I have been in twice now to the dealer.

Visit one: They balanced all and replaced front wheel bearings, vibration at 65 gone.

Visit two: lead tech took it for a drive, couldn't tell if there was any vibration.

I have since experienced the steering wheel shake intermittently at 65, the shiver when the wheel is all the way locked to one side and backing up(the tech calls this quattro shake)?? and continued vibration only felt by the driver. it happens off and on, sometimes constant, always on less than smooth roads, more when turning....

I know the dealer is resistant to admit there is an issue, they invited me to bring it back and leave it for the day.

It just doesn't feel right.....but how do you explain that, you feel it in the bones? like an axle problem?

How do I get them to replace the control arms? WHATS the TRICK?

Do I contact AoA? Any tips???

I got the impression that there was a specific procedure dealers must follow first (wheel balancing). It also seems to depend on the dealer's service dept. I've been to two dealers: the first dealer seemed to want to wash their hands of me and did two balancings (the first of which I was charged for). The second dealer was MUCH more helpful. After the tech rode with me several times he immediately identified the problem. After trying a wheel balancing (third one total) they opened a TACS (forgot what it stands for, but it's contacting AoA for assistance) and that got the control arms ordered. I am currently waiting on them.

Just get someone to ride in the car with you. That should do it.

I have been in twice now to the dealer.

Visit one: They balanced all and replaced front wheel bearings, vibration at 65 gone.

Visit two: lead tech took it for a drive, couldn't tell if there was any vibration.

I have since experienced the steering wheel shake intermittently at 65, the shiver when the wheel is all the way locked to one side and backing up(the tech calls this quattro shake)?? and continued vibration only felt by the driver. it happens off and on, sometimes constant, always on less than smooth roads, more when turning....

I know the dealer is resistant to admit there is an issue, they invited me to bring it back and leave it for the day.

It just doesn't feel right.....but how do you explain that, you feel it in the bones? like an axle problem?

How do I get them to replace the control arms? WHATS the TRICK?

Do I contact AoA? Any tips???

I detailed this in several posts -- essentially you must go through the steps to prove you are among the worthy to receive the new control arms.

You need to have documented the issue, had the required prerequisite steps taken (seems you have.) Then, raise the issue again and the arms will be ordered and installed FOC.

Makes all the difference in the world.

Probably doesn't hurt that I have built a relationship with the service people at my dealership (well, hell, after 29 Audis it wasn't hard to do.)

Drive it like you live!

Mark, been keeping up with your threads on the control arms. Glad they finally did the trick!

... or just wait for the TSB to be released, print it out, and hand it to your service manager when you walk in and tell them to fix it. Always seemed to work on my VW when it had a TSB issue.

As I indicated in Mark's other post on this issue, my dealer told me last week that AoA is no longer requiring customers to go through the steps of having the wheels road force balanced. Instead, they are asking customers to wait 30-60 days for a fix to be announced through a recall or TSB, once they receive enough feedback from guinea pigs like Mark as to how the various fixes that they are trying work out. In other words,they are asking us to be patient. Whether to comply is up to you.

How do I send a message to AOA that I had my dealership balance my wheels but the 65-70 mph vibration continues? Is there an email or owerners response section? Thanks.

My Avant does it and it's going in next Wed. Dealer says they are aware of control arm replacements but not for the Avants...? Do the Avants have a different front end than the Sedan? Seems like it should be the same issue, same resolution.

My Avant has this problem and is at the dealership now to resolve that issue. They claimed they have eliminated the vibration by re-balancing all of the wheels, but I haven't test driven it myself to confirm their assertion.

AFAIK, the front suspension is identical between sedans and Avants. It's the rear where differences start to appear in the suspension setup.

I detailed this in several posts -- essentially you must go through the steps to prove you are among the worthy to receive the new control arms.

You need to have documented the issue, had the required prerequisite steps taken (seems you have.) Then, raise the issue again and the arms will be ordered and installed FOC.

Makes all the difference in the world.

Probably doesn't hurt that I have built a relationship with the service people at my dealership (well, hell, after 29 Audis it wasn't hard to do.)

