JT's sleeper a4 build

[Jerry1847]

I'll post pics shortly, and as I go...

I'm not much into aftermarket styling. I have a few "must haves" but don't think its a good use of cash IMO (have seen some awesome mods however). I did tint, some upgraded OEM wheels and spacers, no plans for anything else outside. I'm focusing My build on driving and quickness. I do most driving in traffic and country roads every other weekend. Speed isn't the goal ( I would have kept my 335xi), im going for the handeling, throttle response and acceleration. I do not and will not be tracking the car. Let me know if you guys see anything obvious I'm missing.


3 nice big boxes of eurocode parts came in last night! The only thing I'm waiting on now are my end links and oil catch.

I took next week off to relax and knock my build out. Going to tackle the front first and then the rear ( my 034 rear end links won't ship till late the week).

For the front, I I'll be upgrading the following:
- eurocode sway
- 034 end links
- Alu kreuz
- eurocode HFC
- eurocode HF IC pipe
- silicon turbo inlet hose
- 034 oil catch
- eurocode lightweight crank pully
- iridium plugs
- rs4 coilpack ( installed)
- k&n drop in (installed)
- APR tune (whenever the sale comes back)

Rear:
- eurocode sway
- 034 end links
- Apikol rear diff mount


OTHER:
- Carbon intake cleaning
- oil change
- hardwire escort x50

Let me know if any of you have tips or questions on the build. I'll pull together a list of all the DIY write ups for reference.

[b6Hate4]

Seems like you've got a solid plan will change the car dramatically.

[Cgoon009]

No coilovers?

[b6onboost]

^ This.

If handling and and throttle response are your goals...Coilovers and an APR tune should be #1 and #2. By far the two quickest and most impactful ways to meet your goal. The sways, hoses, and all that other stuff are nice, but really just a drop in the bucket compared to those two primary mods.

[b6Hate4]

^ This.

If handling and and throttle response are your goals...Coilovers and an APR tune should be #1 and #2. By far the two quickest and most impactful ways to meet your goal. The sways, hoses, and all that other stuff are nice, but really just a drop in the bucket compared to those two primary mods.

I noticed a MUCH bigger difference with a set of sways vs. Coilovers.

[Jerry1847]

Totally agree with APR, def the primary mod IMO. They usually have a spring sale for the loaded ECU that im waiting for. Also, cant go stage 2 until I install the HFC and i dont want to make two trips to Lorton for the tune (if you guys know a better shop let me know).

My concern with coilovers is the ride quality and clearance. First, I dont want a rough ride or to feel every imperfection in the road. My 335 felt everything, it was nice for a while but gets old going over speed bumps, joints and pot holes all the time. I commute from Arlington to Rockville and want a comfy ride. Second, i dont want to lower at all, i like clearance. Third, the cost of quality coilovers is fairly high. Prob 1400 for all the crap in the OP vs 2-3k for good coilovers.

Why are coilovers superior to sways in your opinion? My understanding is that they address different aspects of the suspension. Ive never used coilovers and am uneducated, so please enlighten me if im way off base.

[b6onboost]

Just a guess, but did you do sways first?

Sways are sort of like a band-aid suspension fix for a stock suspension. They decrease body roll and stiffen up the car laterally, which can certainly be an immediate difference on a soft stock suspension. Coilovers do the same, and more, for better overall handling. If you had toy choose only one, Coilovers would be the clear choice. If you did Coilovers first, then sways later...you'd likely have the opposite opinion...thinking Coilovers made a MUCH bigger difference whereas the sways were a minor improvement.

I'll also note, some coilovers (espcially budget ones) are often fairly soft and really just for adjustable height. They don't provide huge handling improvments. Similarly, some sways are significantly stiffer than stock. Point is there is a lot of variation and the perceived improvements can really depend on what you install and if you're putting it on a stock car, or one that's already modded.

I noticed a MUCH bigger difference with a set of sways vs. Coilovers.

