Technical Service Bulletin
42 Light cracking or rubbing noises from suspension strut when steering
42 13 18 2021771/3 June 10, 2013. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 40 number 10-10 dated
September 10, 2010 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

A3

2006 - 2011

All

Not Applicable

TT

2008 - 2011

All

Not Applicable

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

3

-

Revised Warranty (Updated labor operations)

2

9/10/2010

Revised header data (Added MYs)
Revised Condition

1

4/23/2010

Original publication

Light cracking or rubbing noises when steering.
• The noise emanates from the front suspension strut mounting.
• The complaint occurs most often when the vehicle is maneuvered at slow speeds (e.g., parking) or when the
steering wheel is turned while the vehicle is not moving.
• The noise is not caused by extreme load on only one suspension strut (e.g., slowly driving uphill while turning
the steering wheel).

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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
There are six possible causes for this condition, listed below (A - F).
A) The shock absorber buffer can chafe the cap of the suspension strut tube when steering. This is the most
frequent cause.
B) The boot is incorrectly fastened, or it is deformed.
C) The coil spring is not correctly positioned on the stop of
the spring retainer.

Figure 1. An incorrectly positioned coil spring.
D) There is a burr on the lower end of the coil spring, which
can cause noises in the lower spring retainer (Figure 2).

Figure 2. A burr on the end of the coil spring.

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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.

Technical Service Bulletin
E) The dimensions of the lower spring eye are incorrect. As
a result, the spring does not rest correctly on the spring
retainer and causes abrasion (Figure 3).
This cause is only applicable to MY 2008 Audi TT
vehicles with S-line suspension (PR - 1BV), with chassis
numbers up to TRU***8J81027428.

Figure 3. Abrasion on the spring retainer.
F) Unfavorable tolerances increase forces on the axial
grooved ball bearing (Figure 4, 5). An indication for this
cause is that the suspension strut bearing (Figure 4, 6)
cannot be turned against the suspension strut assembly.
This check must be performed with the strut assembly
removed.

Figure 4. Front strut assembly overview.

Production Solution
Not applicable.

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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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Service
1. Locate the strut assembly that is producing the noise:
• Remove the coupling rod (Figure 5, 2) for the
stabilizing bar (Figure 5, 36) on one side.
• Attempt to reproduce the noise.

Figure 5. Front suspension component overview
Tip: This TSB does not apply to noises coming from front suspension while maneuvering (steering) at
slow speeds in reverse uphill. This causes extreme loads on only one strut assembly thus this noise is
considered normal.
2. Determine which cause from A - F (listed in Technical Background) is the cause of the noise by performing the
steps below. Check to see if the noise is gone after performing each step. Do not proceed with the other steps
if the noise issue is resolved.
To determine if the noise is from cause A:
• Lubricate the bump stop by following the procedure in TSB 2021724, Loud cracking or rubbing noises
when steering (cars without Audi magnetic ride suspension).
To determine if the noise is from cause B:
• Correctly install the boot on the upper mountings and on the lower damper by following the procedure in

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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.

Technical Service Bulletin
TSB 2021724, Loud cracking or rubbing noises when steering (cars without Audi magnetic ride
suspension).
To determine if the noise is from cause C:
• Turn the spring so that the end of the spring rests against the stop:
• First, remove the affected strut assembly from the vehicle: Chassis >> Suspension, Wheels, Steering
>> 40 Front Suspension >> Removal and Installation >> Suspension Strut.
• Next, compress the spring and rotate it to the correct position. It is not necessary to remove the spring
for this procedure: Chassis >> Suspension, Wheels, Steering >> 40 Front Suspension >> Disassembly
and Assembly >> Suspension Strut.
To determine if the noise is from cause D:
• Remove the burr(s) at the end of the spring(s):
• First, remove the affected strut assembly from the vehicle: Chassis >> Suspension, Wheels, Steering
>> 40 Front Suspension >> Removal and Installation >> Suspension Strut.
• Disassemble the strut assembly, remove the burr at the end of the spring, and paint any exposed metal
on the spring and spring plate: Chassis >> Suspension, Wheels, Steering >> 40 Front Suspension >>
Disassembly and Assembly >> Suspension Strut.
To determine if the noise is from cause E:
• Cause E is only applicable to MY 2008 Audi TT vehicles with S-line suspension (PR - 1BV), with chassis
numbers up to TRU***8J81027428:
• Replace the coil springs on both sides.
To determine if the noise is from cause F:
• If repairs for causes A - E did not eliminate the noise, replace
the spring (Figure 6, 4), the axial grooved ball bearing (Figure 6,
5), and the suspension strut bearing (Figure 6, 6) on the
affected strut assembly.

Tip: For MY 2008 Audi TT vehicles with S-line suspension
(PR - 1BV), with chassis numbers up to TRU***8J81027428, do
not replace the spring, as instructed above. Only replace the
axial grooved ball bearing and the suspension strut bearing.
• Remove the burr at the end of the spring and paint any exposed
metal on the spring and spring plate.

Figure 6. Front strut assembly overview.

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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.

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:

4086

Damage Code:

0020

Labor Operations:

Causes C, D, and F: A3 only
Remove and install 1
suspension strut

4085 1900

130 TU

Remove and install 1 coil
spring

4075 1950

30 TU

Remove and install 2
suspension struts

4085 2000

190 TU

Remove and install 2 coil
springs

4075 2000

50 TU

or

Causes C, D, and F: TT only
Remove and install 1
suspension strut

4085 1900

130 TU

Remove and install 1 coil
spring

4075 1950

30 TU

Remove and install 2
suspension struts

4085 2000

220 TU

Remove and install 2 coil
springs

4075 2050

50 TU

or

Cause E: MY 2008 Audi TT vehicles with S-line suspension (PR - 1BV), with
chassis numbers up to TRU***8J81027428 only

© 2013 Audi of America, Inc.

Remove and install 2
suspension struts

4085 2000

220 TU

Remove and install 2 coil
springs

4075 2050

50 TU

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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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Diagnostic Time:

GFF

No allowance

0 TU

Road test prior to service
procedure

0121 0002

10 TU

Road test after service
procedure

0121 0004

10 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 #2021771/3

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.

Additional Information
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.
©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.

© 2013 Audi of America, Inc.

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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.