Technical Service Bulletin
40 Creaking/squeaking noises from the front end on uneven roads
40 23 50 2043424/14 February 21, 2023. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 40 number 22-48 dated
October 12, 2022, for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

A3 Cabriolet

2015 - 2019

A3, and S3

2015 – 2023

RS 3

2017 - 2023

Q3

2019 – 2023

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

All

Not Applicable

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

14

-

Revised Warranty (Updated Labor Operations)

13

10/12/2022

Revised header (Added Models and Model Years)
Revised Warranty (Added Labor Operations)

12

09/16/2021

Revised Warranty (Corrected 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.

Technical Background
Note:
Try to duplicate this condition exactly. If you cannot, do not perform this TSB.

Page 1 of 6
© 2023 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 Service Bulletin
Overview of the lower control arm and bushing (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Lower control arm and bushing.

Page 2 of 6
© 2023 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 Service Bulletin
The rear bonded rubber bushings of the front lower control
arms have kidney-shaped slits (Figure 2). When the vehicle
is driven on uneven roads, areas A and B (Figure 2) may
come in contact, creating a creaking/squeaking noise.

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

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.

Page 3 of 6
© 2023 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 Service Bulletin
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
paintbrush 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

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

Lowering subframe
4007 1999
(Only engine code
CNSB with transmission
QYZ)

100 TU

Page 4 of 6
© 2023 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 Service Bulletin
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 4017 2001
remove + reinstall (A3)

See SRT with
associated operations

Both lower control arms 4017 2000
remove + reinstall (Q3)

See SRT with
associated operations

Grease the bonded
rubber bushings

10 TU

A3 Sedan/Q3

4017 4199

A3 Cabriolet:
Both lower control arms 4017 2000
remove + reinstall

See SRT with
associated operations

Grease the bonded
rubber bushings

10 TU

4020 4199

A3 e-tron, A3 e-tron sportback:

Diagnostic Time:

Claim Comment:

Both lower control arms 4017 2002
remove + reinstall

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 2043424/14

Page 5 of 6
© 2023 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 Service Bulletin
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.
©2023 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.

Page 6 of 6
© 2023 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.