[dennisA4]

My concern with coilovers is the ride quality and clearance. First, I dont want a rough ride or to feel every imperfection in the road. My 335 felt everything, it was nice for a while but gets old going over speed bumps, joints and pot holes all the time. I commute from Arlington to Rockville and want a comfy ride. Second, i dont want to lower at all, i like clearance. Third, the cost of quality coilovers is fairly high. Prob 1400 for all the crap in the OP vs 2-3k for good coilovers.

Why are coilovers superior to sways in your opinion? My understanding is that they address different aspects of the suspension. Ive never used coilovers and am uneducated, so please enlighten me if im way off base.

I'm the same as you. My car is a DD and I don't want a rough ride.
I haven't dropped my A4 yet, but with my A3 I went with KW V1 coils and a mild drop and the ride quality was BETTER than oem. I was quite surprised.
I'll be getting the same coils for the A4.

[b6onboost]

Sway bars are designed to prevent excessive body roll caused by soft springs with a large range of motion. Therefore, to remedy the root of the problem you install coilovers which provide stiffer springs, a narrower range of motion, and also lower the body's center of gravity. Coilovers will also prevent acceleration squat and brake dive to keep the car level and weight distributed evenly, sway bars don't address that. You can also upgrade the sway bars for additional control. If you compare an A4 and S4 suspension that is whay you'll find. The S4 has Stiffer springs, lower ride height, and stiffer sway bars for a well rounded improvement in handling.

That is why I called sways a 'band-aid' fix for better handling. Sure they will help control body roll, but if you goal is improved handling in all situations, coilovers offer that while sways do not.

Now, with A4s being daily drivers over various road conditions its not practical to drive around with track worthy coilovers. And almost any coilover will result in a stiffer ride. So there are tradeoffs to be made.

Why are coilovers superior to sways in your opinion? My understanding is that they address different aspects of the suspension. Ive never used coilovers and am uneducated, so please enlighten me if im way off base.

[Cgoon009]

Sway bars are designed to prevent excessive body roll caused by soft springs with a large range of motion. Therefore, to remedy the root of the problem you install coilovers which provide stiffer springs, a narrower range of motion, and also lower the body's center of gravity. Coilovers will also prevent acceleration squat and brake dive to keep the car level and weight distributed evenly, sway bars don't address that. You can also upgrade the sway bars for additional control. If you compare an A4 and S4 suspension that is whay you'll find. The S4 has Stiffer springs, lower ride height, and stiffer sway bars for a well rounded improvement in handling.

That is why I called sways a 'band-aid' fix for better handling. Sure they will help control body roll, but if you goal is improved handling in all situations, coilovers offer that while sways do not.

Now, with A4s being daily drivers over various road conditions its not practical to drive around with track worthy coilovers. And almost any coilover will result in a stiffer ride. So there are tradeoffs to be made.

This.

Op, you stated you want your car to handle very well, so your combo of sways plus a good set of coilovers will absolutely improve handling. If you DD the car then a super aggressive set up is not what you want, however keep in mind that the current set up on your A4 is designed for max comfort, meaning soft spring rates and large amounts of cushion to absorb bumps. What I would do if I were you, is look for a set of coilovers with a mid range spring rate.

For example, STs coilovers come with spring rates closer to a stock set up, and thus offer a softer but less performance driven ride. Coilover systems such as Vogtland, H&R and Bilstein come with higher spring rates, and offer better performance due to the harder springs. Set ups like STASIS (Ohlins) coilovers will come with variable damping and very high rates, as they are designed around track use.

Coilover kits are adjustable, and you can keep your car at stock height, while still taking advantage of the stiffer springs. (Although lowering the car's center of gravity will help with handling) Coilovers (Good ones anyway) will come with pre matched shocks, giving you better performance, and a better ride quality then just springs. Ride quality is controlled by many factors, including spring rate and the shock's ability to match the rebound of the stiffer spring. A good set of coilovers wont destroy the ride quality. (Although you will notice a stiffer spring, it will feel like a thud, not a bang) If you want the car to handle better I would recommend coilovers (Bilsteins)

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_A4-...ein/ES1844169/ - Why? Adjustable damping, which means you can dial in the stiffness to comfort ratio.

