40 Creaking/squeaking noises from the front end on uneven roads
40 21 28 2043424/12 September 16, 2021. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 40 number 20-21 dated
December 7, 2020 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

A3
sportback

2016 - 2018

All

Not Applicable

A3 e-tron

2015 - 2018

All

Not Applicable

A3, A3
Cabriolet,
S3

2015 - 2021

All

Not Applicable

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

12

-

Revised Warranty (Corrected Labor Operations)

11

12/07/2020

Revised Warranty (Corrected Labor Operations)

10

11/24/2020

Revised header (Added Model Years)
Revised Warranty (Updated Labor Operations)

Customer states:
 Creaking/squeaking noises are heard from the left front or right front area of the vehicle when it is driven on
uneven roads.

Page 1 of 6
© 2021 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.

Technical Background
Note:
Try to duplicate this condition exactly. If you cannot, do not perform this TSB.
Overview of the lower control arm and bushing (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Lower control arm and bushing.
The rear bonded rubber bushings of the front lower control
arms have a kidney-shaped slits (Figure 2). When the
vehicle is driven on uneven roads, areas A and B (Figure 2)
may come in contact, creating the creaking/squeaking
noise.

Figure 2. Kidney-shaped slits (yellow arrows) of
the rear bonded rubber bushings.

Page 2 of 6
© 2021 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.

Production Solution
Not applicable.

Service
1. Remove both front lower control arms. Follow instructions in Elsa at Repair Manual, Chassis >> Suspension,
Wheels, Steering >> Front Suspension >> Lower Control Arm and Ball Joint >> Lower Control Arm,
Removing and Installing.
2. Evenly grease the kidney-shaped slits of the
bonded rubber bushing (Figure 3, the area
shown red) from above with 0.1g of lithium
grease (part number G 052 150 A2). Use a paint
brush to apply the grease.
Note:
The lithium grease must only be applied to the
areas shown in red (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Lithium grease is applied on the red highlighted
area only.
3. Reinstall all components according to Elsa.

Warranty
Claim Type:

 110 up to 48 Months/50,000 Miles.
 G10 for CPO Covered Vehicles – Verify Owner.
 If vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin is informational only.

Service Number:

4020

Damage Code:

0020

Page 3 of 6
© 2021 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.

Labor Operations:

All Models:
Front wheel track adjusted

4488 1550

See SRT with
associated
operations

Front wheel camber adjusted

4489 1550

See SRT with
associated
operations

Noise dampening pan removed + reinstalled
(Except A3 Cabriolet)

1082 1900

See SRT with
associated
operations

Lowering subframe (Only engine code CNSB with 4007 9999
transmission QYZ)

100 TU

Rear wheel track adjusted

4493 1550

See SRT with
associated
operations

Rear wheel camber adjusted

4494 1550

See SRT with
associated
operations

Vehicle front + rear measured

4495 0350

See SRT with
associated
operations

Both lower control arms remove + reinstall

4017 2001

See SRT with
associated
operations

Grease the bonded rubber bushings

4017 4199

10 TU

Both lower control arms remove + reinstall

4017 2000

See SRT with
associated
operations

Grease the bonded rubber bushings

4020 4199

10 TU

A3 Sedan:

A3 Cabriolet:

A3 e-tron, A3 e-tron sportback:

Page 4 of 6
© 2021 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.

Diagnostic Time:

Claim Comment:

Both lower control arms remove + reinstall

4017 2002

See SRT with
associated
operations

Disable HV system voltage

9310 0050

See SRT with
associated
operations

Grease the bonded rubber bushings

4020 4199

10 TU

GFF (if applicable)

0150 0000

Time as stated
on diagnostic
protocol (Max
50 TU)

Road test prior to service procedure

0121 0002

10 TU

Road test after service procedure

0121 0004

10 TU

As per TSB #2043424/12

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

G 052150A2

Lithium grease

0.1

See ETKA

One-time use hardware according to Elsa

As needed

See ETKA

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

See ETKA/ELSA

Additional Information
More information on this system can be found in the following resources:
 Elsa: Chassis >> Suspension, Wheels, Steering >> Front Suspension >> Lower Control Arm and Ball Joint >>
Lower Control Arm, Removing and Installing.
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2043424) are subject to change and/or removal.

Page 5 of 6
© 2021 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.

©2021 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.

Page 6 of 6
© 2021 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.