Drc metal pipes- possible leak?

[neil_f]

So driving to work today and started getting a loud banging noise from nsr suspension and osf felt soft over bumps as if it was underdamped. From searching on here it would suggest that it could actually be the osf damper that is away although the noise is from the rear due to the drc system trying to compensate . Have checked all four dampers tonight and they have no signs of leaks but there is a lot of oil on the underside of the car. Starts from halfway down the offside of the plastic panel and the rear suspension arms and exhaust are dripping in oil. Would this suggest it is the metal drc pipe that has corroded through? Haven't had time to remove the plastic panel to try and see.

[Pistolpete2543]

Sounds like it. Mine was on the drivers side up beside the fuel tank. You'll only know for sure by taking the undertray off for a proper look. The best description for the noise I got from this forum was like a golf ball rattling around in a door pocket.

[neil_f]

Sounds like it. Mine was on the drivers side up beside the fuel tank. You'll only know for sure by taking the undertray off for a proper look. The best description for the noise I got from this forum was like a golf ball rattling around in a door pocket.

Oh well from what you've described sounds like the same symptoms as mine . I was trying to convince myself initially that it was something loose in the boot and not the drc!

[rwilsonrs4]

yip mine burst over the fuel tank and was pouring out past the rear diff , would have cost about 3000 at least to replace the pipes by exhaust removal , lowering the diff/ subframe assy and fuel tank ,so fitted B16 bilsteins instead

[neil_f]

Took the plastic panels off underneath this afternoon and sure enough the pipe next to the petrol tank has burst. Was trying to convince myself just to replace the pipe and keep the drc but knowing my luck another part of the system will probably go so likely I'll just get rid of the drc. The previous owner had spent 4.5k on it 45k miles ago replacing everything apart from the hard pipes! I've read some people have capped the drc lines - does this have to be done as I'd assume the system is empty of any fluid so surely it wouldn't matter if they got capped?

[Pistolpete2543]

It's not as expensive to replace the hard pipes as you might think. The pipes themselves are about £900 for all 4 from Audi (Genuine part only I'm afraid), and then I was charged £450 for fitting and a further £250 to have the system recharged by Audi. Not cheap by any means, but you'll be paying about £1500-£1800 for coilovers of decent quality, plus a few hundred quid for fitting. If you have the DRC pipework done, you'll know they're good for at least another 10 years.

It's your call, but the DRC is so good it is worth maintaining in my opinion. Get some quotes to have the work done. I kept my old DRC lines and was going to use these as templates to have stainless steel ones made up as direct replacements. Just haven't got round to it yet, and shipping would be a problem as they're about 3m long.

[Pistolpete2543]

Meant to say, whatever you do, don't drive the car now as you could damage the rear suspension valves under the boot floor.

[bennn]

Just a thought but why couldn't you just make new ones up out of copper like you would with brakes? Are they a bigger diameter or something?!

[neil_f]

I thought labour was a lot more to replace these with having to remove fuel tank etc? I've driven it about 40 miles to get home the other day but not been used since. Is this likely to have damaged the valves? I agree the drc is what makes these cars. Previous reciept show valves, springs and dampers have all been replaced .

[GaryA]

Not meaning to hijack but is there any preventative maintenance that can be done ? Mine appears to be working fine but previous Mots and just recently MRC have noted surface corrosion.

I'm with you and the ride is great, preservation is the ideal but only if costs are reasonable and your not sucked into a money pit.

Good luck, will be monitoring your decision and progress closely

[Pistolpete2543]

Previous reciept show valves, springs and dampers have all been replaced

Just my opinion, but if all this has been done already, you probably have the later type v3 dampers fitted, so I would be investing in the new DRC pipework. I'm in Northern Ireland so the labour rates may be slightly cheaper at an Indy here, but the actual pipework replacement was done in one day. I also had the pipework waxoyled once fitted to preserve for the future.

I'm not sure why you couldn't just get pipework made up in cunifer, however the Audi parts seemed to be have quite a bit more wall thickness than cunifer.

Get a few quotes for the work from reputable RS Specialists and make your decision. I have no plans to sell my RS4 so for me keeping it original is important.

[Alicz777]

Hi guys may be able to help just had all my DRC REPLACED ON INSURANCE SO WILL HAVE ANY SALVAGEABLE PARTS RETURNED TO ME. Have advertised also new front shock parts under Alicz777.
Same info as above under my new registration of Alicz777
Serial numbers of parts are:
8EO412019B
8EO412020B
Can contact me on email:
carlmorgan_uk@yahoo.com

[neil_f]

Previous reciept show valves, springs and dampers have all been replaced

Just my opinion, but if all this has been done already, you probably have the later type v3 dampers fitted, so I would be investing in the new DRC pipework. I'm in Northern Ireland so the labour rates may be slightly cheaper at an Indy here, but the actual pipework replacement was done in one day. I also had the pipework waxoyled once fitted to preserve for the future.

I'm not sure why you couldn't just get pipework made up in cunifer, however the Audi parts seemed to be have quite a bit more wall thickness than cunifer.

Get a few quotes for the work from reputable RS Specialists and make your decision. I have no plans to sell my RS4 so for me keeping it original is important.

Agree and thats my thoughts of maybe spending the money and hopefully that's it sorted for a few years . Fear is I replace the pipes to be told that the valves need done as I have driven on it ( had no option really). Will get quotes and see. Going to check previous receipts and see if it mentions v3 dampers. Previous owner got 50% good will from audi as it was technically out of warranty but just over the 75k miles .

[Pistolpete2543]

From what I've read on here, it's highly unlikely that the valves will need replaced. They can be tested I think.

[cherub72]

I had all my pipes done last year after one over the fuel tank blew out. Pipes are £200 each and the labour to do the change came in at around 10 hours as it's a rear end out job. Now it's all back together I can ignore it for another 10 years. I got all the tracking done too once that was completed and it drives like a dream.