[SleeperCar]

all i know...dont get springs on stock shocks. I did this due to finances and i regret it. always remember, buy nice or buy twice.

everything depends on your budget. Some guys here mentioned coils that are over 2k while others are a more manageable 1.5k or below. Sways are great way to go though, i dont have sways yet and i know i need them. Like when im taking the ramp to get onto the highway which has a turn as im accelerating, my body roll is awful.

[Frinkferta]

Sways are a beautiful thing. I installed a Hotchkis set on mine. The car handles exceptionally well now. Whenever I get into a loaner car, I can really tell the difference.

[Jerry1847]

Meh... I spent half me day mulling over picking up some coilovers. I have ~55k on the stock suspension so its time. May as well knock this out while I'm in the area. I'm eyeing the KW V1 and I'll check out the ST's. Def not looking to go crazy but don't want some crap.

Thanks for all the input! I hadn't even considered coilovers so thanks for talking me out of another 1500-2k ☺

[Calbee]

i have a set of used STs for 450 + shipping. message me if your interested

[Jerry1847]

OK, a whopping 10 minutes later. I went with the ST kit.... Better news, found them on amazon and will have them Friday. This is a fairly cheap set at $825 to my door with 1 day shipping.

[TCHUN003]

OP, you did a lot of research for a new member! I agree with all of your mods. This car isn't fast, but it has enough torque to be quick and fun. IMO, Suspension/Brake mods are the best for this car. I have ST's and I like them. They aren't the best, but they are quality coils for a great price. I live in an area that never get's snow so I don't have to worry about corrosion.

[Cgoon009]

OK, a whopping 10 minutes later. I went with the ST kit.... Better news, found them on amazon and will have them Friday. This is a fairly cheap set at $825 to my door with 1 day shipping.

PM me, I will install them for you. Im in MD

[Cgoon009]

OP, you did a lot of research for a new member! I agree with all of your mods. This car isn't fast, but it has enough torque to be quick and fun. IMO, Suspension/Brake mods are the best for this car. I have ST's and I like them. They aren't the best, but they are quality coils for a great price. I live in an area that never get's snow so I don't have to worry about corrosion.

A lot of guys don't like them, because they are not stiff enough. But I think they work well on cars where maintaining ride quality is an important factor. Pic for clicks: A6 with STs -

[dennisA4]

Has anyone directly compared the ST's to KW V1's?
I had the latter and really liked them. Found the ride quality to be BETTER than the oem sport suspension.
But i have no experience with the ST's and will need to get something soon.

OP, looking good!

[Jerry1847]

From what ive found online they are roughly the same, ST is made by KW. The difference seems to be the stainless (corrosion resistant) vs steel construction and warranty (5yrs vs lifetime). ST's were half the price also.

Im getting excited to get this installed next week. All DIY so hopefully i dont eff anything up. Im hoping with the sways and shocks out the HFC will be easier.

Please feel free to drop tips on the installs if you guys have any.

[Cgoon009]

General tips:
Pinch bolts for the fronts, take your time with them. It's a good idea to have a back up set. They can be hard

Compress the springs on the stock set up to reduce the risk of hurting yourself of the hardware you need to reuse.

The bumpstop bolts are tricky. I like to use an open ended ratchet.

When pulling the shock tower out, compress the spring to minimize the height of the tower. This will keep the cv boot safe and unstressed

For the STs:

Dont forget the grub screw at the fronts, loosen them to adjust and hand tighten them after.

The plastic spring perches are nice for not rusting. But go easy on them while adjusting your height.

As for the rears. You may need to cut the rear springs if you can compress them enough. I wouldn't do that unless you really need to. They are not cheap.

Last but not least, I have found STs sit lower then most coilover systems. So start with a high level

PM if you have questions good luck man




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[Jerry1847]

Eurocode HFC and intercooler pipe in today.

