rear anti-roll bar

[arahall]

I took my A4 for a service and was told that my rear anti-roll bar was cracked. this was an advisory item and Audi quoted me around 250 to replace. First, I think that given the car is less than 5 years old and with just 40k miles on the clock this should be under warranty. second, does 250 not sound a little too much ? also, quoted me 220 to change front bake pads which is outrageous.

[Embisix]

If the roll bar itself was cracked, it'd be more than an advisory surely? I'm pretty sure they meant the bushes were cracked.

And yes, the price does sound steep, it's quite an easy DIY job if you've got a jack and stands, otherwise any half decent indie could do if for much less.

I got my rear brake pads replaced under a fixed price deal for £49.99 (plus the cost of the pads of course) with Audi, can't see why the fronts would be that expensive! Again, go to an indie if they won't budge on price.

[kite]

If you do change the rear bar, most people upgrade to a RS4 one...the bar and new bushes is around £75....

[a8 tech]

Mine has been cracked for 2 years and passed the mot every time.I pointed out to the mot tester that if he fails it I will appeal to vosa and as I was a MOT tester for 15 years he backed down.The plastic sleeve cracks but unless there is excessive movement there is no issue.
The replacement bar has a improved plastic sleeve to prevent the crack but unless the crack has made the arm insecure then it is fine and cosmetic only

Mot fails are judged on the immediate danger of failing and as my crack is the same now as it was two years ago it makes a mockery of the amount of mot testers who have poor judgement and if doubt they should simply pass and advise.

I see plenty of techs who report the cracking of the bush and I remind them that this is cosmetic with little danger to the vehicle, but because they see a crack they assume this is defective so its a lack of knowledge but again from the other side if the vehicle is within warranty then the owner driver may give the same diagnosis as its not correct and I demand a new one because its warranty. lol

[kite]

just to back up what A8 says..
Audi replaced mine under warrenty when the crack was found during a spring check.
I replaced it myself,once the car was out warrenty with the RS4

[arahall]

does this affect my insurance ?

[kite]

Do you think anyone would measure the thickness of the rollbar in the case of an accident....
The RS one is a few mm thicker, thats the only differance.

[ALF_A4]

At the risk of thread hijackage (sorry!) - is there an RS4 front ARB available that will just bolt on to B7 S-line? Since fitting the FSD shocks I would like to slightly increase the roll stiffness at the front end only. Iwas going to look into Eibach options (they tend to offer slightly thicker than OEM ARB's for most cars) but if there is an RS4 one for sensible money, that is not much thicker, I'll have that. Anyone know what is standard thickness, and how thick the RS4 one is?

Also, I personally would advise against fitting a thicker ARB to only one end of the car unless you are confident in what you are doing... It will alter the handling balance.

[Pete@ECSTuning]

ALF is right, this does alter the handling characteristics of the car. It makes it handle much better! This is an incredibly popular mod for the B7 A4 chasis of cars in the States. As such we carry H&R and S4-RS4-VW/Audi sway bars at very very good prices.

If you have to replace the bar, you can pick up a NEW 22 mm RS4 sway bar and bushings, which bolts in, for only 141.18 USD. OR you can get the S4 20mm sway bar for 121.87 USD Either option is significantly less costly than the £250 quoted you! This is very very easy to install, it is quite literally 6 bolts!

Click here to see sway bars available for the B7 A4 platform (http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B7_A4-Quattro-2.0T/Suspension/Sway_Bar/?salesrep=CArmbruster&utm_source=vwaudiworld&utm_medium=forum&utm_content=CArmbruster&utm_campaign=postreply)
http://www.ecstuning.com/product_library/5909/300/OEM%2022mm%20RS4%20Rear%20Sway%20Bar%20Kit.jpg (http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B7_A4-Quattro-2.0T/Suspension/Sway_Bar/?salesrep=CArmbruster&utm_source=vwaudiworld&utm_medium=forum&utm_content=CArmbruster&utm_campaign=postreply)

[ALF_A4]

Generally speaking putting a thicker (i.e. stiffer) ARB on one end of the car will reduce grip at that end. When I was racing this was one of the few mods we were allowed to do, so I played at it a lot, and became quite aware of that it did - the differences can be very noticeable, in handling and even steering feel.

Even before I changed my shocks on the A4 I would not say it (B7 2.0T S-Line FWD) had too understeery a balance - particularly on corner entry - when really going for it I generally lost the back first so I personally would not want a thicker rear ARB by itself. I certainly would not since fitting the FSD's - they are slightly softer than standard and have shifted the grip balance more to the front tyres. Looks like I ought to investigate an S4 or RS4 front bar...

[DBSK]

Ive done the RS4 RARB mod and it does improve handling slightly, but you can only really feel it when you are properly chucking it about.

RE front ARB i was told they are the same diameter across the range A4/S4/RS4 so no advantage to upgrading.

[Turbokiisseli]

DBSK, is your car FWD or Quattro? I've been thinking about getting the RS4 RARB but I'm not sure if it'll do any good to a FWD. A stiffer RARB should cause more oversteer, but does it do that in an FWD as well?

[DBSK]

DBSK, is your car FWD or Quattro? I've been thinking about getting the RS4 RARB but I'm not sure if it'll do any good to a FWD. A stiffer RARB should cause more oversteer, but does it do that in an FWD as well?

Mines FWD. Its definately worth doing, i wouldnt say it makes it easy to oversteer, if you really try you can get lift off oversteer but youve really got to chuck it in for that to happen.

But everyday it makes it alot more stable through high speed roundabouts/corners.

[ALF_A4]

DBSK, is your car FWD or Quattro? I've been thinking about getting the RS4 RARB but I'm not sure if it'll do any good to a FWD. A stiffer RARB should cause more oversteer, but does it do that in an FWD as well?

Which wheels are driven will not affect the corner entry phase which is the one that different ARB thicknesses has the most effect on. Even the mid-corner phase (most stably done under light acceleration) is not hugely affected by the driven wheels. Handling balance and traction are very different things, and which wheels are driven mostly has an effect on corner exit under power. So alterations to spring/damper/ARB settings will largely affect a FWD in a similar way to a Quattro, ignoring the weight differences...