50 Creaking noises heard when body twists during braking or steering maneuvers - A6 and A7
50 20 04 2061716/1 December 17, 2020.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

A6, A7, S6,
and S7

2014 - 2018

All

Not Applicable

RS 7

2016 - 2018

All

Not Applicable

Condition
Customer states:
 A creaking type noise is heard in the floor area.
 The noise can be generated during strong braking or steering maneuvers where the vehicle body is twisted.
Workshop findings:
 Diagnosis locates the source of the noise from the floor area specifically radiating from the footwell to the area
under the seat.

Technical Background
During a cornering or hard braking maneuver the longitudinal members can make contact with their internal
support plates.

Production Solution
None. The production period for the models covered in this TSB has ended.

Service
Note:
While the following procedure can be performed in a standard workshop setting it may be preferable to complete
this operation at an authorized Audi Collision Center as it requires specific training, equipment and materials that
would be more accessible in such a facility.
1.

Duplicate the noise on a test drive preferably with the customer so that the conditions under which this
symptom presents are clearly identified.

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America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

If this noise is duplicated on the test drive confirmation that the source of the noise is from the longitudinal
member and that the repair described in this TSB will be effective can be achieved as follows.
2.

Begin your diagnosis by loosening the
front most bolt on the subframe
mounting as indicated in Figure 1. The
bolt only needs to be loosened several
turns but not removed.

Figure 1. Front most bolt on subframe to be loosened.
Note:
As specified in the repair manual, it is necessary to replace all loosened subframe bolts at the conclusion of the
entire repair.
3.

In many cases an audible ‘cracking’
noise can be heard in the course of
loosening and tightening the subframe
bolt (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Loosening the front most subframe bolt

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© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

4.

Test drive the vehicle. If no change or elimination of the noise is achieved during this diagnostic step, the
repair in this TSB will not be effective and diagnosis must continue outside the scope of this repair
procedure. If the noise characteristics do, in fact, change or if the noise is eliminated proceed as follows.

5.

Duplication of this noise is difficult when
the vehicle is cold. If you suspect that
the cold is preventing duplication of this
symptom warm up the longitudinal
member/body in the area of the rear
transverse link bolted connection with a
hot air blower set for an outlet temp of
approximately 550 °C (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Warming the area of the body near the rear transverse
link.
6.

Warm the surface to approximately 65
°C (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Surface temperature warmed to 65° C.

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© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

7.

Allow the surface temperature to cool to
approximately 30 °C then test drive the
vehicle again (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Surface temperature cooled to approximately 30° C.
8.

Merely lowering the vehicle from the hoist can immediately elicit the noise symptom after this warming
process.
Remove the subframe. Thread in a bolt
partially and lock it with a nut as shown
in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Bolt and nut installation.

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All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

9.

Fit a pipe with an inside diameter larger
than the bolt and move it side to side
(Figure 7). It should be possible to
reproduce the noise using this method.

Figure 7. Attempt to move not plate to elicit noise.
10. Scribe a diagonal line through the
center of each threaded hole. Drill a
hole with a diameter of 10 mm into the
longitudinal member 47 mm from the
center of the outer threaded hole
(Figure 8).

Figure 8. Measuring for the hole’s location.

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© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

11. Figure 9 shows the dimensions over a
drawing.

Figure 9. Dimensions on drawing.
12. Figure 10 shows the dimensions over a
cut away drawing exposing the
threaded plate that will be modified.

Figure 10. Cut-away view.

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© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

13. Figure 11 shows the 10mm hole drilled.

Figure 11. Access hole drilled in correct location.

14. The arrow in Figure 12 shows a lip that
will need to be bent with a punch in
order to achieve a gap between this lip
and the nut plate.

Figure 12. Cut-away drawing showing longitudinal member
structure.

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© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

15. Guide a punch with a diameter less
than 10mm through the drilled hole until
it rests against the nut plate. Strike the
punch moving the nut plate enough to
create a gap between the nut plate and
the lip in the longitudinal member
(Figure 13).

Figure 13. Striking the punch on the nut plate.
16. Figure 14 shows the correct positioning
of the punch.

Figure 14. Correct punch positioning.

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© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

17. Through the drilled hole visually confirm
that a gap has now been created
between the lip in the longitudinal
member and the nut plate (Figure 15).

Figure 15. Gap will be visually apparent through the access hole.
18. Again, fit a pipe over the bolt and
repeat the previous diagnostic step to
ensure that the noise can no longer be
reproduced (Figure 16).

Figure 16. Confirm repair efficacy.

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© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

19. The drilled hole must be welded closed
(Figure 17).

Figure 17. Weld drilled hole closed.
20. All corrosion protection must be
restored to the modified area using 2k
wash primer and filler as necessary.
Conservation wax must be applied to
the inside of the longitudinal member as
well using D 032M16M2 with a VAG
1379, VAG 1538 or alternative generic
sprayer (Figure 18).

Figure 18. Corrosion protection restored.
21. Reinstall the subframe. Replace the removed subframe bolts as specified in the repair manual.
22. Perform a final test drive to confirm elimination of the noise by duplicating the driving conditions specified by
the customer. Ensure that the noise has been eliminated to the customer’s satisfaction by driving with the
customer at the time they take possession of the vehicle after repair.

Page 10 of 13
© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

Warranty
Claim Type:

 110 up to 48 Months/50,000 Miles.
 If the vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin is informational
only.

Service Number:

5079

Damage Code:

0010

Labor Operations:

Subframe remove and reinstall

4007 1950

See SRT with
associated
operations

Modify longitudinal members (includes metal
finishing and restoration of corrosion
protection)

5079 9999

160 TU

Body seal coat cavity

5101 7550

See SRT with
associated
operations

GFF

No allowance

0 TU

Road test prior to the service procedure

0121 0002

10 TU

Road test after the service procedure

0121 0004

10 TU

Diagnostic Time:

Claim Comment:

As per TSB #2061716/1

All warranty claims submitted for payment must be in accordance with the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures
Manual. Claims are subject to review or audit by Audi Warranty.

Required Parts and Tools
Always check with your Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins.
Part Number

Part Description

Quantity

See ETKA

Fasteners, Bolts, Nuts, and Screws as needed per the
Repair Manual

See ETKA/ELSA

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© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

D 321M16M2

0.3

Anti-Corrosion Wax

Tool Number

Tool Description

VAG 1379
(or alternative generic
sprayer)

Spray Gun
VAG 1538
(or alternative generic
sprayer)

Suction Feed Spray Gun

Page 12 of 13
© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2061716) are subject to change and/or removal.
©2020 Audi of America, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained in this document is based on the
latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property
rights of Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes
at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may
these materials be modified or reposted to other sites without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

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© 2020 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.