Knocking suspension when cold

[GazzaP]

Wondering if it's the same thing but from day 1 my rear suspension has been "squeaking" rather than "knocking" in comfort mode when crawling over speed bumps and at v low speed. Frankly it sounds and feels as through the shocks are shot even though the car is less than 3 months old with less than 3k on the clock. Had an Audi tech take it for a run around the block yesterday and he confirmed it definitely wasn't "normal". After putting it on a lift they could see no immediate issues visually so now it's booked in at the first available spot (3 weeks away!) for a proper analysis. In Dynamic the thing is undrivable, even on smooth (track quality) roads it feels like it's going to throw me into a tree at any given moment. Having read and watched the reviews before purchase I had expected it to be very firm but I can't believe Audi would have engineered it this badly so can only assume something is wrong. Fingers crossed!

[Warthog]

GazzaP,

I could literally have copied word for word what you just posted.

On the drive home from collecting it on the day of delivery, I floored it on a nice smooth sweeping bend on the dual carriageway. It was dynamic, and it bounced around so much, I scared myself.

My B7 RS4 never behaved like this.

Ive just dropped mine off at the dealer and have a A5 as a courtesy car. This handles better than the RS4 so Im more convinced now I have a problem.

[D8vil]

We'll guys mine is now back and fingers crossed it's all fixed !!
They replace all the shockers / central valve and recharged it

[GazzaP]

Glad to hear that it's finally sorted for you D8vil!

Warthog, not just me then! I can only assume the issue is with the rear shocks then, not as noticeable in comfort other than maybe it's bouncier/softer than it really should be and squeaking like a busted mattress. But in Dynamic when the fronts are more solid and the rears still soft as mush it's plain dangerous and feels like I'm going to bounce off the road.

Please let us know what the outcome is once you get it back as I'll take this info to my dealer. I'm in Dubai where there are only a handful of B8 RS4s in the country, maybe less than a dozen total, so it's likely the techs won't be overly familiar with them.

[carsarecool]

I find dynamic mode in the RS4 almost identical to "sport" on my TTRS when driving normally.....it bounces (as stated above). When in attack mode it is stiff but does seem planted. I rarely used sport on the TT and I think it will be the same with Dynamic on the 4.

[Warthog]

According to the dealership mine is now fixed!

Apparently a suspension stop was in the wrong place- when they removed the transport spacers, the suspension didn't sink into the cradle correctly. It's been corrected and road tested and I'm assured it's now fine.

I'll collect on Saturday and see how it behaves.


GazzaP, incidentally I'm in Dubai right now, but unfortunately leave tomorrow lunchtime.

[D8vil]

Bad news mine is back knocking
Audi tech are scratching their head, the saga continues

[Warthog]

D8vil,

Really sorry to hear that.

I collected mine this morning- the knock has gone, and its handling a lot better.

Apparently when the car is transported, there are transport suspension stops (plastic bungs to lock the suspension). Strangely the bump stop is also floating on the piston. When the technicians do the pre delivery check, they remove the transport suspension stops and slide the bump stops up to the top. They should fit by friction alone. Mine appears not to have done, hence the knocking.

Its apparently not the first car its happened to recently, the suggestion being that maybe audi are using a different material for the bump stop.

[GazzaP]

Cheers for the info Warthog, will mention this when mine goes in.

[smudge]

Bad news mine is back knocking
Audi tech are scratching their head, the saga continues

They carried out the same work you state on my OSF, but after driving her over the weekend, the issue remains.

She's going in for new pads (as soon as Audi UK have them back in stock!) so I'll get them to have another think about things when she's back in.

[RIV]

Well dropped my car off to the stealers today for a squeaking sound coming from the back of the car, and the knocking sound coming from the suspension when in comfort mode, just had a phone call to say they are going to represurise the DRC and also have a software update for it,I've been told they are looking into the squeaking sound, and getting some feed back from Audi tech, I will update when I have more info

[blueaudi]

I will be changing car at the end of the year and enjoying the usual short-list process. The RS4 is right up there but I am seriously concerned by a few owner experiences. I had a B7 back in the day and experienced DRC issues, I don't expect any car to be faultless but it did take the shine off and I find it hard to believe that Audi would make the same mistake a second time, please can anyone put some perspective on these issues before I strike the B8 from my list.

[RIV]

It's a great car,I wouldn't strike it off the list,I've got the 5 year warranty so not stressing too much, as Grahame has said, he's never had any DRC issues, I have noticed you own a disco, it can't be worse than that

[blueaudi]

The Disco has been faultless, save for the nav screen which was replaced under warranty. It has covered 45,000 miles in just over two years and while the turbo lag is a pain it tackles any conditions without fuss and the ride is limo like, I will miss it when the lease expires. The RS ticks many boxes as a daily, although the poor range is a concern and obviously DRC, I just don't want to be in and out of the dealer, listening for knocks and squeaks until my head implodes, been there before!

[RIV]

You have been lucky with the disco my friend had 7k of warranty work done in the first year on his, I do understand where your coming from regarding the DRC, had this on my old b7 replaced 3 or 4 times,I should get mine back later today, I will update on the situ