DRC / Shock Absorber Issues Log - Please Contribute

[APM]

on monday having KWV3's fitted,NO MORE DRC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[drcarrera]

Well, 10 days ago my car was serviced and I asked them to check the shocks due to the handling feeling a bit "loose" - AOK was the verdict.
Yesterday something didn't quite feel right with the car, and at slow speeds there was a very strange sound coming from the NSF. Checked today and it looks like the NSF shock is leaking. Could this have happened in 10 days (and 200 miles) or was the dealer talking bollocks?!

Those with knowledge of this, based on the photo is this going to need replacing ASAP (As Soon As Parts are available ), or will it come under the "minor weep, keep an eye on it" school of thought from the dealer?

OK, dealer checked this morning and gave it the all clear. Said the seep was "within normal working parameters" and nothing to worry about (they showed me the manufacturers instructions for a leaking shock and if it's "wet" it needs replacing, but otherwise it's OK).
Anyway, I'll get the tyres replaced and hopefully that'll sort the minor issues I've been having. Maybe.

[hanbury]

OK, dealer checked this morning and gave it the all clear. Said the seep was "within normal working parameters" and nothing to worry about (they showed me the manufacturers instructions for a leaking shock and if it's "wet" it needs replacing, but otherwise it's OK).

I really have no technical knowledge that entitles me to an opinion on this but... How can it be Ok for the shocks to be seeping? Unless they are topping up the fluid to maintain the correct level, surely there is now less fluid inside the shock/DRC system than the specifications require and, if it continues to 'seep', there must come a time when somehting needs doing - presumably they are waiting for you to go back and tell them it's got really bad.

I hope your new tyres make a difference but if I were a betting man.... let us know heh.

[Marcus-RS4]

I think this is car specific... just checked with camberley and mine has no outstanding recalls...

[lma07]

1 Dom81 - Avant - 7,500 - Camberley - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
2 S4INT - Avant - 18,000 - Tonbridge - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
3 ARSEY4 - Saloon - 10,500 - Notts - March 08 - Fronts & Valve
4 mac4RS - Avant - 19,000 - Ipswich - May 08 - NSF Shock Absorber
5 4wheeldrift - Avant 07/57 - 3,300 - Leeds - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
6 dom888 - Avant - 21,000 - Milton Keynes - March 08 - O/S Front
7 RS4MAD - Saloon - 13,500 - Macclesfield - April 08 - NSR Shock Absorber
8 MrM - Avant - 9,900 - Teesside - Feb 08 - Fronts & rear valves
9 Caldy - Saloon - 2,500 - Newcastle - April 08 - O/S Front & Valve
10 Mgbruce - Avant - 21,000 - Aberdeen - may08 - Front & Valve
11 SR71 - Saloon - 10,800 - Cardiff - May 08 - OK
12 JackWood - Avant - 18,000 - Stockport - May 08 - Front & Valve
13 RJKFlyer - Saloon - 11,500 - Sussex - Jan-May08 (car off road at Dealer then Audi UK for whole period) Fronts then all four plus both valves
14 andymcg99 - Saloon - 13,500 - Cheshire - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
15 OliF-H - Saloon - 4,000 - Newbury - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
16 DrCarrera - Avant - 15,000 - Newbury - June 08 - Checked and OK
17 scoobyc - Avant - 25,000 - not checked (just out hospital) - but checked by non audi garage ok at 04/08
18 JHW - Saloon - 16,500 - Docklands - March 08- Front shock (near side) and valve
19 Marcus_RS4 - Saloon - 14,950 - Camberly - both fronts and valves - LETTER SENT, ACKNOWLEDGMENT RECIEVED
20 Softail - Saloon - 15,000 - Warrington - April 08 - Fronts and Valve
21 ChrisRS4 - Avant - 12,500 - Inverness - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
22 Rotavirus - Avant - 25,000 - Coventry - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
23 Love_iTT - Cabriolet - 9,600 - Huntingdon - May 08 - Both Fronts & rear valves
24 Boysey - Avant - 11,800 - Yeovil - Jun 08 - Both Fronts
25 Booski - Avant - 19,500 - Huddersfield - Jun 08 - Both Fronts
26 mallinguard - Avant - 29,000 - Pentraeth - Fronts & Valve + 63,000 - L'Pool - Rears & Valve
27 marktowl - Saloon - 43,000 - Plymouth - Feb 08 - OK
28 Plodwyn - 5,700 - Pontypridd - July 06 - OK
29 MFire - Avant - 18,000 - Reading - May08 - Fronts and valve
30 PatrickRS4 - Avant - 19,800 - Camberley - Dec 07 - NSF
31 W8PMC - Saloon - 22,000 - Camberley - Mar 08 - Fronts and valve
32 PetrolDave - 22,300 - Camberley - May 08 - OK
33 Jezzer - 8,700 - Hitchin - June 08 - OK
34 Skip - 17000 - Saloon - OK
35 Hanbury – Saloon - 15,500 - May 08 - All four + 17,800 - June 08 - further new shocks required
36 PLG - Saloon - 25,000 - Amersham - Dec 08 - NSF + 30,000 - All
37 MEV - Avant - 11000 - Newbury - Jul 07 - Both front reported leaking
38 Chrisb - Avant - 14,500 - Sheffield - May 08 both fronts, back again fr more fronts
39 David_R - Saloon - 12600 - Reigate - July 08 both fronts - after check up by dealer
40 dubbers - June 07 RS4 Avant - 19K miles from new - OSF Leaking. 90% motorway driving
41 Scoobysnack - Saloon - 14650 - Camberley - Fronts and valve
42 LMA07 - Saloon - 10,352 - Aberdeen - July 08 - Checked and OK

