car DOES cover shock absorbers and struts, does that mean its likely to cover the repair if this is the issue?

Also on a lighter note heres a pic I took on the A66 at the weekend going to Cumbria with my plate on

[MikeFish]

Knocking over bumps certainly sounds like a DRC issue. There won't be any warning lights though.

mine didn't really drive any differently when it failed but that doesn't mean yours won't .

[marc1]

Sorry to here if your DRC issues. Definitely worth trying to get sorted under the warranty. That picture is fantastic. There is a night time thread in the B8 section but B7's welcome so stick it in there for all to see.

[marc1]

Here you go: viewtopic.php?f=61&t=112555

[Piers1989]

Just had a look around the shocks in the light, haven't had it on a ramp but had a look at full lock and both front aren't weeping and look good.

The rear left though looks like it may have blown, theres a load of oil on it.

The rear right may have a little bit but im not sure if its normal or not as its not very bad.

Tried to book it at Audi to get looked at and its booked in but the nearest time is 15th December 0.o

Dropped it at Kwik fit just to diagnose so I can see if the warranty will cover it, though if its the shocks it should be covered.

Hopefully good news.

Is it bad for the car to drive it like this? I'm meant to be doing a 1k mile round trip this Thursday - Monday and was hoping to take the RS4

[harding]

Are you able to take some pictures of the oil leaks? Sometimes when i drive over hard bumps i hear some knocking in the left fwd suspension. I have looked but everything seems to be ok! So if you have a minute over sometime please take a picture of it! Thanks

[rocket1]

if it were me i wouldnt trust kwik fit with a wheel barrow let alone an audi. would only trust this work with main dealer or 1 of the few known specialists around the country.

[Piers1989]

I just took it there because they're local to get it looked at ASAP.

I'll take a picture when i get the car back but I've been called to confirm the rear left sock is gone. I think the word he used was "exploded".

They said they cant get the part and it would have to be an Audi job anyway, but now I can confirm its the shock I can get the warranty procedure started.

[PetrolDave]

Knocking over bumps certainly sounds like a DRC issue. There won't be any warning lights though.

DRC is 100% mechanical with no monitors on the pressure lines, so there can't be any warning lights.

[coffey555]

When one of my shocks went there was a constant knocking chatter throughout the car over every little bump.

Don't drive it with the broken shock or you risk causing damage to the central control valves which are even more expensive than the dampers.

Good luck with the claim.

[PetrolDave]

Dropped it at Kwik fit just to diagnose so I can see if the warranty will cover it, though if its the shocks it should be covered.

DRC is more complex than normal shocks and needs specialist equipment to re-pressurise the system, not many Audi specialists have the equipment so I don't expect KwikFit will have a clue how to repair/replace DRC.

[Piers1989]

Dropped it at Kwik fit just to diagnose so I can see if the warranty will cover it, though if its the shocks it should be covered.

DRC is more complex than normal shocks and needs specialist equipment to re-pressurise the system, not many Audi specialists have the equipment so I don't expect KwikFit will have a clue how to repair/replace DRC.

Kwik fit wont be doing the work, I just asked them to confirm thats the problem. They did say they can't do it.

I have the car booked in at Swift Motor Engineering who are an Audi specialist and I have heard good reviews for. I would take it to Audi but I can't be without the car for 1 month which is the next slot I can book the car in for.

I told them what the issue is and they didn't say they cant do it.

[PetrolDave]

I have the car booked in at Swift Motor Engineering who are an Audi specialist and I have heard good reviews for. I would take it to Audi but I can't be without the car for 1 month which is the next slot I can book the car in for.

I told them what the issue is and they didn't say they cant do it.

Might be worth asking them the specific question whether they have the equipment to re-charge DRC - if they don't then you can't drive the car with de-pressurised DRC without risking expensive damage to the valve blocks (I'm talking £1000+ - that's what it cost me to have two shocks and the valve block replaced when one shock failed catastrophically).

[Piers1989]

Thanks for the advice.

I'll ring them tomorrow to confirm. If they can't I'll see if another Audi dealer can get me in any earlier, or if I'm willing to sort my own courtesy car.

Below are some pics of the shock through the wheel for those interested.

[Piers1989]

Just spoken to Swift Motor Engineering to confirm that they do have the equipment to recharge DRC.

the person that answered the phone seemed a little uninformed but put me through to the workshop and the guy I spoke too seemed to know exactly what he was talking about. He also confirmed they have the special tool to depresurise, recharge and re pressurise the system.