suspension noise ???

[Rich_C]

Well my RS6 was in to have the shock OSR shock replaced under warranty. They didn't do the accumulator but did regas both suspension systems. From my perspective the car feels loads better than before. However, the master tech still isn't satisfied that the problem is 100% solved so it's going back in at the end of the month for 3 days for a thorough examination and most likely a new NSF shock replacing or OSR accumulator - which I don't mind as I'm getting my monies worth out of the extended warranty.

Will keep you all updated with progress.

Rich.

[mwcltd]

Well, they replaced the NSR shock absorber and accumulator and it still knocked. They repressurised the system and it still knocks when cold although after a few miles it goes away. It seems to me that there is a fundamental design fault using this suspension technology as Audi know they loose fluid, know that there is a problem and have a defined procedure for processing it. I have another service in 3k miles so I will yet again get them to look at the problem. Basically I do not think that any of the dealers have a clue what to do and as per usual Audi have passed the buck to the front line without coming up with a proper solution.

[peterb]

Okay, took my car in yesterday - the tech who always works on my car put it up on the ramp. Yep! Leaking rear offside shock absorber - so new shocker (and pipe?) being ordered in. The tech told me that their experience is that it's always the offside rear which goes!

More of a surprise is that whilst it was up in the air, he spotted that my offside front tyre was worn down to the cords - only on the very corner of the inner shoulder. Totally not obvious from a casual inspection! The tyres have only done 24.25k miles and I was expecting to get another few k out of them!

Anyway, time to get new tyres and will try to get the rims refurbed first. Then the tech will have a look at alignment when the shocker is changed.

[SteveH]

The tech told me that their experience is that it's always the offside rear which goes!

The tyres have only done 24.25k miles and I was expecting to get another few k out of them!

Mine was the OSR that failed, i assume because its the NSF that gets the majority of grief from drains etc...

How many miles did you get out of your tyres?? is that a typing error or have you really got 24,250 miles out of a set!!??? You must have done 20,000 miles in a straight line without breaking!

[peterb]

How many miles did you get out of your tyres?? is that a typing error or have you really got 24,250 miles out of a set!!??? You must have done 20,000 miles in a straight line without breaking!

Yep, over 24k miles on the original set of tyres!

I don't know whether it makes any difference that I ordered my car with the optional 18" 9 spoke wheels. It came with Dunlop SP9000 tyres fitted and I see no reason to change to another type or make!

I'm also on the original discs/pads - I prefer to leave a reasonable gap to the car in front so that I can adjust my speed solely with the throttle, rather than making heavy use of the brakes.

I do a lot of motorway mileage in the RS, using the A2 or MR2 for the shorter journies.

PS. My wife got 27k out of the SP9000s on her A2.

[harry]

Good work Peter! You are an excellent example of how driving style can affect tyre wear.

Was never sure about Dunlops myself although they are appointed as an OEM by Audi. I too do alot of motoraway miles and will consider Dunlop the next time I need a new set of boots!

[peterb]

Was never sure about Dunlops myself although they are appointed as an OEM by Audi. I too do alot of motoraway miles and will consider Dunlop the next time I need a new set of boots!

I'd never heard of anyone fitting Dunlops on the 19" RS6 wheels, so thought maybe they don't do the correct size. However, I've just checked the Dunlop website, and they do list a 255/35R19 96Y (XL) SP Sport 9000.

I have certainly been perfectly happy with the performance of the tyres.

[SteveH]

When I had my first TT it came with Pirelli's, and i got through the first set in 12,000... second set of Pirelli's lasted about 22,000 as novelty factor had obviously worn off a bit. However along came the second TT brandishing its Dunlops, when I changed the car after 1 year to the RS6 I had done 26,000 miles and there was still many miles left in the original set of tyres. I think it was a combination of better driving, the novelty factor having worn, and my commute was on motorways with long flowing junctions. Unfortunately my commute is now of a similar distance (110 miles round trip) but on fast A roads and flowing motorway junctions have been replaced with many islands in the way!

[phil105]

Hi fellow RS6 owners! Just joined the site which I had found really useful when trying to ascertain whether I really did have a problem with my car. Same symptoms as everyone else - horrible knocking and thudding noise.

