Dynamic Ride Control...AGAIN

[rs4v8]

I always end up getting int a "heated debate" when ever im at my local Audi Dealership,

Yeah, whatever did happen to, "the customer is always right"?

[P_G]

Ok, to put the record straighter on DRC. The version B7 RS4's have is DRC II, not the same system on the C5 RS6 but a strengthened parts version with higher pressure in it. As said previously the crap we in the UK have to put up with in terms of road quality will increase the pressure in a system that already runs at 12PSI and that causes 'weeping'

When your Audi technician has a look on their computerised technical bulletin system there are pictures which distinguish between when a shock is 'weeping' and 'leaking' and when the latter taht is when they are authorised to replace unless you have a friendly dealership who will fight your cause or eggagerate the severity of fluid loss.

The extension on the warranty for DRC IIRC you have to ask for and is only available for people who ask for it or have had to have shocks or DRC parts replaced but I will confirm this early next week if I can. Some dealerships will try and use the C5 RS6 DRC tool to repressurise the RS4 system but may encounter air in the system and therefore not properly recharge your system, they require the proper DRC II B7 RS4 tool.

I agree it is unfortunate that DRC is apparently not that reliable however given what it does and what high performace cars we have and when ou compare it to most other high performance cars then we are on average no better or worse off than if with an other marque.

[jackwood]

One of the problems is the fact that there is so much conflicting information.

My system was charged to 14bar (not psi) and has been dropped to 13bar as it was being checked.

I have been told that the new tool (part number ASE 425 012 000 00 (VAS6209/3)) is only needed if you want to re-pressure the system without changing the valves. If you don't have the tool, you can still pressurize to the correct pressure (my dealer got 14bar without the new tool) and you can still fix the system, but you need to replace the valves. You can also check system pressure by locking off the valves without the new tool. Something you couldn't do with the RS6 DRC I system.

Audi have these tools in stock, but some dealers have not ordered them. But apparently they have sold 28 of them!! So someone has them out there!!!

And new shocks with improved seals have apparently been made available by the factory, and these are now in stock in the UK.

[sandymat101]

I have the same problem, got a June 07 avant from Stoke Audi with 15K miles in late November 08. I did'nt hear anything on the test drive but after reading about DRC problems on here I started to notice a knocking noise. So I jacked the car up and removed the wheel, there was oil all over the front offside shock, I had done 250 miles.

I had them replaced on the 23rd Dec but they didn't fit valves, it transformed the car but I can now hear a knocking noise from the same shock. I'm going to take a look tomorrow but I know what I'm going to find. Will this be bacuse new valves weren't fitted?

[tweek]

It will be interesting if an MOT tester makes any distinction between weeping and leaking when he checks the car, as MOT's now have electronic data entry which includes observations, etc.
Wonder how Audi will respond to that one

[P_G]

Jackwood, my apologies I was thinking about tyre pressures in another thread, you are right about it being Bar pressure, not PSI in the DRC

[P_G]

I have the same problem, got a June 07 avant from Stoke Audi with 15K miles in late November 08. I did'nt hear anything on the test drive but after reading about DRC problems on here I started to notice a knocking noise. So I jacked the car up and removed the wheel, there was oil all over the front offside shock, I had done 250 miles.

I had them replaced on the 23rd Dec but they didn't fit valves, it transformed the car but I can now hear a knocking noise from the same shock. I'm going to take a look tomorrow but I know what I'm going to find. Will this be bacuse new valves weren't fitted?

My knocking from the rear suspension was because they struggled to pressurise the system properly and when checked the pressure was only 7 Bar, nothing to do with the valves or the shocks. I wonder if you have the same because of low pressure / air in the DRC?

[sandymat101]

It's got to be something like that because I've only done about 200miles since. I'll book it in, it's only going to get worse.

I'm wondering if they didn't fit valves because they haven't got the correct tool for the new design shock, I saw the job sheet it had 2 shocks, boots, nuts & bolts & oil as parts.

I'll ask to speak to an audi technician, the service bloke behind the desk didn't know what I was on about when I asked i they fitted new valves.

Thanks

[P_G]

Sure sign it has depressurised is that I could hear the knocking when going over manholes, pot holes etc but when goign over extreme humps, i.e sleeping policeman / traffic calming measures because the compression on the system is more excessive it would not knock then.

[sandymat101]

That's the exact symptoms, it's only making a knocking noise over certain manholes & potholes, it's not like it was before.

[BOGR32]

I have one question guys, since I am a new owner of an 07 RS4 with DRC PLUS. These leeks happen regardless if you have the standard DRC or the optional DRC PLUS? Because, if it's only happening with the latter (PLUS) and it will happen to me again (14 000 km front shocks changed) I am inclined to change to the standard DRC suspension. But if both fail, I think I will go for an aftermarket sollution (ohlins). Thanks

[Marcus-RS4]

The plus only relates to the springs (10mm lower and stiffer) and as far as I am aware, there is no correlation between std and SS+...

[drcarrera]

In response to the original poster, everyone I've spoken to at Newbury Audi is fully aware of the DRC issue. It's disgraceful if they sold you a car with such a severe leak.

Every time my car's in for service work I get them to check the shocks just in case, and on last inspection the FOS one was weeping, but as rs4v8 said earlier, this is considered "normal". Trouble is, every little knock I hear starts me panicking now - if I was in any other car I'd just ignore the little noises!

[karl]

In response to the original poster, everyone I've spoken to at Newbury Audi is fully aware of the DRC issue. It's disgraceful if they sold you a car with such a severe leak.

Every time my car's in for service work I get them to check the shocks just in case, and on last inspection the FOS one was weeping, but as rs4v8 said earlier, this is considered "normal". Trouble is, every little knock I hear starts me panicking now - if I was in any other car I'd just ignore the little noises!

I was the original poster and yes, it is bloody disgraceful. I haven't even had the decency of a response from Newbury Audi about this. I'll be calling them tomorrow god help them! What a shoddy bunch of...

[BOGR32]

There is another difference between std DRC and DRC PLUS: the standard DRC doesn't have those 2 compensatory oil recipients under the car, so....maybe they have less pressure and so no leeks. Is there anybody here with the standard DRC that is experiencing the same leeks?