Called it a night after failing to the the crank bolt off for the rotomass pully install. The eurocode tool will not stay in place to save my life. I have two breaker bars and everything. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Going after the front coilovers, sways, end links and ALU Kreuz tomorrow. Maybe the rear end if time permits.

[Jerry1847]

Got the front end in today.. Hopefully I didn't screw anything up. I went as high as I could on the st and the soft (lower) setting for the stabilizer.

Still can't get the crank bolt off the the crank pully system. Need a longer braker bar.

[Cgoon009]

Got the front end in today.. Hopefully I didn't screw anything up. I went as high as I could on the st and the soft (lower) setting for the stabilizer.

Still can't get the crank bolt off the the crank pully system. Need a longer braker bar.

good to hear, as for the break bar, I personally use a 3 foot steel pipe from homedepot. Works well

[Jerry1847]

I ran out and got a 24in bar this morning and it worked like a charm. Anyone else with wants to replace the crank pully, do NOT attempt with 12in beaker bars.
Anyways, no sweat with the large breaker bar.

Rear suspension was also completed today. Not that bad until it came to the springs. In tried the frame drop but could not find the front frame mounts so I only lowered the rear. I wound up using some old 5ft, 40lb steel chisel and prying the spring out, super easy with that thing. Sway bar was easy. Pissed my rear end links didn't show in time but it looks like they will be accessible on stands with tires removed. The apikol mount was easy also, some install notes would have been useful.

Now, I need to adjust the height settings. The front is super high and the rear is super low. I need to read up on the max high setting for the rear and will level the front with that.

Only drove a mile but huge change. Much less throttle lag, better sound. Steering is amazing. Can't wait to adjust and drive it hard!

[Jerry1847]

So i lied about posting pics.... for now. Ill get the up soon i hope.

Got my APR stage 2 tune today, happy so far but need more time to feel it out. I also had the shop install an O2 spacer and check my suspension work. They found a few loose bolts and tightened them up for me.

Finished most of the other installs over the weekend.
Got the 034 catch can in - super easy install
Installed new iridium plugs - ordered them with my R8 coil packs. When i had a bad stock the dealer wanted to charge extra to swap the plugs with the new coil packs. so i waited. The coil packs needed to come out for the catch can install anyways.
Also changed the oil - i dropped a screw when installing the catch can and had to remove the belly pan anyways.

The only things remaining are the 034 rear end links and rear spring adjustments. Hopefully get that done this weekend and be totally finished.

[Jerry1847]

I feel like every time a finish something i need to find another mod....but, got a TON of sh*t done over the last month.

Two weeks ago..
Installed the rear end links, super easy 30 min install. Can i tell a difference? not really. But now that i throw the car into every turn as hard as i can they would have probably broken.
I also hardwired my radar detector (x50) with the smart cord and added a kill switch next to the wheel. Hiding the wire and tapping into the fuse panel was super easy there is a bolt for the ground and i just slipped the hot wire into the home link fuse. Probably 30min max. I hid the detector in a slightly modified $5 vizor organizer. Im in VA, radar detectors are no no's here.
I forgot to bring my spring wrench so couldn't adjust the springs yet.

Last weekend...
Installed the 034 trans mount. Again, super easy. 5 min job. Do i notice a change? not really. maybe less jerk shifting from reverse to drive but i can tell for sure.

[Jerry1847]

Installed the 3.0TDI inter cooler and EC TruFit hoses a few weeks ago. Just in time for summer!

still need to adjust my springs. Im sitting a little too low and getting some rubbing on hard turns w/ uneven surfaces. It doesn't help that im running 245/45/18 wheels that stick out a bit too far.

Need to give her a good bath soon

[Project Quattro]

Post some pictures man, it sounds like you're making some great mods!


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[Jerry1847]

Yeah, i finally installed tapatalk on my phone and found they support pics. ill post some pics not that its not a huge PITA.

