What have you done to your Audi A4 B7 today?

Sidrick said:
There are tools to remove those pinch bolts without all the drama. The ship has probably sailed considering the age of our cars, but on other forums members chipped in to buy similar tools then put down a deposit (to a trustworthy member) to share it around each other.

Since I'm fitting brakes soon, that I don't know if they clear my wheels, and also have to tackle the front arm problem, I've ordered a used suspension upright, complete with upper arms still fitted. Should allow me to test fit my brakes to check clearance, and see if I can fashion a tool to remove the upper arms while I've the assembly on the bench.
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How much larger are your new calipers compared to the oem item ?
 
Also how much clearance is there with your oem calipers at the closest point to the inner spoke surface?
 
Bigger, but not sure how much. Mainly going on the experience of others, but we've all got different wheels. Tempted to buy 5mm spacers in advance as I suspect they'll be needed. Anyway, that's why I've bought the upright to test fit, rather than the car be off the road for even longer than it has been :)
 
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You may find as you have oem wheels it maybe ok, you only need a few mm , from personal experience I've found oem wheels have been a straight fit albeit with a very small gap with some compared to aftermarket alloys which can be a real problem.
A lot depends on how wide the caliper is at the top and bottom corners, that's where I've allways encountered problems.
I have B8 lemans on at the moment , they are ET43 and have masses of clearance even without spacers with the 18z's.
 
Pie-eyedpiper said:
Mine will be the same. It's on '08 plate, so 12 yrs or so, I doubt they've been off.
The rears might be slightly easier, as it's had 2 replacement rear springs over time.
What replacement strut top parts have you replaced, any links? I'm only doing this once too.
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changing the top mount, bump stop and the upper control arms now. So it should never have to come off again
 
Sidrick said:
I'd be tempted to cut and bond the bump stop (and presumably dust cover) rather than take everything apart again.

They're absolutely needed though, to prevent dirt getting into the shock, rather than to actually stop bumps :)
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Probably the direction im going. Bringing out the super glue.

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Sidrick said:
Bigger, but not sure how much. Mainly going on the experience of others, but we've all got different wheels. Tempted to buy 5mm spacers in advance as I suspect they'll be needed. Anyway, that's why I've bought the upright to test fit, rather than the car be off the road for even longer than it has been :)
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Loads of clearance even with 18z's , so you may be fine with the ronals , not with quite as much though, and the 4 pots one you have are a different shape aswell.

best of luck chap.
Vea8
Vea7
 
DTM/Special Edition Ronals .
Viewed from this angle it easy too see why they maybe ok, I'd put £5.00 on it they will be ok.


Vea10 2
 
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Donfero said:
I forgot to reinstall the bump stop on the front strut, how important is it??

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I hope you haven't disassemble everything. Take a look at the post from Audizine.

Screenshot 20200523 211314

It appears the fronts on Bilstein aren't needed, they have internal bump stops. Just the dust boot is needed.
The rears don't have an internal one, but if the original one is reused then it needs to be cut down or else with lowered springs your car will ride on the bump stop all the time.
Hope that has saved you some strife.
 
I have the B8's , don't recal using a bump stop on the fronts , carried over my s-line stop/covers and as they were s-line ride height they were ok for just swapping over.
 
Pie-eyedpiper said:
I hope you haven't disassemble everything. Take a look at the post from Audizine.

View attachment 203416
It appears the fronts on Bilstein aren't needed, they have internal bump stops. Just the dust boot is needed.
The rears don't have an internal one, but if the original one is reused then it needs to be cut down or else with lowered springs your car will ride on the bump stop all the time.
Hope that has saved you some strife.
Click to expand...
I have the KW shocks, been running a few days without the bump stop to be honest didn't feel the difference. Only realized when I saw this post.

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just had a look at my b8's on the car, I do have the bump stops on the fronts, and it looks like they haven't seen much bumping lately either.
Been on since august 2017 without any issues at all.
 
I'm Just Rob. said:
just had a look at my b8's on the car, I do have the bump stops on the fronts, and it looks like they haven't seen much bumping lately either.
Been on since august 2017 without any issues at all.
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Just to understand, you guys have the B8 shocks on the B7? Whats the benefit?

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I think the B8 refers to the Bilstein line of shocks, rather than that Audi model. Can see how it'd get confusing, haha.
 
