My Audi A4 B7

[Daunt]

No where near mexicans, I'd have to check for Canadians... those buggers are 30 minutes from me!

Snapped spring is a possibility. If it is, lowered springs coming soon to a road near you, there's my excuse to lower her. Not too much mind you, just 2 inches a the most maybe, but right now, the cliche is that it looks like a Q5.

 

[little P]

hmm. Try drizzling some Maple Syrup into the boot (keep it shut mind, those feckers will bolt for the nearest hockey rink if they get out), if you hear slurping noises and things like "mmmmm... I can't wait to tell my family aboot this, best day ever eh" then you definitely have a Canadian infestation.

If confirmed, suggest releasing the parking brake and ditching it in the river, it's not worth the risk.

 

[ElektroVodka]

The front might indeed be a snapped springcoil.
Easy to check yourself, steer all the way to the left if it is on the left side. Grab the lower part of the spring and follow the coil until you reach the top.
If you didn't feel any inconsistency in the coil structure u repeat the same on the other side.


The rear end might be stabiliser rubbers that either wore out or popped out.

If they wear out you won't really notice it in the handling as the performance drops gradually.
But once you replace them the difference is quite clear.

 

[ElektroVodka]

hmm. Try drizzling some Maple Syrup into the boot (keep it shut mind, those feckers will bolt for the nearest hockey rink if they get out), if you hear slurping noises and things like "mmmmm... I can't wait to tell my family aboot this, best day ever eh" then you definitely have a Canadian infestation.

If confirmed, suggest releasing the parking brake and ditching it in the river, it's not worth the risk.

You'll never get that smell out of the fish so i suggest to just leave your car in a open sunny spot, paint it black and leave it be.
Feckers don't do well in higher temps

 

[Daunt]

Hahah greatest instructions on dealing with canadians I've ever read. Thank you..

And thanks Quick, I'm going to try that and possibly jack up the rear and do the same.

 

[Daunt]

So your technique Quick was utterly useless...





Had to take the wheel off to get a peek, but the drivers side rear shock was pretty obvious, no touchey feeley needed.

Looks like I need to order those performance shocks, that will lower the car a bit Not sure if I need to get anything else.

 

[Daunt]

Already ordered: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281475063963?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[little P]

Thought it would be that! I like your attitude, if it breaks, replace it with something better :icon_cool:

 

[Daunt]

A lot of people suggested coilovers but to be honest I've no interest in having an ultra low-looking car, with that ridiculous stance crap, nor any interest in being able to adjust ride height. So the extra cost for them, in addition to the sometimes more bumpy ride for coilovers doesn't seem worth it.

Hopefully the exhaust pipes don't break any time soon

 

[little P]

Me too Daunt, I see no point in lowering a car so much it hinders it's ability to navigate not just a speed bump but a squashed fly or a 3mm pebble laying in the road.

Those Teins look nice though, I will be getting Eibach's for mine next year, only a 30mm drop but enough to improve handling and fill the arches a bit without compromising on useability.

Looking forward to seeing the before and after pics

 

[Daunt]

I'll try for sure. Though my drivers side (THE LEFT SIDE!) rear is already at least an inch lower due to the broken spring haha. I was considering Eibachs too. I defintely can't go too low though because Michigan is notorious for being the worst roads in the US. Here's a handy guide of how we drive:



Good drivers around here literally memorize every pothole, dip and bump in the roads. I look like I'm drunk to everyone else on my way to work but that is me winding around all the potholes.

 

[ElektroVodka]

So your technique Quick was utterly useless.

Had to take the wheel off to get a peek, but the drivers side rear shock was pretty obvious, no touchey feeley needed..

Nobody told me your hands were as big as sasquatch's...

And you might want to write "white, green, green, green" in your service manual

 

[Daunt]

Nah I meant that it was totally unnecessary for me to feel the spring... if you look at the first picture that is exactly how it was... no feeling necessary. Still had to take the wheel off to look, couldn't get a good look at the rears otherwise.

And so what if I have big hands... you know what that means... :icon_cheesygrin:

 

[ElektroVodka]

I know exactly what it means, the energy your body spend caused a lack of size in other parts.

The body's way of compensating bruv!

 

[Daunt]

Yes but the women don't necessarily know that! They see the hands and feet and it's a done deal.

 

[Daunt]

Serious question though... I don't think the struts (and or shocks? I don't really know the difference) have ever been replaced... I'm at a tad over 100k miles. Should I spend the money and replace one or both of those?

 

[ElektroVodka]

Yes but the women don't necessarily know that! They see the hands and feet and it's a done deal.

Oh yeah, everyone loves a clown.

 

[ElektroVodka]

Serious question though... I don't think the struts (and or shocks? I don't really know the difference) have ever been replaced... I'm at a tad over 100k miles. Should I spend the money and replace one or both of those?

If you're renewing suspension parts i'd say replacing 2 is a minimum.
The difference between used and new parts can be great enough to decrease the handling.

The strut is the entire "suspension" the shocks are part of it.

 

[little P]

I've only ever replaced them (the shock absorbers) if there is a leak. If you have the spare cash then great, go for it and upgrade them, if not and you can't see any leaks or any other kind of excessive wear I wouldn't worry too much. You'd only notice the difference if you were hotlapping which from the sounds of the pothole situation you wouldn't be doing anyway

 

[Daunt]

Thanks for the help. I think I will hold off for now, though I will have a good inspection while they're off the car this week when I replace the springs.

Out of curiousity, I was looking at struts, and this set ( http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B7_A4-Quattro-2.0T/Suspension/Shocks/ES847/ ) says "For vehicles with sports suspension" ... what does that imply? Would that in itself not be a sports suspension or is it referring to upgraded sway bars, springs and everything else?