Technical Service Bulletin
40 When changing direction a cracking noise can be heard from the vehicle front or rear end
40 25 86 2061464/9 January 9, 2025. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 40 number 24-84 dated
October 8, 2024 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

A3, and S3

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

All

Not Applicable

2018 – 2020
2022 – 2025
2018 – 2020

RS 3

2022 – 2024

A3 Cabriolet

2018 – 2019

A3 Sportback etron

2018

A8, and Q3

2019 – 2025
2019

e-tron

2021 - 2023

S8

2020 – 2025

e-tron Sportback 2020 – 2023
A8 e quattro

2020 – 2021

Q8 e-tron, Q8
Sportback e-tron,
SQ8 e-tron, and 2024 - 2025
SQ8 Sportback
e-tron

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

9

-

Revised header (Updated model year)

8

10/08/2024

Revised header (Added Model, Updated model year)
Revised Warranty (Updated Labor Operations)

7

09/06/2024

Revised header (Added Model, and Updated model year)
Revised Condition (Updated information)

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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
Revised Service (Updated information)
Customer states:
•

When changing direction, a cracking noise can be heard from the vehicle’s front end, or the rear end on
quattro vehicles.

Workshop findings:
•

When driving the vehicle away from a standstill, a cracking noise which occurs once can be heard from the
left/right side of the vehicle’s front or rear end after changing direction.

On quattro vehicles the noise is attributed to the prop shaft in isolated cases.

Technical Background 1
Relative movement of the stub axle of the drive shaft in the wheel bearing.

Production Solution
Gradual introduction of optimized stub axle splines in outer joint.

Service
Follow instructions according to Elsa at Repair Manual, Chassis >> Suspension, Wheels, Steering >> 40 Front
Suspension >> Front Axle >> Drive Axle >> Drive Axle Disassembling, Assembling.
•

Bond the stub axle of the drive shaft into the wheel bearing using locking fluid (part number
D 154100A1); approx. 5 ml is required for each drive shaft for the 2 adhesive beads. This should be
done with two continuous adhesive beads The first adhesive bead must be applied where the splines begin
and the second at the center of the splines (see figure 1, red marks).

•

Reinstall the drive axle according to ELSA instructions.

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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

Figure 1. Apply locking fluid around the threaded connection.

After assembling the drive axle(s), the vehicle must not be operated for 8 hours.

Warranty
Claim Type:

•

Service Number:

4041/4221

Damage Code:

0010

Labor Operations:

Bond in 1 front outer driveshaft

If the vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin is
informational only.

4041 4999

90 TU

4041 5099

120 TU

Includes:
Remove and install 1 wheel
Remove and install noise insulation
Detach and re-attach suspension link
Bond in 2 front outer driveshafts
Includes:
Remove and install 2 wheels
Remove and install noise insulation
Detach and re-attach 2 suspension links
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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
Adjust 2 headlights

9415 16XX See SRT with
associated operations

Calibrate front camera

9638 15XX See SRT with
associated operations

Rear Axle:

Claim Comment:

Remove and install 1 wheel hub with
bearing

4267 19XX See SRT with
associated operations

Bond 1 rear outer drive shaft

4221 4999

Remove and install 2 wheel hubs with
bearings

4267 20XX See SRT with
associated operations

Bond 2 rear outer drive shafts

4221 5099

10 TU

GFF

0150 0060

Time stated on the
diagnostic protocol

Charge battery

2706 8950

See SRT with
associated operations

Road test prior to the service procedure

0121 0002

10 TU

Road test after the service procedure

0121 0004

10 TU

10 TU

As per TSB 2061464/9

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

D 154100A1

Locking fluid

0.2

Additional Information
More information on this system can be found in the following resources:

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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
•

ELSA: Chassis >> Suspension, Wheels, Steering >> 40 Front Suspension >> Front Axle >> Drive Axle >>
Drive Axle Disassembling, Assembling.

All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2061464) are subject to change and/or removal.
©2025 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.

© 2025 Audi of America, Inc.
Internal

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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.