Otherwise, caved on some appearance mods. Got an RS4 grille on ebay and an aluminum trim set to replace my silver plastic. Prob going to debadge this weekend and plasti dip the chrome window trim.

Def getting the itch for a K04, or to get a new ride i can mod (s4?)

[Frinkferta]

Yeah, i finally installed tapatalk on my phone and found they support pics. ill post some pics not that its not a huge PITA.

Otherwise, caved on some appearance mods. Got an RS4 grille on ebay and an aluminum trim set to replace my silver plastic. Prob going to debadge this weekend and plasti dip the chrome window trim.

Def getting the itch for a K04, or to get a new ride i can mod (s4?)

Nice build! The K04 itch will eventually take over..for good

[Jerry1847]

A few mods over my long weekend....

Installed some brushed aluminum trim over my painted silver junk. Looks a ton better. Wish I could have found some wood but oh well, still looks great.

Installed a cheap eBay blackout rs4 grille. Was going to use the chrome stock rings but I had some figment issues and stuck with the black rings. Can't complain for 180 shipped.

Painted the mmi surround and vent cover gloss black. Looks way better than silver (and ALL of the silver is now gone). I need to do another coat of paint. The black I used isn't black enough and the last coat that I applied in poor light had some minor flaws.

Last but not least..... The quad exhaust didn't go in. The valance was trashed and I was missing the passenger side exhaust hanger.

Yes, I'll post pics....

[Jerry1847]

Grille and painted mmi...

[Jerry1847]

Some glam shots...

[Jerry1847]

My eurocode gear...



034 catch install and new plugs... Prob a few months ago.

[Project Quattro]

Installed a cheap eBay blackout rs4 grille. Was going to use the chrome stock rings but I had some figment issues and stuck with the black rings. Can't complain for 180 shipped.

Try Plasti dipping the black rings silver to match the car. It'll give a little contrast and keep a sleeper look.


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[Jerry1847]

More build goodness....

Got the APR quad exhaust in, looks awesome, sounds better.
Installed a B7 S4 steering wheel with shifters. Stole it at $250.


Then... Dumped my APR tune for maestro. Not as smooth but more power, I'll take the power any day of the week. Still testing the software and editor for my BT build. Will prob order this week. Lots going on in life so hoping to still install over Thanksgiving.

And then some pics after a buffing and polish...

[Jerry1847]

Lots of fun over thanksgiving.

Frankenturbo F23L installed with the eurodyne maestro tune. Yes, its nice. But not enough. Feels like my stock 335. So not bad by any means, just not crazy. And I like getting crazy. From stage 2 almost no change in low end. Big improvement at mid and top end when the power fell off at stage two. For a 900 turbo, I'm happy. Recapped my EIX plugs to .28 and everything is running great. Cold idle isn't very happy, esp if I throw it in gear while cold. Just need to wait a minute I guess.

Also got a "real" eurocode FMIC to replace the eurocode silicone hose kit and TDI intercooler.

Readjusted (reinstalled) my stock front suspension and put the shock washers in. Hopefully no more clunking from my front end. Also slammed it for the first time, didn't make it out on my farms driveway without brushing the ground. Gonna ride it for a couple weeks until my next project 😁

Last but not least, dumped my A6 wheels and went back to my crap stockers. I liked the super wide wheels but didn't really do any good. Should also cover the cost of my Q5 brake upgrade.

[poweredbyaudi7]

You say your "next project." Does that mean you are abandoning the bigget turbo setup?

[Jerry1847]

You say your "next project." Does that mean you are abandoning the bigget turbo setup?

Noooo.... BT still on for spring. Valve springs from IE going in next. Should get them in a few weeks. Will prob do an intake valve cleaning as well. I found a TON of oil in my intercooler lines so pretty sure my stock k03 was leaking.

Was also considering brakes this winter also, just the Q5 upgrade. About $1,100 with pads shipped from ecs. Given I can build up speed so much faster now it may be worthwhile for when my radar goes off.