[Dom81]

42 LMA07 - Saloon - 10,352 - Aberdeen - July 08 - Checked and OK

[jackwood]

1 Dom81 - Avant - 7,500 - Camberley - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
2 S4INT - Avant - 18,000 - Tonbridge - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
3 ARSEY4 - Saloon - 10,500 - Notts - March 08 - Fronts & Valve
4 mac4RS - Avant - 19,000 - Ipswich - May 08 - NSF Shock Absorber
5 4wheeldrift - Avant 07/57 - 3,300 - Leeds - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
6 dom888 - Avant - 21,000 - Milton Keynes - March 08 - O/S Front
7 RS4MAD - Saloon - 13,500 - Macclesfield - April 08 - NSR Shock Absorber
8 MrM - Avant - 9,900 - Teesside - Feb 08 - Fronts & rear valves
9 Caldy - Saloon - 2,500 - Newcastle - April 08 - O/S Front & Valve
10 Mgbruce - Avant - 21,000 - Aberdeen - may08 - Front & Valve
11 SR71 - Saloon - 10,800 - Cardiff - May 08 - OK
12 JackWood - Avant - 18,000 - Stockport - May 08 - Front & Valve-July 08 Valves and Hoses and fluid - LETTER SENT, REPLY FROM R.STARKEY
13 RJKFlyer - Saloon - 11,500 - Sussex - Jan-May08 (car off road at Dealer then Audi UK for whole period) Fronts then all four plus both valves
14 andymcg99 - Saloon - 13,500 - Cheshire - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
15 OliF-H - Saloon - 4,000 - Newbury - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
16 DrCarrera - Avant - 15,000 - Newbury - June 08 - Checked and OK
17 scoobyc - Avant - 25,000 - not checked (just out hospital) - but checked by non audi garage ok at 04/08
18 JHW - Saloon - 16,500 - Docklands - March 08- Front shock (near side) and valve
19 Marcus_RS4 - Saloon - 14,950 - Camberly - both fronts and valves - LETTER SENT, ACKNOWLEDGMENT RECIEVED
20 Softail - Saloon - 15,000 - Warrington - April 08 - Fronts and Valve
21 ChrisRS4 - Avant - 12,500 - Inverness - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
22 Rotavirus - Avant - 25,000 - Coventry - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
23 Love_iTT - Cabriolet - 9,600 - Huntingdon - May 08 - Both Fronts & rear valves
24 Boysey - Avant - 11,800 - Yeovil - Jun 08 - Both Fronts
25 Booski - Avant - 19,500 - Huddersfield - Jun 08 - Both Fronts
26 mallinguard - Avant - 29,000 - Pentraeth - Fronts & Valve + 63,000 - L'Pool - Rears & Valve
27 marktowl - Saloon - 43,000 - Plymouth - Feb 08 - OK
28 Plodwyn - 5,700 - Pontypridd - July 06 - OK
29 MFire - Avant - 18,000 - Reading - May08 - Fronts and valve
30 PatrickRS4 - Avant - 19,800 - Camberley - Dec 07 - NSF
31 W8PMC - Saloon - 22,000 - Camberley - Mar 08 - Fronts and valve
32 PetrolDave - 22,300 - Camberley - May 08 - OK
33 Jezzer - 8,700 - Hitchin - June 08 - OK
34 Skip - 17000 - Saloon - OK
35 Hanbury – Saloon - 15,500 - May 08 - All four + 17,800 - June 08 - further new shocks required
36 PLG - Saloon - 25,000 - Amersham - Dec 08 - NSF + 30,000 - All
37 MEV - Avant - 11000 - Newbury - Jul 07 - Both front reported leaking
38 Chrisb - Avant - 14,500 - Sheffield - May 08 both fronts, back again fr more fronts
39 David_R - Saloon - 12600 - Reigate - July 08 both fronts - after check up by dealer
40 dubbers - June 07 RS4 Avant - 19K miles from new - OSF Leaking. 90% motorway driving
41 Scoobysnack - Saloon - 14650 - Camberley - Fronts and valve
42 LMA07 - Saloon - 10,352 - Aberdeen - July 08 - Checked and OK

