RS6 KNOCKING NOISE?

[PHILRS6+]

Hi all. new member and first time audi owner. recently purchased a stunning RS6+ that has been well looked after and puts a smile on my face every time i drive it. ive had it a few weeks now and the car is on its way to audi for some investigative work.
just thought id share it with you all incase you have come across it before.
Not all the time and only over random bumps theres a very slight knock on what seems to be the passenger front suspension, though he biggest notice is followed by a vibration through the accelerator pedal. i looked through the history of the car and audi have looked at it once before, ive spoke to the previos owner and he agreed that he had also noticed something similar.
Thanks in advance for any relpy.

[mavada]

DRC failure...

[PHILRS6+]

i thought about that, its been done recently but ive read that it can go at any time?

[mavada]

yes i got the same, im looking for replacement like bilstein pss9 or kw v3. DRC will fail...So replace the whole drc is the way to go.

[PhilT]

Worth pricing up getting the (usual suspect) suspension links done too.

[monoi]

Which dealer are you taking it to?

I would recommend Camberley. I had this throttle vibration when I bought my car, and 6 months later, the DRC was gone. However, I chose to have a new DRC fitted, as it is not much more expensive than installing coilovers, keeps the car original and you then have the Audi warranty (I know its only 2 years, but in reality, it is much longer).

The issue is to get a dealer who has the experience and the right equipment, and they are few and far between.

[Daveperc]

Hi

I think you have two issues!

The knocking noise may be DRC, especially if it only occurs when the car is cold. However it is just as likely to be one of the suspension arms/bushes particularly if it is there all the time.

The pedal vibration is nothing to do with the suspension (well other than that the car is "hard" whatever set up you have) - it's a feature of the old shell design - do a search and you will find plenty of posts relating to it. There is not a lot that one can do though Grizz does have a re-bushing kit that reduces the problem if you really want. Personally I just live with the fact that the car tickles my toes occasionally!

There is a pavlovian knee-jerk reaction on these forums that every rattle is automatically a symptom of DRC failure - this used to be true, but the V3 is pretty bullet proof if fitted properly (and IMHO only Camberley seem to be reliable in this regard). Mines done over 60K miles, some of it on very rough roads including unmade tracks, and was checked over last week - still going fine. What's more, if it does start to go slack, then I can simply have it re-pressurised - try doing that to a PSS9 after 80K miles!

Dave

[Shoppinit]

Worth pricing up getting the (usual suspect) suspension links done too.

+1 Suspension arms are a weak point and can cause clonking.

I agree with most of what Dave said, too, except that I don't think the DRC can be reliable due to its design, no matter how well installed it is. I think it's misleading to tell people that it is. I think you are the exception rather than the rule.

Just look at the RS4 forum:

NO FAIL
1 Housemaster - Saloon – 41,500 - April 06
2 Plodwyn - 5,700 - Pontypridd - July 06
3 marktowl - Saloon - 43,000 - Plymouth - Feb 08
4 scoobyc - Avant - 25,000 – April 08 - checked by non Audi garage
5 SR71 - Saloon - 28000 - Cardiff - Oct 09 - Still dry
6 Jezzer - 8,700 - Hitchin - June 08
7 Mjc_rs4 - Avant – 6,200 - Exeter
8 UNI555 - Avant - 20,000 - Sheffield - Jan 09
0 spikeyoldbiker - Saloon - 32,000 - Feb 09
10 Lexos- Avant - 55'000km -Switzerland - August 2007
11 HenryHale2704 - Avant - 44,000 - Camberley - September 2008
12 Baza - Avant - 23000 - Sussex - Oct 06
13 Neckarsulm - Avant - 34000- Midlands - misting on OSF Jan 10 but still OK Oct 10
14 S4INT - Avant SS+ (second one!) - 30000 - Sussex - slight misting NSF but OK OCT 10
16 RS4414-Saloon 30k june 2006 model.

