50 Creaking noises heard when body twists during braking or steering maneuvers
50 21 08 2061672/2 September 22, 2021. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 50 number 20-03 dated
December 16, 2020 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

A6, A7

2019 - 2021

All

Not Applicable

A6 allroad,
S6, S7, and
RS 7

2020 - 2021

All

Not Applicable

RS 6 Avant

2021

All

Not Applicable

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

2

-

Revised Service (Added required diameter of steel rod)
Revised Warranty (Updated SRT)

1

12/16/2020

Initial publication

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
There has been an improvement in the construction of the longitudinal member assembly.

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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.

Service
1.

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

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 (1022 °F) (Figure
3).

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

Warm the surface to approximately 65
°C (149°F) (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Surface temperature warmed to 65° C (149°F).

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© 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.

7.

Allow the surface temperature to cool to
approximately 30 °C (86°F) then test
drive the vehicle again.

Figure 5. Surface temperature cooled to approximately 30° C
(86°F).
8.

Merely lowering the vehicle from the hoist can immediately elicit the noise symptom after this warming
process.

9.

With the symptom confirmed, lower the
center cover plate on the affected side.
Remove the first body plug aft of the
bolted connection for the transverse link
(Figure 6).
Note:
Replace the body plug removed in this
step with 8K0 805 267.

Figure 6. Body plug removed.

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© 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.

10. In order to provide appropriate access
to the affected area inside the
longitudinal member remove sections of
the acoustic foam in the longitudinal
member area with long needle nosed
pliers. It is not necessary to remove all
of the acoustic foam and the small
amount removed for this procedure will
not need to be replaced (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Remove a portion of the acoustic foam.
11. An improvised tool for this modification
will be fabricated. Obtain a steel rod
8mm in diameter and 60 cm long
(Figure 8).

Figure 8. Tool to be fabricated.

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© 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.

12. Grind the tip of one end of the rod into a
chisel shape. The length of the grind
should be 15mm +/-3mm on each side
as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9. Ground the tip of the steel rod.
13. Insert the chisel end of the steel rod
into the body opening, through the
remaining acoustic foam and far
enough to engage the longitudinal
member support (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Insert the steel rod.

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© 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.

14. The drawing in Figure 11 shows a cutaway of the area where the longitudinal
member support and the longitudinal
member housing make contact.

Figure 11. Cut-away drawing of the inside of the longitudinal
member.
15. Figure 12 shows an opened longitudinal
member and support.

Figure 12. Opened longitudinal member and support.

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© 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.

16. Insert the steel rod to the point of
contact indicated by the red arrow
shown in Figure 13.

Figure 13. Point of contact for the steel rod.
17. The yellow line in Figure 14 shows the
position the steel rod will realize after
insertion and engagement with the
longitudinal member support.

Figure 14. Direction of insertion of the steel rod.

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© 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.

18. The chisel end of the steel rod must be
inserted as shown in Figure 15 with the
wedge engaged consistent with the
space formed by the longitudinal
member support to the longitudinal
member housing.

Figure 15. Correct engagement of the chisel end of the steel rod.
19. Figure 16 shows an incorrect
engagement of the chisel end.

Figure 16. Incorrect engagement of the chisel end.

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© 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.

20. Using a hammer drive the steel rod a
distance of 4 – 5 cm. Ensure the correct
distance measure and mark this
distance on the steel rod with tape
(Figure 17). Remove the tool when
finished.

Figure 17. Driving the steel rod into the longitudinal member
support.
21. 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 the repair.

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:

Center cover plate remove and reinstall

5193 1900

See SRT with
associated
operations

Modify longitudinal member

5079 4199

80 TU

Or

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© 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:

Center cover plate remove and reinstall – Both 5193 2000
sides

See SRT with
associated
operations

Modify both longitudinal members

5079 5099

130 TU

GFF

No allowance

0 TU

3 Road tests prior to the service procedure

0121 0099

30 TU

Road test after the service procedure

0121 0004

10 TU

As per TSB #2061672/2

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

8K0805267

Drain tube grommet

02

N 91247202

02

Bolt hex head

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2061672) are subject to change and/or removal.
©2021 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

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© 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.

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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© 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.