Technical Service Bulletin
44 Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation
44 13 36 2022563/6 February 18, 2013. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 44 number 13-35 dated
January 18, 2013 for reasons listed below.

Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

All

2008 - 2014

All

All

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

6

-

Revised title (corrected ElsaWeb error)

5

1/18/2013

Revised header data (Added model years)
Revised Service (Revised repair procedure)

4

4/15/2011

Revised Warranty

3

4/7/2011

Revised header data

2

1/24/2011

Revised Warranty (Service Number, Labor Operation)

1

1/27/2010

Original publication

Customer feels vibration from 55 – 80 mph (88 – 128 km/h) in the seat, vehicle floor, footwell, pedals, or steering
wheel. This condition does not result in any handling concerns or loss of vehicle control.
Complaints may occur in one or both of the following circumstances:
 When driving at highway speeds from 55 – 80 mph (88 – 128 km/h).
 When applying low brake pedal pressure with minor slow down.

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© 2013 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
Technical Background
Explanations and definitions:

Radial force variation (RFV)
The radial force or wheel load is the force
with which a tire is compressed (Figure 1,
1).
Tires have softer and stiffer areas along
their circumference, which is illustrated
using springs (Figure 1, A and B).
Figure 1 shows the same tire at different
points of rotation (A and B), as it rolls on
level road with constant load (radial force).

Figure 1. Wheel position (A), wheel position (B), wheel load
(1), compressed amount (2), and rise and fall difference (x).

If this wheel rolls, with constant wheel load / radial force (Figure 1, arrow) the center of the wheel rises
and falls on level road because of the different spring hardness of the tire by the amount x. The change by
the amount x can be felt in the vehicle as vibration or shaking of the steering wheel. The change of the
compression force of the tire is the RFV.
To measure RFV a constant force is applied to a rotating tire using a VAS 6230 / Hunter GSP9700 Road
Force Measurement® System. This simulates the force on the tire from the road surface. The fluctuation
of the radial force is independent of the turning direction and is measured as the difference of maximum
and minimal radial force (peak to peak value).
On Audi vehicles the peak to peak value must be 27lbs (120N) or less.

First Harmonic
The wheel force fluctuations during the turn of the wheel can be mathematically divided into individual
harmonic vibrations. For an objective assessment of the tire stiffness the first harmonic (the basic
vibration) is used. The first harmonic is the share of the radial force fluctuation which causes the strongest
vibrations.
On Audi vehicles the first harmonic must be 18 lbs. (80N) or less.

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© 2013 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
Production Solution
Not applicable.

Service
A structured procedure is critical.
For all repairs, follow the procedure described below. In the case of a repeat repair with original
equipment tires with AO marking on the sidewall, complete these steps in addition to the procedure
described below:
1. Open an Audi Technical Assistance Center ticket.
2. Ensure that the road force values are printed with the before and after values for each wheel and
attached to the repair order.
3. Complete the Vibration Questionnaire.doc and attach to the TACS ticket.

Procedure

1.

Eliminate flat spots
Flat spots are created after the warm tire has cooled down after a stationary period of only a few
hours. Flat spots will vary based on the type, size, and make of the tire. Flat spots falsify the radial
force fluctuation and must be driven out before checking balance or road force. A test drive of at
least 12 miles (20 km) at various speed ranges (up to 62 mph / 100 km/h) is necessary.
Raise the vehicle on a lift/hoist immediately after the test drive then check balance and road force
immediately since flat spots may reappear as the tires cool down.
See information on flat spots in the Repair Manual under Suspension, Wheels, Steering >> Wheel
and Tire Guide >> 44 Wheels, Tires, Wheel Alignment >> Diagnosis and Testing >> Wheel and
Tire Vibration >> Tire Flat Spots from Standing.
Tip: Flat spots are not a sign of a defect and therefore are not a warrantable condition.

2.

Measure and reduce the radial force variation
Before starting work, ensure that flat spots have been eliminated.
Effects of increased radial forces on the vehicle:

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© 2013 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
Condition/Symptom

Possible cause

Vibration in the steering wheel at
constant speed

Increased radial forces on the front tires

Vibration in the steering wheel when
braking

Increased or critical radial forces on the front tires
which are amplified when braking

Vibration in the complete vehicle

Increased or critical radial forces on the rear tires,
possible also on front tires

Mounting wheels on the balancer
When tightening the wheel on the
balancing machine, make sure the
contact surfaces of flange and wheel
are clean.
It is mandatory to use the appropriate
cantering cone and a five-finger style
clamping plate (Figure 2, A) (VAS
6243 or similar) when mounting wheel
on the balancer.
Five-finger style clamp centers the
wheel on the balancer the same way
the wheel is centered on the vehicle.
It also prevents damaging the wheel
by not contacting the face of the wheel
(Figure 2, B).