Drive it like you live!
i just contacted livermore audi about my new audi's shimmy at 60-75 and he gave a step by step procedure( exactly as you said) and explained that the new a4 suspension comes with stiffer control arm bushings than in the past. this is my sixth audi and the first to have this problem. basically, he said they go through a three step program and it will be fixed. i feel a little guilty for not buying this car from them, but they still treat me great with my service. i always have my audis serviced there. dealors' service departments very in quality of service from one to another, and livermore is one of the best. and by the way, my new a4 s-line is an oustanding car.
sincerely, don compton

...got a Q7 as loaner. Big. All the shiny bits. Fun for the day. I'll update what they did later.

Just a quick update on my situation:


Dealer confirmed my claim about 60 MPH shimmy/vibration
Dealer re-balanced and indexed tires (I noticed some of them are in different corners) - vibration reduced but still present
Dealer checked road-force values on tires, all are within spec so the tires are fine.
Dealer got permission from Audi to order the new control arms.

Now I wait...

Just a quick update on my situation:


Dealer confirmed my claim about 60 MPH shimmy/vibration
Dealer re-balanced and indexed tires (I noticed some of them are in different corners) - vibration reduced but still present
Dealer checked road-force values on tires, all are within spec so the tires are fine.
Dealer got permission from Audi to order the new control arms.

Now I wait...
Has anyone posted a video of what the high speed shimmy/vibration looks and sounds like? I definitely have the issue with vibration with low speed/parking lot maneuvers but that's being addressed by Audi of America. I've gotten a call every month so far on that one from a rep saying they're still working on the issue but all signs point to the steering hose or something.

Anyway, back to my question...if no one has posted something, can somebody having the issue kindly post a video of what the shimmy is like? I don't particularly feel anything all the way up to 95mph...(haven't gone above that yet :D ). There's a very very mild vibration but that seems to be related to the road surface and goes away on smooth roads. If I let go of the steering wheel it does not visibly shake. Neither my wife or I have noticed the shudder.

I just find it odd that all of you seem to have this problem and I don't. Maybe I got lucky or I just don't notice it?

No video, but I think you'd know it if you had it. It's actually more noticeable on smooth roads. As you evenly accelerate up past 55 MPH the wheel will start to vibrate in your hands and continue to do so until you accelerate past the vibration range (about 57-65 MPH for me).

If you haven't felt it in that scenario you likely don't have it. However, some folks have reported that it didn't show up for them until they had quite a bit of mileage on their car and the control arm bushings presumably wore in a bit.

No video, but I think you'd know it if you had it. It's actually more noticeable on smooth roads. As you evenly accelerate up past 55 MPH the wheel will start to vibrate in your hands and continue to do so until you accelerate past the vibration range (about 57-65 MPH for me).

If you haven't felt it in that scenario you likely don't have it. However, some folks have reported that it didn't show up for them until they had quite a bit of mileage on their car and the control arm bushings presumably wore in a bit.
True...what's odd is a lot of people are posting (in A5/S5 forum too) that their cars have it when they drive them off the dealer lot!! So that's my hope that if I don't have it yet maybe I won't get it. Who knows. I just need it to not happen for another 2 years...then I'm returning this lease and getting an S4 :D

If you have to ask, you def don't have the problem. It will be so obvious because your hands will be shaking and if you have any batwings on your arms, they will tremble (LOL).

http://elsbootcamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/McFat-arm-150x150.jpg

BTW, my problem didn't start until my bushings began to wear. I was fine for the first 5,000 miles.

BTW, my problem didn't start until my bushings began to wear. I was fine for the first 5,000 miles.

Awwwwwwwww ****. Don't say that... :-) I thought maybe I was going to get by without having this issue..

Awwwwwwwww ****. Don't say that... :-) I thought maybe I was going to get by without having this issue..

Tell me about it. When the vibration threads first popped up, I didn't have any issues but subscribed to all of them just in case. What a jinx.

Tell me about it. When the vibration threads first popped up, I didn't have any issues but subscribed to all of them just in case. What a jinx.
Unsubscribing in 3...2...1...