Back to the garage - replaced the rear shocks but not the actuator. Back to the garage - "Give it time to settle down". No thank you - two days later nearly off the road when trying to blast out of a bumpy sweeping corner - front left no contact with the road.

Back to the garage - rear suspension is really groaning now and the car crashing around all over the place. They decide to replace front shocks and rear actuators. Between ordering and fitting this takes nearly 3 weeks.

Picked the car up yesterday - not a sound! Absolutely like new!

Apparently the issue is this - the use of the tool that is used to pressurise the system is not properly documented by the Audi tech team which means that the mechanics have had to go through a month trial and error process.

They discovered that there are some additional cables that have to be connected and which....wait for it...prevent the system from de-pressurising when the tool is removed. Apparently, despite getting a proper pressure reading, if not de-coupled properly, the system simply de-pressurises and hence all the banging and crashing.

I have suggested that they document the process carefully so that they will know next time.

Hope this is of help to others who have experienced this frustrating problem.

Cheers,

Phil105

[Rich_C]

Very interesting Phil.

Just got my car back from Audi. They've now replaced the NSR shock absorber (so that's both rears changed) but without replacing the accumulators. The car is now back to normal with no banging or crashing. It was uplifting to get the car back in full fitness doing what it does best - effortless cruising - I just hope it stays that way ... watch this space.

Rich.

[peterb]

Grrr...... It's four weeks today since the tech diagnosed my shock absorber. I had the car booked in for last Tuesday, but the garage rang to cancel because the parts are on back order. I've just called them now, and they still don't know when the parts will be in.

I'm not happy to continue driving the car because the handling definitely feels unpredictable (as one might expect when one shock absorber has failed). As far as I'm aware, a leaking shock absorber would be an MoT failure, so should Audi really expect me to carry on driving the car?

Also, good practice always used to dictate that shock absorbers are replaced in pairs, especially when they have already covered a significant mileage - should Audi really be replacing these singly?

[shimmy]

Grrr...... It's four weeks today since the tech diagnosed my shock absorber. I had the car booked in for last Tuesday, but the garage rang to cancel because the parts are on back order. I've just called them now, and they still don't know when the parts will be in.

I'm not happy to continue driving the car because the handling definitely feels unpredictable (as one might expect when one shock absorber has failed). As far as I'm aware, a leaking shock absorber would be an MoT failure, so should Audi really expect me to carry on driving the car?

Also, good practice always used to dictate that shock absorbers are replaced in pairs, especially when they have already covered a significant mileage - should Audi really be replacing these singly?

I am in Audi tomorrow for 'rear suspension flexi hoses leaking fluid, requires 2 new flexi hoses and 2 new centre valves'

Can anybody let me know if this sounds right from their experiences.

Hope yours (peterb) gets sorted soon.

[Jeeves]

Was never sure about Dunlops myself although they are appointed as an OEM by Audi. I too do alot of motoraway miles and will consider Dunlop the next time I need a new set of boots!

I'd never heard of anyone fitting Dunlops on the 19" RS6 wheels, so thought maybe they don't do the correct size. However, I've just checked the Dunlop website, and they do list a 255/35R19 96Y (XL) SP Sport 9000.

I have certainly been perfectly happy with the performance of the tyres.

Peter - My 6+ came with 255/35 ZR 19 Sport 9000 RS (interesting suffix). Sounds like they may last longer than the brakes!

[peterb]

Peter - My 6+ came with 255/35 ZR 19 Sport 9000 RS (interesting suffix). Sounds like they may last longer than the brakes!

They're the ones! How do you find them? Swapping tyres is always an awkward issue. I hardly want to spend £700 - 800 on a new set of tyres, just to find that they're worse than what I had. I think I'd rather stick with what I know rather than suffer a potential disappointment.

However, I certainly have no concerns over any particular aspect of the Dunlops.

[mwcltd]

On April 5th the car goes in for a service and the NSR shock absorber looked at yet again. Now it knocks from cold for the first couple of miles then settles down. Lets see what they do now.