Changing rear springs

[MarkTM]

I assume that sticker code 1BA is standard 'comfort suspension and 1BE is sports (which can also be spec'd on an SE)

I've just ordered some 1BA but haven't had the chance (or inclinaton due to the weather) to check the code on my sticker.

However I assume that putting 1BA on both rears won't make a difference if 1BE is currently fitted.

Question I wanted to ask is, is it recommended that anything else is changed when the subframe's dropped? For instance are there any spring rubber seats (as there are on my profile pic car) that could have perished?

Just checked and top and bottom rubber supports cost just £20 a side (part nos 8E0512149P top and 4F0512297B bottom)

PS: I did do a forum and google search before askng the question :)

[B5NUT]

The shocks will be matched to whatever is currently fitted to the car, So I would not put sports shocks on standard springs. Also putting standard springs will increase the ride high of the car so if you have sports on the front the the rear is going to be a lot higher.

[Crasher]

1BE also features thicker anti roll bars and stiffer dampers. Changing the rear springs on a 4F is a sketch without the special reach in to clamp type of spring compressor, even then it is a struggle. The car will be higher so all ride height dependant bushes will have to be release and re-tightened at the new height using new nuts and bolts, if you don't, the bushes will be twisted and wear prematurely.

[MarkTM]

Crasher thanks.

I have 1BA currently and have ordered 1BA

I have also ordered the rear nuts and bolts as suggested, any idea what the torque settings for these should be?

Part no's for completeness (and future reference) are:

Bolts
N10549402 x 2 (for shocks)
N10602202 x 2
N91060301 x 2
N10642301 x 2
WHT001682 x 2
N90924103 x 2

Nuts
N91035802 x 2
WHT000708 x 2
N10106402 x 2
N10401801

As you will know some of the bolts screw into the subframe and not into bolts, hence more bolts than nuts :)

[Crasher]

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd20/Crasher1964/A6Q%204F%20rear%20suspension_zpsjwxmjbu2.jpg (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/Crasher1964/media/A6Q%204F%20rear%20suspension_zpsjwxmjbu2.jpg.html)



1 -
Upper transverse link




2 -
Eccentric washer




3 -
Nut. 95 Nm. Always renew if removed




4 -
Wheel bearing housing




5 -
Nut




6 -
Trapezium link




7 -
Bolt. 85 Nm +90°. Always renew if removed




8 -
Bolt 25 Nm




9 -
Stone deflector for trapezium link




10 -
Bottom spring seat




11 -
Coil spring




12 -
Top spring seat




13 -
Spacer for top spring seat. Only fitted on heavy-duty running gear version




14 -
Subframe




15 -
Nut. 95 Nm. Always renew if removed




16 -
Shim




17 -
Eccentric bolt




18 -
Bolt. 10 Nm




19 -
Bolt. 5 Nm




20 -
Bolt. 85 Nm +90°. Always renew if removed




21 -
Retaining bracket




22 -
Rear left vehicle level sender -G76-




23 -
Bolt. 85 Nm +90°. Always renew if removed




24 -
Stone deflector. Only fitted on heavy-duty running gear version




25 -
Retaining clip




26 -
Track rod




27 -
Bolt. 85 Nm +90°. Always renew if removed




28 -
Eccentric bolt




http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd20/Crasher1964/A6Q%204F%20rear%20dampers_zpskehatrbk.jpg (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/Crasher1964/media/A6Q%204F%20rear%20dampers_zpskehatrbk.jpg.html)




1 -
Eccentric washer




2 -
Nut. 95 Nm




3 -
Wheel bearing housing




4 -
Ball bearing




5 -
Wheel hub




6 -
Wheel bearing unit




7 -
Bolt. 200 Nm +180°. Always renew if removed




8 -
Splash plate for brake disc




9 -
Hexagon bolt




10 -
Bolt. 85 Nm +90°. Always renew if removed




11 -
Track rod




12 -
Stone deflector. Only fitted on heavy-duty running gear version




13 -
Retaining clip




14 -
Nut




15 -
Bolt. 85 Nm +90°. Always renew if removed




16 -
Trapezium link with stone deflector




17 -
Nut




18 -
Washer




19 -
Shock absorber




20 -
Protective sleeve




21 -
Bump stop




22 -
Bolt. 35 Nm




23 -
Shock absorber mounting




24 -
Nut. 25 Nm




25 -
12-point socket head bolt. 70 Nm. Always renew if removed




26 -
Drive shaft




27 -
Upper transverse link




28 -
Eccentric bolt




29 -
Bolt. 150 Nm +90°. Always renew if removed




30 -
Countersunk bolt. 80 Nm +90°. Always renew if removed

[MarkTM]

Wow much appreciated

I've cut and pasted into Word in case it falls foul of the copyright police :p

Regs

Mark

[Lukenkarl]

I had mine replaced at Audi they only charged 1 1/2 hours labour which I thought was fair to save my knuckles and having the geometry realigned £94 + vat for the springs each (s line). Not bad I thought. My Indi was going to drop the subframe and quoted £380 plus vat. I think Audi was about 350 plus vat

[MarkTM]

My costs:

KYB springs = £80 delivered (per pair)
new mounts = £40 collected
fitting = £50-70

So worst case £190 inc

One assumes that Audi didn't drop the subframe so have simply placed the extra strain on the rear bushes....or did your recept include details of new nuts and bolts?

