My dear bride has decided her '01 A4 1.8T 5spd daily driver is a permanent member of the family. I've had the full gonzo "all belts, fluids, pumps, pads, discs, etc etc maintenance" done at ~68k.Now at 90k, it still runs like a top - great accel and mileage.But when the above was performed I added H&Rs and KYBs to spiff up the handling, conveniently& emotionally ignoring the fact that KYBs require almost complete removal to adjust them.

Guess what - its time to adjust them. We do indeed reap whatwe sow. But I fear getting them nice and tight only to have said bride complain loudly I have altered "her little car" for the worse.A set of Bilsteins look to be on the horizon, and I can send the KYBs to one of you gifted motorheads who will look uponthem as an opportunity instead of a lingering liability... yea, a debt forever unpaid!

Because I have the services of "Mr Amazing Technician" at $40/hr and I don't mind grouping / prepaying for major maintenance items near the end of their useful life, I am including ECS Tuning's full front control arm kit andSachs clutch kit (remember, wife driver and no-mod motor).

1) Is resurfacing the flywheel sufficient, or is their some wierd Audi anomoly that suggets a new one?
2) Should I also add a new pilot bearing? Anything else for a "complete" clutch repair?
3)Do the rear control arms wear like the front? Would new bushings be sufficient?
4)I would like this to be the last $$$ maintenance job for a long, long time - is there anything else I shouldconsider a candidate for replacement?

As always, your advice and counsel are very much appreciated.

 

Just a heads up, Bilsteins ride rough, they have high rebound compression. If you want some sport & good handeling, find some stock S4 shocks, or invest in some lower end coil overs.

1. depends on what the FW looks like
2. Yes, it's worth the extra $10
3. Nope, they should last a long time like 150,000
4. Nope, it's a Audi, you never know what's going to happen when.

Forgive me, this is just general maintaince stuff, & wear items, it's not the like the car is breaking down on you, the clutch is just worn out, that happens in every car.

 

Forgot to add, most "harshness" comes from the rear end. Since the rears are super easy to remove, you might get away with just softening up the rears & leaving the fronts alone.

 

Thx 2k S4... so the stock S4 shocks will be ok with the H&Rs? Since they lowered the car about an inch or so? And are Eibachs as harsh as the Bilsteins?

Thanks in advance...

 

I was under the impression that you shouldn't use lowering springs on anyOEM shocks...? But since the H&R's only lower about an inch is that why you think its ok 2kS4? In other words, since the shock is in its normal range its not going to make them go early?

 

You should be ok, the stock S4 sits lower then other A4's The Euro cars sit even lower. Eibach is making shock now, I thought they only did springs.

On worn shocks it's not the best, evan with new shocks you should not use spring that lower a lot. 1in, it's that much, & with new shocks it should be fine. Some S4 guys have run lowing springs on stock shocks for a while with no real issues.


IMHO, if I was going to rip the suspension apart, I would just put in some Vogtlands or Stasis Streetsports & be done with it.