Frustrated with noisy DRC accumulators on 2020 B9.5 RS4 Vorsprung repeat failures

[spidmack]

Hi folks, yet again my RS4 DRC accumulators have failed & become noisy overtime.
Ive owned this car from new, it’s an Oct 2020 Vorsprung B9.5 RS4 with just over 21k miles.
There’s quite a history. My local dealer after replacing the shocks & then multiple times then the accumulators 3 times (at times it came back worse) effectively gave up. The manager to quote said this in 2023.

“we replaced the rear DRC accumulators under parts warranty along with the last remaining shocker despite making contact with Audi technical who advised us that based on the information supplied I suspect the noise to be normal.

Car has been presented to us for the recent visit and we are now referencing this to a technical bulletin which was updated in May 2023 advising that there can be a change in noise when switched from Dynamic to comfort mode.

Based on this information we believe that the noise on your car is a characteristic of the vehicle and we are unable to carry out any further repairs as these will not be supported by the manufacturer as there are no manufacturing defects.

In our opinion if parts were to be changed the noise would re occur over a period of time”

I said that surely there must be a level of noise that is deemed normal. Your own tech said “Audi would never make a car this noisy” & another “the noise is horrendous”. Could you not send a recording of the level of noise? I even offered to employ a sound engineer. They wouldn’t consider it.

So I contacted Audi UK & they advised I go to another dealer. I took my car on a 180 mile round trip to another dealer who rather than having my car for weeks at a time replace the accumulators quickly & the car came back quieter than it’s ever been. They also without me even suggesting said had Audi UK suggested it was a normal noise they would have sent a recording of it’s

Audi UK paid all my expenses & gave me an extended warranty to give me peace of mind. In case the issue comes back.

Sadly & really frustratingly it’s back. I will have to make the trip to the dealer again. I just wish it could be fixed permanently.

My partner who normally would mention or hear any noise, rattles thinks it sound like I have tools rattling in the car boot or a set of ladders. I regularly hire cars when I travel. They are no where near the price of my car & yet none sound like this.

https://youtu.be/2g0WEhYlOWA?feature=shared


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[Elpeterol]

That should not be happening on a car of this value. Luckily mine (same year but base model) has conventional suspension. There must be some specific issue with your car otherwise there would be many more complaints especially considering your relatively low mileage?

[ToysOnWheels]

I feel for your situation and the frustration you're going through with your car and the previous dealer.

Mine had the same issue (MY2020, one faulty dumper followed by leaky DRC valves) last year, had it fixed under warranty.
The car's been fine since, but when the issue comes back after my warranty expires, I'd probably cancel the DRC module and replace the OE dampers with something like KW rather than dealing with all the hassle and praying the issue would never come back again.

[spidmack]

I feel for your situation and the frustration you're going through with your car and the previous dealer.

Mine had the same issue (MY2020, one faulty dumper followed by leaky DRC valves) last year, had it fixed under warranty.
The car's been fine since, but when the issue comes back after my warranty expires, I'd probably cancel the DRC module and replace the OE dampers with something like KW rather than dealing with all the hassle and praying the issue would never come back again.

Hi ToysOnWheels, I have considered & mentioned the possibility of replacing them also. I wonder if it wasn’t going to devalue the car. I’d certainly consider it.
I’ve looked at these online. I’ve no idea what the fitting would cost also

https://www.kwsuspensions.co.uk/shop/_/ ... s/352100CW


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[Senoj]

I have a similar noise, Dec ‘21 car , was doing it within a few days of picking it up at 15k miles, was probably already doing it but I’d not noticed in the new car glow..not as loud as that but very similar in its style, mine seems to be from the passenger side rear. been to the dealer once and they wanted more time so going back in a few weeks to leave it with them. Will show them this and your video, thanks.

Although it’s only apparent at low speed It’s extremely annoying.

[Jools]

If you can hear your DRC system making a noise over the exhaust note, your not driving fast enough!

[MartinRS2K]

I feel for your situation and the frustration you're going through with your car and the previous dealer.

Mine had the same issue (MY2020, one faulty dumper followed by leaky DRC valves) last year, had it fixed under warranty.
The car's been fine since, but when the issue comes back after my warranty expires, I'd probably cancel the DRC module and replace the OE dampers with something like KW rather than dealing with all the hassle and praying the issue would never come back again.

Hi ToysOnWheels, I have considered & mentioned the possibility of replacing them also. I wonder if it wasn’t going to devalue the car. I’d certainly consider it.
I’ve looked at these online. I’ve no idea what the fitting would cost also

https://www.kwsuspensions.co.uk/shop/_/ ... s/352100CW


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Did you get your issue sorted by your Audi Dealer? This seems to be an ongoing problem with the B9 Vorsprung suspension!

[Brooner]

i had this on mine 2018 DRC only in comfort mode but not so loud in dynamic mode and only at low speeds i had a shock replaced last year and they reproesurized the system and this seemed to cured the rattle

[thedonman]

I've heard good things about those KW suspensions. Might be worth looking into more.

[DW001]

Hi folks, yet again my RS4 DRC accumulators have failed & become noisy overtime.
Ive owned this car from new, it’s an Oct 2020 Vorsprung B9.5 RS4 with just over 21k miles.
There’s quite a history. My local dealer after replacing the shocks & then multiple times then the accumulators 3 times (at times it came back worse) effectively gave up. The manager to quote said this in 2023.

Thanks for your thread and video! I too appear to have this issue and is at the garage now being checked over. Stripped the parcel shelf, toolkit and boot floor out and it sounds like yours. Hopefully it's a quick fix!

Posting so others can see the thread in the future;

Noise from DRC Audi RS4 2020 car on 12,600 mileage.
Dynamic Ride Control failed actuator or shock?

video here - https://youtube.com/shorts/yXSHqkvqHDc?feature=share

Will update once sorted,

[ToysOnWheels]

Noise from DRC Audi RS4 2020 car on 12,600 mileage.
Dynamic Ride Control failed actuator or shock?

Yes, that’s the kind of noise I heard from mine too.

From what my dealership who fixed my 2021 B9.5 told me, fixing DRC accumulators requires a dediated hydraulic device, which is only rent out to them on request from the main VAG importer in my country. This makes it practically impossible for third party garages to replace DRC accumulators.