Baloo588

I hear this when I first drive the car out in the morning down the driveway but it goes away after the car is warmed up and driven for the day. The temperatures are 65 degrees at night and get up to 90 degrees during the day. I hear the noise from the right front suspension area on the 2006 A8L with 120k miles.

What do you think is the problem?

Mister Bally

Start the car and lower the (or put in dynamic mode) suspension. Then drive away cold. Any difference? if not as bad, probably the air spring assembly (a$$embly) may be going bad. If the same, amybe just something loose.

Now, a bad wheel bearing can cause clunks but usually grinding noises. A8's sometimes cause "clicks" when maneuvering in parking spots etc. Mine have clicked for four years but I could care less as only I notice and there has been no change.

Baloo588

I ran the suspension from auto to dynamic to lift several times and back to the auto setting. The noise is gone. I recently had my car in the dealer for change of headlights and fix of a washer fluid pipe leak, so it must of happened when the car was on the lift. The car is normal now. Thanks Mister bally!

verukacat

I beleive there is a TSB for lower control arm bushings that produce that "squeak" sound when cold. I had this same problem, and the dealer replaced the bushings which fixed it.

transporter2004

control arm bushings. mine does it once a week.

daf999999

Does anybody have a copy of the TSB (or the #) for the lower control arm bushings?
Thx

mishar

Squeaking and grinding sounds in my case came from upper arms. I’ve changed bushings and its gone. They were totally busted. All four of them. In my humble (OK may be not so humble) opinion it is German engineering at it’s low. Those blocks has lots of deformation in two directions. When turning left and right upper arms are moving horizontally (four arms system), then of course up and down regular suspension travel plus 5” from Dynamic to Lift position. If we add 1” lowering adaption… All that moving just deforming little rubber in those bushings. No wonder it can’t last too long.

By the way, if anybody decide to change upper arms or just bushings it is necessary to lower car to supports under outer end of lower arms before tightening bushing bolts. If not you will add another few inches of deformation to those bushings right from the beginning.