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Wheels/Tires/Drivetrain - Steering Wheel Oscillations
48 Steering wheel vibration and/or oscillation
44 10 04
2016304/6
May 18, 2010
Supersedes Technical DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR Group 44 number 09-04 dated April 21, 2009 for reasons listed below.
Affected Vehicles
Condition
Complaints of steering wheel vibration and/or steering wheel oscillation while driving at highway speeds (typically between 60 - 86 mph).
This condition does not result in any handling concerns or loss of vehicle control.
Technical Background
The above stated conditions may be caused by the following:
^ Imbalanced wheel and tire assembly.
^ Tires with high road force values.
^ Imbalanced or out of phase front driveshaft.
Production Solution
Not applicable.
Service
Before the test drive:
It is critical to address all of the points in section Before the test drive in order to ensure that the conditions observed during the test drive are valid
concerns.
1. Check tire pressures, which must be set according to what is recommended in the owner's manual or according to the table below.
2. Check wheels and tires for any damage.
3. Make sure that Audi-approved wheels and tires are installed. (See table below.)
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4. Always address any concerns with the customer prior to further diagnosis.
5. Warm tires by driving the vehicle for at least 10 miles (16km) at 45 mph (72 km/h) or faster. Tires must be warm in order for the test drive to be
effective since cold tires may produce a vibration due to temporary flat spotting.
During the test drive
Drive the vehicle with customers to verify their concern and establish whether the concern is heard, felt, observed, or a combination.
Repair options based on conditions observed on the test drive
1. If the steering wheel vibrates (it may also oscillate/shimmy), proceed with the following:
a. Drive vehicle for at least 10 miles (16km) at speed of 45 mph (72 km/h) or above to warm up the tires.
b. Immediately after the drive, raise vehicle to prevent temporary flat spotting and check road force and balance of each tire using VAS 6230 or
Hunter 9700 Tire Balancer. The following points must be followed to ensure accuracy:
^ Do not use "Quick Match" mode since this does not measure road force.
^ Ensure that the wheel is centered and properly secured on the shaft of the balancer.
^ 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.
^ Make sure to print out the before and after values for each wheel and save this documentation with the repair order. Failure to provide a copy
of these measurements may result in nonpayment of this claim.
c. Follow all on-screen instructions to improve balance and reduce road force values (e.g. "Force Matching"). It is recommended to reduce road
force to the lowest possible value on all tires with a maximum value of 27 lbs.
If it is not possible to reduce the road force below 27 lbs., replace the affected tire. (See tire replacement warranty information in this bulletin.)
Tip: In case of high roadforce values in the replacement tire, it may be necessary to repeat steps A through C.
d. Install wheels/tires with the lowest road force values closest to the driver. Keep in mind that directional tires may not allow every tire to be
installed in its ideal position on the vehicle.
^ lowest road force value - left front
^ 2nd lowest road force value - right front
^ 3rd lowest road force value - left rear
^ 4th lowest road force value - right rear
e. Test drive vehicle and verify repair.
2. If there is a droning/humming noise present, which may be accompanied by a vibration felt in the floor and/or in the steering wheel, proceed with
the following. If this condition exists, it is more likely to occur at speeds of 80 86 mph (130 -140 km/h).
a. Mark the current position of the front driveshaft in relation to the front final drive and the transfer case with a marker or a grease pen.
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b. Disconnect front driveshaft at the transfer case and at the front final drive.
Tip: Since all 12 driveshaft bolts must be replaced each time they are removed, it is recommended that the new bolts are installed after all of the
diagnosis is carried out and it is determined that the driveshaft no longer needs to be removed for this repair.
c. Inspect the transfer case output flange for oil leaks or any excessive free-play. If leaks exist, perform necessary repairs as outlined in the Repair
Manual or in any open TSBs.
d. Rotate the driveshaft 180 degrees (Figure 1) and reattach.
e. Test drive vehicle.
f. If droning noise is reduced or changed, then it is possible to make further adjustments by following procedure in ElsaWeb (Transmission >>
Rear Final Drive>> 39 Final Drive, Differential >> Front driveshaft, servicing >> Front driveshaft, removing and installing).
g. If droning does not change, then the front driveshaft can be replaced. However, it is only recommended to do so if all the above steps were
carried out completely and the front driveshaft part number is 7L0 521 101 C.
3. If the above steps do not eliminate the steering wheel oscillation, please create a Technical assistance Center (TAC) ticket. In order to receive
proper assistance, it is important to provide the following in the ticket:
^ Exact speed range at which the vibration or steering wheel oscillation occurs.
^ List of all repairs performed prior to contacting a TAC consultant.
^ List of all road force values and their position on the vehicle.
^ Tire brand, model and size (including speed and load ratings).
^ The TAC will provide further repair instructions.
^ All warranty claims submitted including parts and labor that are outside the scope of this TSB will be declined. Any additional repairs have to
be authorized by the Audi Technical Assistance Center.
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Warranty
TIRES
^ For current model year vehicles with low mileage, submit a claim for ride disturbance through the Dealer Tire program.
^ All warranty claims for tires must have the before and after roadforce values attached.
Required Parts and Tools
Tools
^ Use VAS6230 Vibration Control Tire Balancer or Road Force Measurement System to check balance, Road Force values, and to make
necessary adjustments.
^ VETRONIX MTS4100 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 >> Fault Finding
^ SSP: Noise, Vibration, and Harshness 961403
The following repair procedure(s) will be necessary to complete this procedure:
^ Chassis >> Wheel and Tire Guide>> Fault Finding
^ Chassis >> Suspension, Wheels, Steering >> 40 Front suspension >> Lower Control Arm, Wheel Bearing Housing, Wheel Hub and Wheel
Bearing
^ Transmission >> Rear Final Drive>> 39 Final Drive, Differential>> Front driveshaft, servicing>> Front driveshaft, removing and installing
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.