[Crasher]

I hope you get on OK with those KYB springs, pattern springs from anyone except Suplex worry me sick, I simply won't fit them. Get me the colour code off of your old springs or the PR-0Y? code off of the data sticker as there are twelve possible variations but I am guessing at around 1 x green, 1 x yellow, 1 x pink PR-0YJ.

Whoever fits them for £70 is a fool to themselves, without the Audi tool it is a two hour a side job and quite dangerous. They are rather like doing the front springs on a Jag XJ6 from the 60's>

[MarkTM]

Springs not been delivered yet.

Are Suplex the original manufacturer?

What's a PR-0Y code? I thought the 1BA was enough to denote standard suspension?

I appreciate it's a cheap price but the same mechanic prices up a job and then it's fixed, like when he removed my alternator from underneath and refitted it after it had been refurbed, he only charged me £30 (although I gave him £50).

[Crasher]

The PR code 1BA signifies the type so Comfort, sports, heavy duty etc, the PR code 0YA, B, C, D etc etc signifies the vehicle's weight group so 0YJ is weight range 9 (there is 4 to 15 on this car out of a range of A to Z for 1 to not classified) but normally it gives an actual weight weighting group tied to a suspension type (1BA, 1BE etc) but not in this instance. When it gets fun is trying to work out the 1BA to 1BE or vice versa conversion, dampers and roll bars are OK but springs make your head spin!

[MarkTM]

Crasher thanks

I've looked at my sticker and can't see any 0Y reference whatsoever :(

[Crasher]

You will have to find me your blobs then....

[gavin_tully]

I picked up the full Audi tool and hyd press for removing the rear springs for £30 off eBay about 2 years ago. I couldn't believe my luck. It had never been used.

[MarkTM]

If you were closer I'd ask to borrow! :(

[gavin_tully]

It's a pity alright, I'm in Ireland. It allows you to remove the rear springs without disconnecting any suspension parts.

[Crasher]

I picked up the full Audi tool and hyd press for removing the rear springs for £30 off eBay about 2 years ago. I couldn't believe my luck. It had never been used.

total git!

[MarkTM]

Apparently Audi part no for my SE is 4F0511115BR

£235.92 for the pair and colour coding should be 1 x yellow, 1 x violet and 2 x blue

The post office lost the original delivery and the replacements are due out to me today...if they don't arrive am going to order the audi ones.

Update! The KYB ones have arrived and according to on-line searches their reference of RH6746 is correct for an 07 3.0 quattro saloon with standard suspension.

There are 8 variants that I could find

Standard saloon
Standard Estate
Sports Saloon
Sports Estate
S-line Saloon
S-line estate
RS6 saloon (maybe also S6)
RS6 avant ( " " ")

Just for future reference for anyone else that may be looking :)

[Crasher]

According to KYB, the cross reference from 4F0 511 115 BR is RH6747; RH6746 is cross referenced to 4F0 511 115 BN and BP.

4F0 511 115 BR makes your car PR-0YH which is weight range 8. 4F0 511 115 BN and BP are 0YE and 0YF respectively so weight ranges 5 and 6 respectively.

For 4F0 511 115 BR the Suplex number is 03289 and for 4F0 511 115 BP is 03288, Suplex do not list a spring for ​4F0 511 115 BN.

You will be pardoned if this makes your head spin, I was not exactly 100% at 2am :alcoholic

[MarkTM]

Crasher, an equally 'silly-o'clock' post from me but sober! :(

So are you saying that RH746 will not fit, are thicker/thinner or are under/overweight for my car?

Am due to have them fitted tomorrow (Mon) so guess will find out then?

[MarkTM]

One side done...took him 70 minutes

28074

Hopefully second side can be done in under an hour :)

[Crasher]

I will be interested to see the ride height, we could do with someone on here with the same car to measure their ride height. According to what I can find out, they will be slightly too soft.

[MarkTM]

Measured side height from top of tyre to lip of wheel arch before changed and was 5.5cm, changed it is 6cm on the same surface.

I also measured the one old good spring against one new one and the new (as expected) were 1.5 longer, which I'm guessing may be due to compression over 8yrs

I've only driven 10 miles so potentially not settled as yet.

[Crasher]

Modern stress relieved springs shouldn't settle, in theory....