Figure 2. Five-finger style clamping plate (A), wheel
properly mounted with a five-finger style clamp (B), and
wheel mounted using a wrong clamping tool/method (C).
Tip: Do not use “Quick Match” mode; this mode does not measure road force. Also turn off
“Smart Weight” balance feature, which can cause inaccurate readings.
Tip: Use adequate lubrication to ensure that tires are properly seated when they are installed
on the wheel or are moved on a wheel to change mounting position. Be aware that excessive
lubricant can cause a tire to slip on the wheel, which will have an impact on the balance and road
force values.

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© 2013 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
Optimizing the radial forces using the VAS 6230 / Hunter GSP9700 Road Force
Measurement® System
1. Set the tire pressure of every wheel to 36 PSI (2.5 bar).
2. Measure, balance, and, if necessary, match the wheel according to the instructions of
the machine. Use 18lbs (80N) or less for the first harmonic vibration as the maximum.
Tip: The tire that is the source of vibration should be replaced if the first harmonic of
the radial force cannot be reduced to 18lbs (80N) or below. This only applies to tires
originally installed at the factory.

3. Reinstalling the wheel and tire assemblies
1. Install the wheels according to VAS 6230 instructions for lowest vibration. The wheel/tire
assembly with the lowest road force values should be installed closest to the driver.
 Lowest road force value – left front
 Second lowest road force value – right front
 Third lowest road force value – left rear
 Highest road force value – right rear
2. Reinstall the wheels according to the instructions in Repair Manual >> Running gear >> 44
wheels, tires, wheel alignment >> Installation of wheels/ tires/ tire pressure warning >>
Instructions on wheel change/installation.
3. Adjust tire pressures according to the pressures listed in the owner’s manual.
4. Drive the vehicle in the speed range where complaints occurred to verify repairs.
Tip: If vibrations persist, open an Audi Technical Assistance Center ticket and include
completed questionnaires.

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© 2013 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
Warranty
Claim Type:

Use applicable claim type. If vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical
Service Bulletin is informational only.

Service Number:

4412

Damage Code:

0013

Labor Operations:

Balance and road force balance all 4 wheels. A copy 4412 9999 190 TU
of the before-and-after road force and balance
values must be attached to the Repair Order.
Includes additional time for extended road test prior
to service procedure.

Diagnostic Time:

2 wheels, remove and reinstall

4405 2000 20 TU (per
axle)

GFF

No
allowance

Road test prior to service procedure

0121 0002 10 TU

Road test after service procedure

0121 0004 10 TU

0 TU

Technical diagnosis at dealer’s discretion
(Refer to Section 2.2.1.2 and Audi Warranty Online for DADP allowance
details)
Claim Comment:

As per TSB #2022563/6

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.
Audi Tire Warranty Assistance Program (ATAP)
The Audi Tire Assistance Program is not an Audi of America, Inc. factory warranty. Audi of America, Inc. does not
warranty tires originally installed or sold as replacement for use on Audi vehicles. Individual tire manufacturers
provide all the underlying tire warranties.
Please refer to Audi Tire Center website for warranty coverage and claim submission details.
Dealer Tire 1-866-487-2834
Audi warranty 1-866-677-AUDI

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© 2013 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
Required Parts and Tools
Tools
 Use VAS 6230 / Hunter GSP9700 Road Force Measurement® System to check balance, Road Force values,
and to make necessary adjustments.
 Use centering hub in conjunction with VAS 6243 model-specific clamping plate (5 finger clamping device) or
similar device to ensure proper mounting of wheel and to prevent damage to wheels.
 Vetronix MTS 4100 NVH Analyzer is helpful when diagnosing vibration concerns and can help narrow down
the list of possible sources of the vibration.

Additional Information
More information can be found in the following resources:
 ElsaWeb: Wheel and Tire Guide >> Diagnosis and Testing
 SSP: Noise, Vibration, and Harshness 961403
The following repair procedure(s) will be necessary to complete this procedure:
 Chassis >> Wheel and Tire Guide >> Diagnosis and Testing
All parts and service references provided in this TSB are subject to change and/or removal. Always check with
your Parts Department and service manuals for the latest information.

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© 2013 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.

