Last summer while in the heat of southern France, my A5 (Dec-2017, 40,000 mile) developed a front suspension creak. It was always at low speed and particularly when turning left. The car was completely checked on my return, 'shaked, rattled and rolled', but steadfastly refused to creak once, however, everything was checked, levered, put in a shaking plate, and no creaks or movement in joints found, and so while noisy, the car was declared 'good' (safe). The sound is very like the creak heard here (02:29) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzRt8SxUbWk&t=149s ... although is not when driving as in this clip, only at slow speed turning.

Now summer is back, so is the creak, however, this times the garage have had it creak for them, so at least I'm no longer a nutjob coming in with an imaginary creak 😂 However, again checked, and while the creak can now be heard, identifying which bush of which control arm, is more of a challenge. To their credit, the garage aren't proposing 'Just change everything', and instead trying to be a little more surgical.

Lower rear front control arms seem 'popular' as a source of creaks brought on by the loading they get, but so far the the only option seems to be the use of a Steelman Wireless ChassisEAR (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8x8rY6RRZE ). This provides a pack of sensors that clip to the control arms and help determine which is the source. See an dealer article on this at https://rsautotechnik.uk/how-to-solve-an-audi-a5-suspension-issue/

Has anyone else got any experience of this kind of suspension noise? Is it 10:1 it will be a lower rear suspension arms, or have people got experience of other arms/bushes becoming noisy?

The video I quoted above (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzRt8SxUbWk&t=149s) makes the not unreasonable point that once once bush has started to go, the others may not be too far behind, and as you should be considering a wheel alignment after a suspension component replacement, while 'doing the lot' is a little eye watering (8 control arms!), it does get it over and done with and only requires the one alignment post replacement, so despite the (very) low mileage of my car, maybe it's just a case of age getting to the bushes which are starting to complain?

Anyway, I'd be interested in other people's experience, thoughts and vote on most likely component. Maybe I just need to get under the car and inspect the bushes myself and make my own decision about how healthy (or otherwise) the bushes look, or just conclude 8.5 years just means the bushes are hardening and cracking, and complete replacement is the way to go given I'm likely to keep the car a long time ... it's an nice car with an absurdly low mileage, and I've had it from new.

On multi-link suspension, start with the cheap stuff first and then progress.

The lower arms are likely hydrabushes, so they leak when they fail. I changed mine at 65k on a 17 plate A4 Allroad. Lemforder is OE specification.

Also check the ARB bushes on the sway bar. Next the ARB link, then finally the top arms. Top arms when they go, will knock. They are usually visible if you hold and 10-2 position and try lateral movement. The only thing left is the top mounts and the bump stops on the suspension shock.

If you're changing anything, then always do both sides. Lemforder and Meyle HD, that's all I'd fit.

Given the state of our roads - also look at the coil springs too. you can drop an inch and not even know about it. Not sure with A5, but on A4 Avant, the rear spring seat/bush corrodes from inside out, so although cheap from Audi, you're looking at labour to fit unless you're spanner handy. I did it myself so as not to disturb eccentric bolt. If I was doing it again, I would just mark then remove that bolt. This is complicated further if its quattro drive. Car will need alignment check afterwards.

Edited 46 minutes ago46 min by spartacus 68