Unsubscribing in 3...2...1...
Ha! He's gone. Now we can talk about him. :D

So, when I pick up my Avant last night dealer says that they think that the problem is because *both* front rims are bent and implied that hitting potholes is the problem. Hmm, both front rims - and tires - look perfect with no dings or dents or scrapes. I politely tell that that's a load of crap and that it's more likely that both came out of round since my car has done this vibration since day one.

They said they balanced the wheels and thought it was OK.

I have a new front vibration now at 38mph and the 62+ is now worse.

We're going to have a friendly chat this morning.

So, Audi moved the front rims to the rear, and blamed the vibration on the rims being bent despite rims being visually perfect and in my memory never having hit anything even remotely likely to bend a rim.

Went for a ride with one of their techs who did the work and we chatted about how he diagnosed the problem. I pointed out that the front was now worse. He says; "yes, that's the control arm problem."

Hmm, say rims problem, move to back, blame customer. Then say, oh, yes known problem. We order new arms. Still blame you for rims. So sorry.

Currently in a heated discussion with AoA about the rims since my Avant has had this vibration since delivery - but I never raised it as an issue since it was winter and here in NE tires flat-spot over night in the cold, snow/ice can build up in the rims and you get vibrations as a result.

This forum is so helpful! I just picked up my 2010 A4 P+ two weeks ago and the reproducable shimmy at 60 mph is so annoying. I'm bringing it for service and the dealer has to road balance the tires (apparently different than traditional spin balancing).

I told him this forum has suggested control arms, but we'll see what happens.

Thanks everyone for the input!

Has anyone posted a video of what the high speed shimmy/vibration looks and sounds like? I definitely have the issue with vibration with low speed/parking lot maneuvers but that's being addressed by Audi of America. I've gotten a call every month so far on that one from a rep saying they're still working on the issue but all signs point to the steering hose or something.

Anyway, back to my question...if no one has posted something, can somebody having the issue kindly post a video of what the shimmy is like? I don't particularly feel anything all the way up to 95mph...(haven't gone above that yet :D ). There's a very very mild vibration but that seems to be related to the road surface and goes away on smooth roads. If I let go of the steering wheel it does not visibly shake. Neither my wife or I have noticed the shudder.

I just find it odd that all of you seem to have this problem and I don't. Maybe I got lucky or I just don't notice it?


Mobile,

I think it's a matter of degree. After a pothole hit, it was shaking like a tuning fork until I balanced the wheels. Now I'm noticing a very, very slight vibration in the wheel at around 60-65 or so and not all the time. It's so slight and intermittent that I think it could be partially road surface related to some degree in my case. I'm keeping an eye on it until there's a TSB someone can specifically state.

As for the "parking lot" low speed shudder, I too am being kept up to date from AOA with calls. Hopefully, the fix will be soon. I'm puzzled why it's taking so long for the engineers in Germany to figure out the cause and solution though. If it's a hose, you would think that would be a relatively inexpensive fix that would be quickly solved. I'm doubting the hose theory due to the time it's taking. It's probably a much more involved issue and they're trying to come up with the most inexpensive solution they can to solve it.

I'm taking my car back in for a second time to fix the 60-65 mph vibration. This time the dealer is going to put a new set of tires on it to see if my tires had flat spots on them.

Just a quick update on my situation:


Dealer confirmed my claim about 60 MPH shimmy/vibration
Dealer re-balanced and indexed tires (I noticed some of them are in different corners) - vibration reduced but still present
Dealer checked road-force values on tires, all are within spec so the tires are fine.
Dealer got permission from Audi to order the new control arms.

Now I wait...

After I posted last week that my shimmy was very slight, it started becoming more noticeable - 65-70 like most others. Before I take it to the dealer for the inevitable hassle, did you happen to get a TSB # for the control arm replacement?

It's not an official TSB yet. Your dealer has to call Audi's "TACS" tech support line and get authorization to order the control arms. I understand they are not orderable on the open market, and are being made to order to fulfill realtime demand. I think Markcincinnati posted a campaign number on here once before that you could mention.