DRC FAIL
1 PatrickRS4 - Avant - 19,800 - Camberley - Dec 07 - NSF
2 RJKFlyer - Saloon - 11,500 - Sussex - Jan 08 - Fronts
3 MrM - Avant - 9,900 - Teesside - Feb 08 - Fronts & Valve
4 Marcus_RS4 - Saloon - 14,950 - Camberley - All 4 & Valves
5 mallinguard - Avant - 29,000 - Pentraeth - Fronts & Valve
6 ARSEY4 - Saloon - 10,500 - Notts - March 08 - Fronts & Valve
7 Dom888 - Avant - 21,000 - Milton Keynes - March 08 – OSF
8 JHW - Saloon - 16,500 - Docklands - March 08 - NSF & Valve
9 W8PMC - Saloon - 22,000 - Camberley - Mar 08 - Fronts & Valve
10 rAudiguy - Saloon - 5,000 - March 08 – Fronts
11 NeilFur - 21,000 - All 4 & Valves
12 S4INT - Avant SS+ (first one) - 18,000 - Tonbridge - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
13 4wheeldrift - Avant - 3,300 - Leeds - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
14 RS4MAD - Saloon - 13,500 - Macclesfield - April 08 – NSR
15 Caldy - Saloon - 2,500 - Newcastle - April 08 - OSF & Valve
16 andymcg99 - Saloon - 13,500 - Cheshire - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
17 Marcus_RS4 - Saloon - Camberley - All 4 & Valves
18 Softail - Saloon - 15,000 - Warrington - April 08 - Fronts & Valve
19 Dom81 - Avant - 7,500 - Camberley - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
20 mac4RS - Avant - 19,000 - Ipswich - May 08 – NSF
21 Mgbruce - Avant - 21,000 - Aberdeen – May 08 - Front & Valve
22 JackWood - Avant - 18,000 - Stockport - May 08 - Front & Valve
23 RJKFlyer - Saloon - 11,500 - Sussex - May 08 - All 4 & Valves
24 OliF-H - Saloon - 4,000 - Newbury - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
25 ChrisRS4 - Avant - 12,500 - Inverness - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
26 Rotavirus - Avant - 25,000 - Coventry - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
27 Love_iTT - Cabriolet - 9,600 - Huntingdon - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
28 MFire - Avant - 18,000 - Reading - May 08 - Fronts & Valve
29 Hanbury – Saloon - 15,500 - May 08 - All 4
30 Chrisb - Avant - 14,500 - Sheffield - May 08 - Fronts
31 Boysey - Avant - 11,800 - Yeovil - Jun 08 - Fronts
32 Booski - Avant - 19,500 - Huddersfield - Jun 08 – Fronts
33 mallinguard - Avant - 63,000 - Liverpool - Rears & Valve
34 Hanbury - Saloon - 17,800 - June 08 - All 4
35 Antares - Avant - 15,000- Kosice SVK - June 08 - Fronts
36 Dom888 - Avant - 22,000 - Camberley - July 08 - All 4 & Valves
37 JackWood - Avant - Stockport - July 08 - Valves & Hoses
38 ChrisRS4 - Avant - Inverness - July 08 - Fronts & Valve
39 PLG - Saloon - 30,000 - Amersham - All 4
40 MEV - Avant - 11,000 - Newbury - Jul 08 – Fronts
41 Chrisb - Avant - Sheffield – Fronts
42 David_R - Saloon - 12,600 - Reigate - July 08 - Fronts
43 dubbers - Avant - 19,000 - OSF
44 Scoobysnack - Saloon - 14,650 - Camberley - Fronts & Valve
45 Iain_S4 - Saloon - 16,100, - Highland Audi - July 08 - Fronts & Valve
46 APM - Saloon - 83,000 - APS Brackley - July 08 - All 4 (moved to KW v3s)
47 Puggers - Cabriolet - 10,200 - Croydon - July 08 - Fronts & Valve
48 NeilFur - 43,500 - Complete DRC replacement
49 byron13 - Saloon - Sept 08 - Rears
50 Chrissy - Saloon - 6,500 - Aberdeen - Oct 08 – Fronts
51 Declan - Avant - 12,000 - Armagh - Oct 08 - Fronts
52 MFire - Avant - 21,000 - Reading - Sept 08 - Fronts & Valve
53 P_G - Avant - 38,000 - Tyneside - Nov 08 - Fronts & Valves
54 ADR14N - Avant - 22,000 - Watford - Nov 08 – Fronts
55 Booski - Avant- 28,000 - Huddersfield - Nov 08 - All 4 & Valves
56 Golich - Avant - 18,000 - Aberdeen - Nov 08 – Fronts
57 Duud40 - Saloon - 56,000 - Nov 08 - Fronts (moved to Bilstein pss9 and H&R sways)
58 PLG - Saloon - 25,000 - Amersham - Dec 08 - NSF
59 OliH - Avant - 30,000 - Worthing - Dec 08 - All 4 & Valves
60 P_G - Avant - Tyneside - Dec 08 - DRC pipe replaced
61 Sandymat101 - Avant - 16,000 - Stoke - Dec 08 - Fronts
62 Matthew.Lewis2 - Saloon - 17,500 - Dubai - Dec 08 - Fronts
63 Dom81 - Avant - 9,500 - Camberley - Jan 09 - Fronts & Valve
64 JackWood - Avant - 32,000 - Stockport - Jan 09 - All 4 & Valves
65 Pig - Saloon - 19,000 - Stansted - Jan 09 - Fronts & Valve
66 Karl - Saloon - 17,500 - Gloucester - Jan 09 - Fronts & Valve
67 BarnRS - Avant - 16,000 - Camberley - Jan 09 - All 4 & Valves
68 W8PMC - 37,000 - Feb 09 - Preston - Fronts & Valve
69 mip - 11,000 - OSF
70 paulslacey - Fronts
71 LMA07 - 07 Saloon, 13,760 miles - Aberdeen Feb 09 - Both front shocks appear damp
72 Avantus2 - 16,500 - Feb 09 - Fronts
73 NGS521 - 31,500 - Aberdeen - Feb 09 - NSF
74 genova - Avant - 10,000 - AMAG Switzlerand - Feb 09 - Fronts & OSR
75 scottmk1 - Saloon - 24,000 - Fire Seat - Feb 09 - All 4
76 DrNick - Avant - 20,000 - Hull - Feb 09 - Fronts
77 bn8959 - Avant - 18,000 - Bristol - March 09 - Fronts & Valve
78 RSLS - Saloon - 7,500 - Audi South-West - Mar 09 - Fronts
79 byron13 - Saloon - 13,500 - March 09 - OSF & Valve
80 Gazzer68 - Avant - 29,000 - Fronts & Valve
81 shindy - Saloon - 20,000 - Glasgow - March 09 - Fronts
82 JMC - Avant - 14,000 - Perth Audi - All 4 & Valves
83 gmk666 - Avant - 34,000 - Whetstone - Fronts
84 Al'srs4 - Saloon - 25,000 - Bolton - Fronts & Valve
85 Hogster - Saloon - 30,000 - Camberley - Fronts & Valve
86 Adam - Saloon - 12,800 - Wimbledon - Mar 09 - Fronts
87 DrGold - Saloon - 17,000 - Stansted - Mar 09 - Fronts
88 r4fdud - Avant - 19,000 - Blacbkurn - Fronts
89 Outtlaw - Avant - 25,000 - Lea Valley - Fronts or Rears
