Audi allroad air suspension ride

[mcilwaine]

Hi, just purchased an Audi allroad and the suspension sits on the correct levels and goes up and down but there is a poor quality ride on the road and when stationary you can push the rear down and it is very soft and bouncy. Is there a way of putting more tension into the struts?

[Crasher]

If the ride height is correct and there are no codes stored (no, the dash light is not an indication everything is OK) then a soft rear end (!) is usually worn rear dampers and these are left and right handed and also specific to the 4B Allroad, costing £230.29 each inc. VAT from Audi and as far as I know, the correct parts are only available genuine Audi. Allroad parts prices make me weep and I don't even own one! I had one in Wednesday, needs a new compressor, £1189 plus fitting!

[adamss24]

Crasher, what's wrong with fitting a new, genuine Wabco compressor from ebay at £300 or one with full 2 year warranty from P38 Spares for £350 ? Failing that, bagpipingandy's repair kit at 35 quid posted is worth a try ! I am sure you can get a quality compressor replaced for half what you quoted...matter of fact done one few weeks back !

Granted allroads are expensive to maintain but the parts are well engineered and last a very,very long time ! My allroad has over 260k on original shocks and the last 100k were towing loads of times...

[adamss24]

Crasher, what's wrong with fitting a new, genuine Wabco compressor from ebay at £300 or one with full 2 year warranty from P38 Spares for £350 ? Failing that, bagpipingandy's repair kit at 35 quid posted is worth a try ...

Just checked the prices again on ebay and the genuine Wabco ones DO come with a 2 years warranty and have all parts including an air tube, genuine connectors and even come with a free power supply relay !
Also p38 spares did lower their prices a little and i am sure he can do a discount if you pay cash or with your debit card ! Used them before for Arnot bladders and i could not fault their service ! A grand goes a long way in keeping these cars on the road...

[kid-jensen]

mcilwaine,

I guess you are complaining because the ride at the rear is bouncy.... This indicates rear shocks (more correctly called dampers) are worn out or leaking. As crasher said, the only 100% replacement is from the dealer, but Bilstein dampers are available for about half price. The big snag with them is you will lose the self-levelling, but that may not matter yo you if you don't cart ultra-heavy loads in the back.

If the rears are worn, (I'm guessing the mileage is more than 80K?) the fronts will be as well, though not so obvious until you compare them with a new pair.

It may be time to bite the bullet and replace all 4, then you can then go from complaining about a soft bouncy ride to complaining about a hard one.

In terms of turn-in, lowering of roll angles, bumpy B-road performance and emergency crash-braking, there will be a world of difference.

[Crasher]

Crasher, what's wrong with fitting a new, genuine Wabco compressor

Nothing and I didn’t say these was anything wrong, I have a genuine Wabco brand new unit in a box ready to fit bought direct from Wabco in Der Fatherland as Wabco UK are so far up their own tailpipe that they will not even think about bringing them in even though the Wabco unit number 415 403 106 0 is clear for all to see and Tec Doc gives it the green light. I was making a point over costs as many bark on about genuine parts being the only way which anyone with their had attached at the right end of their body knows is ********…And Arnot have them at a good price New WABCO Air Suspension Compressor/Dryer Assembly for 2000-2006 (C5) allroad quattro

Anyway, find me a pair of 4Z7 413 031 A's at appreciably less than £182.88 and then you can tell me an Allroad is affordable to run...

[mcilwaine]

Thanks for that and it was one of my options of changing to standard. Someone mentioned that I might be able to adjust the pump to have more air in the rear. Is this possible?.

[bagpipingandy]

when you say in your 1st post you can push the rear down do you mean the suspension is soft feeling? or does the rear sink down?you can in theory change the ride heights with the calibration of the system but then the car wont sit level and more air wont make it stiffer suspension, only higher, if the suspension is very soft it is the shocks worn outregardsAndy

[Crasher]

Someone mentioned that I might be able to adjust the pump to have more air in the rear. Is this possible?.

You can lie to the J197 about the 402 setting but that is just a band aid bodge, the system should maintain 402-mm and compensate for loading within its design parameters.