Vibration Questionnaire
A test drive with the customer is necessary

VAS 6230

Hunter GSP9700 Road Force Measurement® System

Vibration Questionnaire
A test drive with the customer is necessary






*multiple selection possible

Vibration Questionnaire
A test drive with the customer is necessary

7.4 Service Mode Setup and Features
By pressing K2 and K3 during boot up or reset twice, the GSP9700 will enter its
“Service Mode” enabling the selection of:

Setting Up the Runout & Road Force¥ Limits
Selects the amount of road force and runout needed to exceed limits.

Setting the “P” Limits
The control knob changes the “P” (passenger) tire limits. Push the control knob in to
select the measurement limit you desire to change. For more restrictive passenger
tire limits, rotate the control knob counterclockwise. For less restrictive passenger tire
limits, rotate the control knob clockwise. The light truck and sport utility vehicle limits
are based on the limits set for the passenger tires. As the passenger tire limits
change, the corresponding “LT” and “P/SUV” limits will also change.

Setting the “LT” Limits
The control knob controls the “LT” (light truck) tire multiplier. The multiplier is a figure
that is multiplied to the passenger tire limit to obtain the “LT” tire limits. For more
restrictive “LT” tire limits, rotate the control knob counter-clockwise. For less
restrictive “LT” tire limits, rotate the control knob clockwise. As the multiplier changes,
all of the “LT” limits will change corresponding to the current multiplier.
NOTE:

Selecting 1.0 for the multiplier for “LT” or “P/SUV” will disable
the “LT” and/or “P/SUV” selection on the balance screens.

Setting the “P/SUV” Limits
The control knob controls the “P/SUV” (P-Rated tire on a Sport Utility Vehicle) tire
multiplier. The multiplier is a figure that is multiplied to the passenger tire limit to
obtain the “P/SUV” tire limits. For more restrictive “P/SUV” tire limits, rotate the
control knob counter-clockwise. For less restrictive “P/SUV” tire limits, rotate the
control knob clockwise. As the multiplier changes, all of the “P/SUV” limits will change
corresponding to the current multiplier.

Setting the Limits to “Factory Default”
Selecting “Set Factory Defaults” from the second menu tier will return all of the limits
to the factory default limits. “P/SUV” defaults to the disabled status as shown above.

104 x 7. Equipment Information

GSP9700 Series Vibration Control System Operation Instructions

Programmed Road Force¥ Limits
The GSP9700 road force measurement default limit for P-metric tires is 26 lbs. and
for LT tires is 39 lbs. These default limits should be considered only as specified
guidelines. They are based on recommendations from many OE vehicle and tire
manufacturers and are a conservative average. Limits are used with the GSP9700 as
a point of reference so that diagnostic messages guide the operator in decision
making processes.
Do not use these limits as the only basis for a tire or wheel replacement. It is up to
the manufacturer of the tire or wheel to determine what is defective and what is
acceptable if warranty returns become a concern.

Road force limit settings can be programmed into the GSP9700 for passenger tires
(P tires), passenger/SUV tires (P/SUV tires), and light truck tires (LT tires).
Every vehicle platform has a different sensitivity level and tolerance to RFV and
imbalance. Known sensitive vehicles may require lower limits to resolve ride
disturbance issues. For example, in some cases, an extremely sensitive vehicle
may be affected when the tire/wheel assembly is above 15 lbs. RFM. A setting of 26
lbs. for P Tires and P/SUV Tires is often used as a “middle of the road” limit and does
a reasonable job of identifying tires or wheels that may cause a problem. Limits in the
Light Truck column are set higher to address the decreased vehicle sensitivity.
Hunter Engineering suggests that advanced users consider setting the default specs
to a lower value for “P” setting and use the limit title “P” for sensitive applications.
P/SUV limit values may be set to the original 26 lbs. This will give the operator three
selections to choose from, P, P/SUV and LT.
The lowest programmable radial 1st harmonic setting is 7 lbs, and the highest
programmable radial 1st harmonic setting is 40 lbs.
P, P/SUV, and LT may be selected by using the control knob on the GSP9700.

Setting Up the Ounce Blind Amount
Selects the amount below which ounce weights show as zero. Ounce Blind Amount
options include 0.58 ounces, 0.29 ounces, and 0.15 ounces.

Setting Up the Ounce Round Amount
Selects the amount to which ounce weights are rounded. Ounce Round Amount
options include 0.01 ounces, 0.05 ounces, and 0.25 ounces.

GSP9700 Series Vibration Control System Operation Instructions

7. Equipment Information x 105