90 ThingsRS4 - Saloon - 17,000 - Shrewsbury - March 09 - Fronts
91 advuk - Saloon - 25,000 - Bury St Edmunds - April 09 - Fronts
92 AlexW - Saloon - 24,000 - Newcastle – Fronts
93 RS04COM - Saloon - 10,000 - Perth - April 09 - Fronts
94 Timrs4- Saloon - 46,000 - Camberley - April 09 - OSF & Valve
95 reevesroadster - Avant - 22,000 - All 4
96 scottmk1 - Saloon - 25,000 - April 09 - OSR
97mmdr7qam - Saloon - 15,000 - Cheshire Oaks - April 09 – Fronts
98 Nib - Avant - 16,000 - Camberley - Apr 09 - Fronts & OSR
99 LMA07 - Saloon - 15,000 - Aberdeen - Apr 09 - OSF
100 sar - Saloon - 20,000 - Teeside - April 09 – OSF
101 NeilFur - 58,000 - 3 weeping & 4th failed - Audi to start by replacing 1 shock & 1 Valve
102 ^Qwerty^ - 33,000 - York Audi - OSF weeping replaced and DRC recharged
103 bfettie saloon 46000 -perth audi - entire DRC ,5yr goodwill warranty
104 porky - 2006 RS4 cabriolet 16,000 miles - both fronts. report to Audi 30/05/2009
105 Longfur 2007 RS4 saloon 17,000 - all four shocks, Audi Docklands. 23/08/09
106 Brooner 2007 RS4 Avant 17500 front shocks Aberdeen Audi 17/08/09
107 Jimmy 2006 RS4 Avant 34000- all four shocks Audi Derby 01/04/09
108 Xtreme 2007 RS$ Avant 18000 - front shocks to be replaced under warranty - leaking
109 Golich2007 RS4 AVant 28K rear shocks AberdeenAudi July 09
110 andymcg99 2007 RS4 Saloon 27300 - Chester - Sep 09 - OSF and OSR to be replaced under warranty (again)
111 Iain_S4 - Saloon - 33,000 - Highland Audi - Sept 09 - OSF replaced & DRC recharged, (second time, see #45)
112 Jh001ace - RS4 Cab - 27k - Front shocks- Poole Audi
113 Phil3103 - RS4 Saloon - 23k - Front shocks - Manchester Audi
114 Northernpar - RS4 Saloon - 18.5k - Front shocks - Aberdeen Audi
115 Pad125 -RS4 Saloon - 35k - Front Shocks & Valves - Walton Audi
116 rs4v8 - Saloon - 16k - Highland Audi - Front shocks replaced
117 JaseRS4 - RS4 Avant - 28k - All 4 shocks & valves - Lake District Audi
118 rs4_power- Rs4 Cabriolet-14k-front 2 shocks and valves-Sheffield Audi
119 voyager162 RS4 Avant -38k- all 4 replaced Crewe Audi
120 andymcg99 2007 RS4 Saloon 29400 - Chester - Dec 09 - OSF replaced under warranty (again, 4th time in total it has been in for DRC)
121 Mark758 - Saloon - 41,000 - Milton Keynes - Mar 10 - Fronts
122 QuattroRS4 - Saloon -17,000 -Newmarket Motors Ireland - April 2010 -Rear Left completely failed
123 RS04OUR - 2006 Saloon - 58,000 - Cheshire Oaks - April 2010 - Both front knocking & leaking - replaced under warranty
124 Johninspain - 2006 Saloon - 50,000 - Pujante Murcia (by techky flown in from Germany) Feb or March (cant remember) - full new system, no warrenty payed for by Audi after long talks
125 Golich2007 RS4 AVant 37k rrea damper and accumulater 5 year good will paying for it.
126 RS4V8 2007 RS4 Saloon 22k rear o/s shock replaced June '10
127(17-APG) 2007 RS4 AgnewAudi Belfast : 2 front shocks replaced at 15k and now at 50 k they have gone again. Not sure if Audi will replace under warranty.
128 Drcarrera - Avant - 45000 - Camberley - July 10 - Both fronts (to be) replaced
129 stoddie - avant - 13000 - Edinburgh Audi - July 2010. Both fronts replaced
130 petroldave - Avant - 44,000 - Portsmouth Audi - July 2010. Both fronts and DRC valve replaced under warranty.
131 Steve_C - Avant - 68,000, Hereford Audi - Jul 2010 - 2 rears, 1 front & valve
132 NikkiRSsixx - saloon - 57,000, Sheffield Audi - May 10 - 2 front shocks replaced.
133.B2DUG - Avant - 16000 - Ipswich - Feb 09 - OSF Shock Absorber
134 Sandymat101 - Avus Silver Avant - July 10 - Stoke Audi - 4 Shocks & 2 valves - 31,000 miles - Second failure
135 Stevieb03 - Saloon - 26,000 - Fronts & valve - July 2010
136 NOMISEGDELP -Saloon. 2006 saloon, two done about 40k circa 7/09.
137 GraRS07 Both fronts replaced Camberly 20k 03/10
138 B2DUG - Avant - 28600 - Ipswich - July 2010 - osf Shock Abs - second failure & failed mot.
139 Northerpar - Saloon - 25,350 - Rear dampers and accumulators replaced.
140 kart_man - Avant - 34,000 - Edinburgh - On 3rd set of fronts
141shooks-07/07saloon 15k fronts may2010 - 17k back/gon again
142 Iainrs6 - Avant - 46000 - Tetbury - July 10 - Diagnosed with 2 leaking fronts, awaiting date to have them replaced
143 Mike_Bike - Saloon - 40'000 - Lincoln - April 10 - 2 Front Shocks. - 46'000 handling deteriorated - Audi unable to fix fault - Given up and fitting coilovers
144 Stoffle32 - Saloon- 38000km -Feb 2010 all 4 shocks replaced
145 Jazza1984 - Saloon - 21000miles - Inverness - Sept 2010 Front shocks leaking. - Both replaced with no fuss.
146 ^Qwerty^ - Saloon - 44000 - OSF shock failure. Being replaced under warranty.
147 Jonah - Saloon - 26000 - NSF & OSR replaced under warranty
148 mutantfatcat - saloon - 43000, offside front knock, both valves replaced under warranty by Manchester Audi
149 Mendy-2007 Saloon 22200, near side front knock Both fronts replaced Warranty Teesside.Oct 10
150 MB2 - 2006 Avant, 24000 NSF leaking (MOT fail) OSF leaking (MOT Advisory) Both fronts + hoses relaced under extended warranty
151 Guffy - Saloon - 30k - Aberdeen - Nov 2010 - fronts leaking
152 scaghead - Saloon 2006 - 31k - NSF and NSR leaking - both replaced by Southend Audi under 5year/ 75k warranty...
153 Norre - saloon - 55k- sweden - Nov 2010 - left front leaking no recalls km sweden insurance covered it.
154 Pie - 07 Saloon - NSF & OSF replaced under warranty following used vehicle prep, Feb 2010, 27k miles. Wakefiled.