[ARSEY4]

I had a reply from Mr Hicks this morning saying he was aware of the problems and rs246.com and that Audi were looking into it and he will keep us posted. He also said that
THOSES WHO DONT WRITE IN WONT GET NAFF ALL AS HE SEES IT AS OTHERS BENEFITTING FROM THOSE WHO HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT.
Well he didnt really say that but I would imagine hes thinking it.
SO GET THOSE LETTERS IN, WE MAY JUST GET A RESULT.
BTW my car is sold now so I dont really have any reason to do anything other than I enjoy the conflict.

[Marcus-RS4]

I got one yesterday too...

He says that colleagues in Germany are investigating the issue for him and he will get back to me with the results/stance.

Looks promising, but as you say... it was a personal letter, which makes me think it will be dealt with on a one-by-one basis.

Get your letters in unless you want to loose out on this....?

[SR71]

So should I hope my DRC gives way then....

[Marcus-RS4]

Perhaps doctor the letter to your situation, suggesting you are worried about the quality of the suspension and that it will give out just beyond the warranty... or take it to another dealer (one that has proven RS knowledge), they may find an issue with it...

[lma07]

Anyone got a sample letter which they can PM me ? I can then tweak it (not had any problems as yet - touch wood) to voice my concerns.

[drcarrera]

1 Dom81 - Avant - 7,500 - Camberley - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
2 S4INT - Avant - 18,000 - Tonbridge - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
3 ARSEY4 - Saloon - 10,500 - Notts - March 08 - Fronts & Valve
4 mac4RS - Avant - 19,000 - Ipswich - May 08 - NSF Shock Absorber
5 4wheeldrift - Avant 07/57 - 3,300 - Leeds - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
6 dom888 - Avant - 21,000 - Milton Keynes - March 08 - O/S Front
7 RS4MAD - Saloon - 13,500 - Macclesfield - April 08 - NSR Shock Absorber
8 MrM - Avant - 9,900 - Teesside - Feb 08 - Fronts & rear valves
9 Caldy - Saloon - 2,500 - Newcastle - April 08 - O/S Front & Valve
10 Mgbruce - Avant - 21,000 - Aberdeen - may08 - Front & Valve
11 SR71 - Saloon - 10,800 - Cardiff - May 08 - OK
12 JackWood - Avant - 18,000 - Stockport - May 08 - Front & Valve-July 08 Valves and Hoses and fluid - LETTER SENT, REPLY FROM R.STARKEY
13 RJKFlyer - Saloon - 11,500 - Sussex - Jan-May08 (car off road at Dealer then Audi UK for whole period) Fronts then all four plus both valves
14 andymcg99 - Saloon - 13,500 - Cheshire - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
15 OliF-H - Saloon - 4,000 - Newbury - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
16 DrCarrera - Avant - 15,000 - Newbury - June 08 - Checked and OK - July 08 - Noticed slight leak from NSF - dealer checked again - "within acceptable parameters"
17 scoobyc - Avant - 25,000 - not checked (just out hospital) - but checked by non audi garage ok at 04/08
18 JHW - Saloon - 16,500 - Docklands - March 08- Front shock (near side) and valve
19 Marcus_RS4 - Saloon - 14,950 - Camberly - both fronts and valves - LETTER SENT, ACKNOWLEDGMENT RECIEVED
20 Softail - Saloon - 15,000 - Warrington - April 08 - Fronts and Valve
21 ChrisRS4 - Avant - 12,500 - Inverness - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
22 Rotavirus - Avant - 25,000 - Coventry - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
23 Love_iTT - Cabriolet - 9,600 - Huntingdon - May 08 - Both Fronts & rear valves
24 Boysey - Avant - 11,800 - Yeovil - Jun 08 - Both Fronts
25 Booski - Avant - 19,500 - Huddersfield - Jun 08 - Both Fronts
26 mallinguard - Avant - 29,000 - Pentraeth - Fronts & Valve + 63,000 - L'Pool - Rears & Valve
27 marktowl - Saloon - 43,000 - Plymouth - Feb 08 - OK
28 Plodwyn - 5,700 - Pontypridd - July 06 - OK
29 MFire - Avant - 18,000 - Reading - May08 - Fronts and valve
30 PatrickRS4 - Avant - 19,800 - Camberley - Dec 07 - NSF
31 W8PMC - Saloon - 22,000 - Camberley - Mar 08 - Fronts and valve
32 PetrolDave - 22,300 - Camberley - May 08 - OK
33 Jezzer - 8,700 - Hitchin - June 08 - OK
34 Skip - 17000 - Saloon - OK
35 Hanbury – Saloon - 15,500 - May 08 - All four + 17,800 - June 08 - further new shocks required
36 PLG - Saloon - 25,000 - Amersham - Dec 08 - NSF + 30,000 - All
37 MEV - Avant - 11000 - Newbury - Jul 07 - Both front reported leaking
38 Chrisb - Avant - 14,500 - Sheffield - May 08 both fronts, back again fr more fronts
39 David_R - Saloon - 12600 - Reigate - July 08 both fronts - after check up by dealer
40 dubbers - June 07 RS4 Avant - 19K miles from new - OSF Leaking. 90% motorway driving
41 Scoobysnack - Saloon - 14650 - Camberley - Fronts and valve
42 LMA07 - Saloon - 10,352 - Aberdeen - July 08 - Checked and OK