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Sidrick said:
I think the B8 refers to the Bilstein line of shocks, rather than that Audi model. Can see how it'd get confusing, haha.
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Yeah, just googled and came back to delete the question lol.

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Sun's out so pushed the old bus into the corner and left it there until I've had a good chomp on the situation.
 
I'm Just Rob. said:
Sun's out so pushed the old bus into the corner and left it there until I've had a good chomp on the situation.
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Your need to upgrade the clutch anyway for 400+ hp Rob so you might as well get it sorted now before it falls apart on the dyno day :icon thumright:

Always look at things from a positive side thats what i do and it just about gets me through the bad times...just.
 
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Ricky Burrows said:
Your need to upgrade the clutch anyway for 400+ hp Rob so you might as well get it sorted now before it falls apart on the dyno day :icon thumright:

Always look at things from a positive side thats what i do and it just about gets me through the bad times...just.
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I want a nice red shinny b7 bus that's not broken every week....:sob:
 
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audi upgrades
yep all fine Edgar , but sometimes lady luck may just be on my side.
 
I'm Just Rob. said:
Is that before ASN discounts then..lol, i'd be looking at £200 all in and delivered.:haha:
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Ok I guess your right with the discount ill get you the basecoat and send it to you ill even chuck in a paint roller and a 1" brush for the fiddly bits for £200 the undercoat and clear coat is on you though lol
 
Couldn’t get access to the oxy acetylene torch so after a can of penetrating oil trying to unseize the pinch bolt. Cut some of the threaded end of to give enough room to get in with an air chisel with a pinch drive fitted. It finally started moving. So back out came the impact gun and levered a screwdriver in between the upright and washer to put some pressure on the back of the bolt head. Started off slow but then bang snapped the head of the bolt off. So gonna have to take the whole unit out and come up with some way of getting it out
6B5A824B 7268 445F B844 C6A0319EF443
 
audi upgrades
Drill the bolt out now that you'll be needing a new one.

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Donfero said:
Drill the bolt out now that you'll be needing a new one.

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Click to expand...

yeah gonna take the whole set up out and take it somewhere that will be able to drill it out. Don’t want to end up messing it up and damaging it all even more.
 
Stoney12004 said:
Couldn’t get access to the oxy acetylene torch so after a can of penetrating oil trying to unseize the pinch bolt. Cut some of the threaded end of to give enough room to get in with an air chisel with a pinch drive fitted. It finally started moving. So back out came the impact gun and levered a screwdriver in between the upright and washer to put some pressure on the back of the bolt head. Started off slow but then bang snapped the head of the bolt off. So gonna have to take the whole unit out and come up with some way of getting it out
View attachment 203548
Click to expand...
Only way of even having a chance to remove them is with heat a good ratchet and a strong arm lol
 
Last edited:
It's not one of audi's better designs, well it's ok until you stick a steel bolt into an aluminium component, the two just don't get along .
 
I think I might just get second hand legs from a scrapper, and get the pinch bolts out ready in a vice on my work bench, just in case.
 
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Swapped my daily key body to case of better condition key

IMG 2344s


Was easy to do although was a bit concerned as I've only one key for that car atm so have been putting it off. Was simple job but very happy with it and much better than replacing the rubber pad with those cheap copies from China that never feel or sit right imo.

Then gave me the confidence to take apart something I've had a long time but haven't touched, my end goal. Although will require some modification/custom 3d printed part and some soldering if I'm brave, but does look doable. Though will likely wait until I have a second key programmed and working too.

Swap to RS Key Body

IMG 2350s


And then swapped out all batteries that needed and reprogrammed to cars.

IMG 2361s
 
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None OEM piece of $hit!! One week in!!
fba5c1f83078c6b2b2ed97f403ea80b5.jpg


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Sneak peak (just for Mr Burrows)...
 

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  • Audi A4 Grill Splitter May 2020_EDIT.jpg
    Audi A4 Grill Splitter May 2020_EDIT.jpg
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looks great.:icon thumright:, so much better than the oem s-line style grille.
 
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I'm Just Rob. said:
looks great.:icon thumright:, so much better than the oem s-line style grille.
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Thanks Rob - I can see why it's not done more often, lots of time with a dremel and the bumper off was a bit daunting for a rookie like myself.
I do however have 2 spare S Line grills floating about now so once I've sorted Norads diffuser out I might set up shop.
 
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