DRC Suspension Issue

[WilliamPilot]

Hello,
Before I start, quick thank you to everyone on here - this was the main place I did my research before buying my RS4. The car is awesome and, whilst I was worried about whether I'd find the fuel economy so annoying vs how much fun I was having - safe to say I think I've ended up on the right end of the deal.
So, Sepang Blue, with sports pack, rotors, silver trim, pano sunroof, B&O - all amazing.
The problem then is this... I have the DRC and the suspension makes a very noticeable knocking when I go over bumps. It does it at high speed, it does it at low speed, it does it over small bumps and big. Definitely notice it every time I go out in the car. Took it into Swindon Audi, who were great (especially Brendan), they re-pressurised the system, which seems to have helped a bit, but it's still doing it and I am finding it really quite annoying. Audi say it's characteristic of the car and there's nothing more they can do. I didn't get the impression that Swindon Audi had seen this before, which didn't give me a lot of confidence in that diagnosis. Questions (1) Does everyone else get this? (2) If you do, is there anything that can reasonably be done to minimise the noise. (3) If you don't, any recommendations for what I should say to Audi?

Thanks in advance,

William

[RIV]

First off nice car
My car has a clunk when cold going over very small bumps, once driven for a little while it goes, I had it re pressurised once,it did make it better but still have a little noise when cold.
I took the car back to check the pressure which are fine. It's not very noticeable on mine tbh so it doesn't bother me as long as it's holding pressure, however yours does sound bad, take back in and complain

[Graeme4130]

Hello,
Before I start, quick thank you to everyone on here - this was the main place I did my research before buying my RS4. The car is awesome and, whilst I was worried about whether I'd find the fuel economy so annoying vs how much fun I was having - safe to say I think I've ended up on the right end of the deal.
So, Sepang Blue, with sports pack, rotors, silver trim, pano sunroof, B&O - all amazing.
The problem then is this... I have the DRC and the suspension makes a very noticeable knocking when I go over bumps. It does it at high speed, it does it at low speed, it does it over small bumps and big. Definitely notice it every time I go out in the car. Took it into Swindon Audi, who were great (especially Brendan), they re-pressurised the system, which seems to have helped a bit, but it's still doing it and I am finding it really quite annoying. Audi say it's characteristic of the car and there's nothing more they can do. I didn't get the impression that Swindon Audi had seen this before, which didn't give me a lot of confidence in that diagnosis. Questions (1) Does everyone else get this? (2) If you do, is there anything that can reasonably be done to minimise the noise. (3) If you don't, any recommendations for what I should say to Audi?

Thanks in advance,

William

IMG_0272.jpg

Hi William
Swindon Audi take care of my cars, and they recently fixed a leaking damper hose on mine
Mine doesn't make any knocking, and neither did my previous B8 RS, and Brendan has worked on both of them, so I'm not sure where they get their info from on it being a characteristic of the car
The only real noise you'll get it hitting hard edged bumps at low speed as the damper can't react quick enough, but it's very minor and never seems apparent at higher speeds
If you're local to Swindon, I'm only a mile or so from Swindon Audi, so you're welcome to pop round and I'll take you out in my car for comparison
Brendan and the other techs there are a decent bunch, so they should be able to sort it, but you do have to nag them at times to kick them into action
Graeme

[Revolution]

I've the same problem and been into Audi 3 times with no luck.

It's going back one more time then I'm rejecting the car as its doing my nuts in.

I got thd same characteristics bs from Audi also.

Even asked for whole system to be removed to fit std type shocks and they refused.

Hope it doesn't get messy but I refuse to put up with it.

Good luck

[will1981]

It's the only thing on the B8 that ruins the car.

Mine knocked from early on, they re pressurised the system and it still knocked. I fitted H&R springs and now they refuse to help which is fair enough in their eyes.

They are quite happy to push me down the route of a C7 RS6 but not resolve any issues with my RS4.

So my only option is coilovers or a different car....

[RIV]

Had the same issues with my b7. I took it back so many times I lost count!! I nearly sold up, but decided to go with coilovers
Glad I did as I kept for another 3 years, tbh I think coilovers would improve the b8..it's either too soft or too hard with the suspension settings, I have mine set to Auto still harsh! but not as bad as dynamic

[carsarecool]

I've just had my car back after visiting three different dealers. 2 said the knock wasn't there and blamed my aftermarket exhaust. The third, West London Audi sorted it for me with a re-pressure. I've not had the "characteristic" comments. The 2nd dealer said it "was a known fault, but can be be fixed..." If I were Audi I'd take note.....I've formally complained to Reading Audi and will do the same for Basingstoke as I cannot accept having the pi$$ taken out of me. It's not right. The knock didn't bother me too much at first but after 9 months it was doing my head in. Good luck.

I had an S8 for a week or so and I have to say that it's suspension was not silent over the usual suspect bumps and speed humps local to me.

[PetrolDave]

When Evo magazine ran a B8 RS4 they complained of the knocking noise when going over bumps, and Audi UK told them it was "normal" and "characteristic".

It seems that some do it and some don't, so maybe there's a tolerancing problem? Either way a knocking from the suspension cannot be considered normal IMHO.

[milesg]

Mine is doing it too, drivers side front is worse. Having a new damper put on the passenger side as its leaking, they will then repressure the system and try to sort out the drivers side. I am still in the early days so I too can reject if it is not sorted. It is not a characteristic, it is a sign something is loose or not working properly. FYI - mine has 4.5k on it.

[doodlebug]

Don't think that rejection will be straightforward.....it won't. You have to give Audi reasonable time to sort the issue.

[Revolution]

ho Doodlebug

They've had 9 mths and 3 attempts, giving them one more go at a fix then its going back..

Drove a C7 RS6 we did an APR remap on yesterday - epic has a whole new meaning to it...!


I think one of those would suit me fine - hows yours going...?

[Simon82]

Mine does it as well, been in three times so far and last time they didn't even look at it even though it was on the job card.

I've had some issues with Glasgow audi recently and kicked up a fuss about it all and it's going back in for a 4th time to get a fix sorted for it or I will be going down the same route as Glen.

They tried re pressuring the system but it made no difference. After that they weren't interested and tried playing the characteristic card. When I asked if they all do it then if it's a characteristic he said yes. I then let him know I have driven 3 other b8's which don't do it on the same stretch of road and his face dropped....will post here if I have any luck but I am not holding my breath.

[RIV]

This thread was put up yesterday, been a lot of people suffering problems,long way off the list they had on the 7 that was massive, but still this is not good. Come on Audi sort this out

[boff]

The rs4 nogaro go I borrowed from Epsom Audi definitely didn't have this fault. And I live in speed bump hell, hope the new one doesn't have it - I'll be straight on top of this one!!,

[WilliamPilot]

So... Thank you all for your thoughts and input. I've spoken to Audi Customer Service and suggested that since there are people out there who don't have the problem and people who have also had it fixed, therefore it can't be a characteristic of the car. I've asked for them to find a garage that knows how to fix the issue, but the lady only seemed to be able to suggest taking it to another garage for a second opinion. I don't really have any confidence that she wants to do anything other than follow normal procedure, which doesn't seem to be working.

Last time she put me onto one of their technical experts, who told me that the problem only occured at over 20kmh and then when I said it had happened to me at less than that speed he then changed his story and said it happened below that speed as well. Not confidence inspiring.

Suggestions for how to persuade Audi to take this seriously gratefully received.