[ARSEY4]

Anyone got a sample letter which they can PM me ? I can then tweak it (not had any problems as yet - touch wood) to voice my concerns.

Mr J Hicks
Audi UK
Yeoman’s Drive
Blakelands
Milton Keynes
MK14 5AN

Dear Sir
Re Audi B7 RS4 Reg No
I purchased the above car new from Nottingham Audi on ......... On the ........... with ........ miles on the odometer my car was fitted with two new front shock absorbers after it developed a knocking sound from the front suspension and the shock absorber failure was attributed to the DRC valve system.
A group of fellow enthusiasts and I recently conducted a poll on a well known Audi RS public forum, a copy of which I enclose, where we asked how many owners have had shock absorbers replaced. To our surprise.... out of ...... contributors have had their shock absorbers replaced, this means that ....% of cars have experienced failure. This of course does not take into account other RS4 owners who do not subscribe to the forum but from conversations I have had from my supplying dealer it is very apparent that this is a common problem with the RS4 and RS6. I would like to protect myself against expense out of warranty along with the potential loss in residual value due to faulty parts and the public’s perception of the reliability of these cars. I would therefore kindly request firm answers in writing to the following questions:
1) Are all shock absorbers being fitted now updated versions from the original that eliminate all together the leaking problem and any associated DRC problems?
2) What date were the updated parts, if any, made available to UK dealers?
3) Do replacement shock absorbers and associated DRC components carry the Audi 3 year 60000 mile warranty from the time they are fitted?
4) If the replacement shock absorbers are not updated versions that eliminate the problem do Audi think it is reasonable not to of produced updated components given such a high level of failures?
5) Are Audi confident that the shock absorbers and associated DRC components are being fitted correctly by the dealers? There seems to be conflicting reports that all four shock absorbers should be replaced, just the faulty absorber or the faulty absorber and the absorber on the opposing side of the same axle. Please would you advise as to what Audi’s technical guidance is on this matter?
6) What is the exact problem that causes failures in so many RS4’s and RS6’s fitted with the DRC system?
7) What is the exact procedure for fitting shock absorbers when a leak occurs? Again there have been conflicting dealer opinions with regard to the need for specialists re pressurising equipment and that many dealers do not possess the correct tools leading to incorrect fitting and almost instant failure.
Could you advise if my dealer has the correct tools needed to fit new absorbers and re pressurise the DRC system and if they had it when my shock absorbers were replaced on ............?
9) Do Audi think a recall would have been more appropriate given the seriousness of where the faults are occurring?
I understand that the DRC was fitted to the previous generation RS6 and this car experienced very similar failures. I visited the RS6 section of the same public forum mentioned above where 70% of owners have suffered failures of the same system! I also enclose a copy of the first page of their survey so you have some back up documentation. I am extremely concerned with regard to quality issues as apart from problems with the shock absorbers and the DRC system on my car I have had the following issues:
1)
2)
3)
4)

In addition to the above points and assuming that the replacement parts fitted at present when a shock absorber leaks and the DRC system fails are not improvements, I would kindly ask for written confirmation from Audi that the replacement parts fitted will be covered by the manufacturer’s 3year 60000 mile warranty from the date that the part was fitted and a guarantee from Audi that should a part become available that eradicates the faults and problems associated with the current generation DRC system and shock absorbers that it will be fitted free of charge to my car as soon as it becomes available.
If you have any queries or would like to discuss this further I would be delighted to here from you. My mobile number is ....................
Yours Faithfully

[lma07]

ARSEY4

Mr J Hicks
Audi UK .....

Cheers for that ARSEY4 - will get this sent asap.