155 TimsterRS4 2007 Avant 28K - NSF & OSF & Valves. Warranty. Watford.
156 aka_dk RS 4 2006 Cab - 19k - all 4 shocks - replaced under Extended Audi Guarantee
157 ChrisCSL - 56 saloon - x3 replaced under DRC extended warranty by Camberley Dec 2010. 49k miles.
158 SJRS4 - 06 Saloon - 47k - Derby Audi replaced all 4 under extended warranty - Dec 2010
159 PeteB -07 Avant - 36K - Hitchin - Camberley replaced both front shocks under warranty - Jan 11
160 Daz N - 57 Saloon, 51k miles. Audi Nottingham replacing fronts as goodwill gesture this week.
161 Edge - 07 Saloon, 40k Miles. Audi South Dublin, replacing fronts as goodwill. Oct 2010.
162 Fletchie55 - 06 Cab, 25k - both Front shocks leaking. replaced under extended warranty by Camberley Audi
163 Lugars4 - 06 Saloon, 33k - Both Fronts replaced under warranty, knocking (only when cold). March 2011
164 wellzieRS4 06 Saloon 32k all 4 replaced under warranty also knocking when cold march 2011
165 - Guernsey70 - 06 saloon - 33k miles - OSF - replaced under Audi extended warranty by Wimbledon Audi
166 - Dom81 - 07 Avant - 16,500 miles - Camberley - March 11 - NSF

[monoi]

I agree with Daveperc, except to say that the vibrations in the throttle pedal have reduced to the extent that I do not notice them anymore since the DRC was repaired.

It might not be the main symptom, but it is definitely related.

[PhilT]

There is not a lot that one can do though Grizz does have a re-bushing kit that reduces the problem if you really want. Personally I just live with the fact that the car tickles my toes occasionally!

Mine has this only on the brake pedal. It's a pain to re-bush both sides, so Unit20 did one side only and it was a ton better (and cheaper )

[PHILRS6+]

just logged back on and theres a wealth of info/experiance replied thats out there, good to know. just looked back through the history and it was a replacement for the front shock absorbers and DRC valves so not sure if thats a full replacement of the DRC, this was done at coulsdon audi 5000 miles ago. the cars still under warranty so i will be staying with the DRC even though a lot have had issues with it, i suppose when it works it works well!!. ive read that the aftermarket coilovers make the car even stiffer which is quite suprising as i find the set up now is quite solid. my local audi now is lake district audi so hopefully there on the ball. I think it could be the suspension arms as like you say dave it does it all the time not just when its cold. the knocking is very very minimal, its hardly noticable. but thought it was related to the vibration, looks like this may not be the case and the tickle on the toes i can live with now i know a bit more about it. will see what lake district audi say when i drop it off and keep you posted.
thanks all again

[Daveperc]

Hi Phil

Sounds like a plan. I'd get your local Audi man to ensure DRC is working OK (no leaks etc) and then whip it down to Grizz for an afternoon to get the bushes on the suspension arms etc checked (and changed where needed) and get the brake pedal re-bushed too if you don't want the vibration.

Just to expand on the latter, the pedal vibrates because the shell flexes locally when given shock loads by the suspension. So, if DRC or any other suspension component is going, then it will put more stress into the shell, and shake your pedal - think of it as an automatic feedback system!

I would also seriously think about getting the uprated ARB's fitted by Grizz. Not only does it dramatically improve the handling at very little trade-off on ride, but it also takes load off the DRC helping improve its life expectancy!

About a year ago I did a quick check on PH to find the ratio of cars still on DRC vs Coilies - it was over 80% (contrary to the impression you'd get on here). I just checked the first two pages again and it's 10:2 still.

Dave

[Shoppinit]

Maybe people are flogging because of DRC problems

[660z]

Many people do not even know they have DRC problems, I have spoken to untold people hopping and bouncing around London oblivious of a problem, surprisingly many of them were ladies as well.....

[the6]

Don't panic too soon, my first RS6 had the same on the drive home!! I was sweating golf balls but it was just a CV boot, £20 + labour.