Servotronic unplugged

[konijay]

Now the steering feels so much better! I was all over the road before with my apr chipped A4(FWD). It had way too much torque steer and way too light.... Now it feels just like my old car(BMW)

I highly recommend this easy mod. No, it is not too heavy.....well...if you are a GIRL!

[LAS]

i thought about removing mine. but now i'm used to how it is.

[Re5pectThe_Cuz]

i kind of like it while driving slow and needing to make a sharp turn into a parking spot or something...i thought it was too light but got used to it.

[Tanner]

I tried it last year without the servotronic, found it way too heavy for driving in the city. Then something changed (either I really got use to the "heavy" steering on my force feedback wheel with GTR2!) and removed the servotronic a few weeks ago and now I'm liking it. Go figure....

Easy to remove also.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/80485866_4f4bf415ed_m.jpg

[Con]

what is this servotronic?

[Tanner]

It varies the amount of boost used in the steering. More at low speed and less as the speeds go up.

[4-tified]

I took mine out when I bought my A4 as I was not used to the ultra light parking lot speed assist.
While driving and manuvering the steering feels excellent with the servotronic turned off.

However, the problem is that the steering is quite a bit heavier than even my 325i at parking lot speed. It's too heavy for parking.
So, I reconnected the servotronic and have gotten used to it.
I don't think the servotronic is perfect as sometimes my steering motions are faster than it can respond, but overall it works well.
Once you're moving the light feel goes away quickly and the steering at speed is nice and heavy.

[Tanner]

Who's willing to canabolize their servotronic? I'm sure that there's a way to customize it vary the amount of boost at low speed. Too bad it wasn't like that of the A3 where you can set that setting through the VAGCOM tool.

[Slo.Mo.Shun.]

It had way too much torque steer
How come I don't have torque steer?

I am fwd too and my car is putting 300Lbs+ to the wheels.

My steering wheel does not move when
I acelerate

[Tanner]

Turn off ESP.

[Slo.Mo.Shun.]

Still I don't feel it

[konijay]

How come I don't have torque steer?

I am fwd too and my car is putting 300Lbs+ to the wheels.

My steering wheel does not move when
I acelerate

Really? I was all over the road when I step on it... It's very stable once the servotronic was disabled.

[jimmyrecluse]

This mod was especially popular with the A6 guys. Sucks to park it though. Our cars are smaller though. We kick ass.

[Andrew A4]

May be something i may be interested in. My first A4 was a B5 which I loved but after it got totaled by a drunk driver, I couldn't resist going nuts and buying an Evolution IX. While a monster on any surface you can take it onto, it was just too hard to drive.

Will removing servotronic tighten up the steering in my A4 in a step towards (but nowhere near) how my EVO IX's steering was?

[Tanner]

Will removing servotronic tighten up the steering in my A4 in a step towards (but nowhere near) how my EVO IX's steering was?

No idea, few of us if any here have driven an Evo 9, so pull it out and try it. It takes a few seconds to yank out the servotronic.

[Andrew A4]

Is it just a fuse? Or a relay/breaker? Regardless..... i'm going to give it a shot soon.


Anyone have a good photograph of which fuse needs to be pulled?

[Tanner]

Andrew - did you read the entire thread? I have a photo in my response above showing what to remove.

[ice cream man]

.

Will removing servotronic tighten up the steering in my A4 in a step towards (but nowhere near) how my EVO IX's steering was?

i Doubt it a evo handles like a go cart,, but let us know

[drive]

[4-tified]

May be something i may be interested in. My first A4 was a B5 which I loved but after it got totaled by a drunk driver, I couldn't resist going nuts and buying an Evolution IX. While a monster on any surface you can take it onto, it was just too hard to drive.

Will removing servotronic tighten up the steering in my A4 in a step towards (but nowhere near) how my EVO IX's steering was?

NO.
The EVO's steering is due to it's tight ratio and awesome steering rack.
The Servo only controls the effort needed to turn the wheel, it does not change the steering ratio. If you want the ultra fast response of the EVO, you need to alter the steering ratio.

I LOVE the EVO! Too bad it sucks as an everyday car and I woudn't want to take it for a tour that is any longer than about 1 hour.
Stock tires and suspension are track ready, not road ready.

[Andrew A4]

Andrew - did you read the entire thread? I have a photo in my response above showing what to remove.

Yes, I did read the thread and was partially confused about what exactly the mod does.

I also had problems seeing your photograph, probably because i'm running 1920x1200 resolution.

Here is a photo that I snapped when i just finished my V1 Radar Detector yesterday. While you cannot see the relay(?) which is deeper into the panel which says something about 'servotronic' on it, i'd want to confirm that this is the part which you unplug in order to deactivate servotronic.

In the photo below, i pointed an arrow to where in that black void the relay(?) is and if that is what's pulled. I just don't want to start pulling things out when in fact i should have yanked a simple fuse (though i didn't see a fuse for servotronic anywhere in my car).


Thanks for the help in advance!!

http://www.kalionzes.com/b7a4/servotronicplug.jpg

[Andrew A4]

NO.
The EVO's steering is due to it's tight ratio and awesome steering rack.
The Servo only controls the effort needed to turn the wheel, it does not change the steering ratio. If you want the ultra fast response of the EVO, you need to alter the steering ratio.


I definitely love the amazing handling, insanely tight steering, rough suspension, nice leather Recaro seats. On the track it was a monster, but the drive home from Pahrump Nevada was about 8 hours long and HOLY $HIT did my arse, legs, arms, back, and just about everything HURT!!!

I took out so many Subaru STi's, mustangs, Audi's, non turbo porsches, etc that weekend when i went to button Willow.


I LOVE the EVO! Too bad it sucks as an everyday car and I woudn't want to take it for a tour that is any longer than about 1 hour.
Stock tires and suspension are track ready, not road ready.

I'm still considering trying to afford paying off both my A4 and EVO IX and then turning the EVO into a PURE track car. No interior, race seats, roll cage, and probably 450awhp or so. I think a nice GT30r or GT35r kit will do wonders!



Me.... in action!

http://www.kalionzes.com/buttonwillow/IMG_1059.JPG

[Tanner]

You need to look a bit further down if you're going through the fusebox. Get a flashlight and you should see a relay with 640 on it. Here's another picture of where it is from a different angle.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/80485834_556e623cb9_o.jpg

And a larger one of the previous image...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/80485866_4f4bf415ed_o.jpg

[Andrew A4]

It just pops out and when i start up the engine, i should immediately notice the change?

Sweet! Gonna go try it now!

[Andrew A4]

Well.... i just popped it out. Time for a test drive.


btw.... will any "idiot lights" pop up now that this module is removed?

i guess i'll find out!

[B7AudiA4]

No, you'll instantly feel the difference. It might seem weird at first, but give it a few hours to adjust and you'll love it. I realized how soft the turning feels with the servotronic.

I would rather have it off, but I just got some odd actions with other things when I took it out. I.E. Gas mileage and boost feel.

[Slo.Mo.Shun.]

It would be nice if the servotronic could be disabled with Vag

[Queens4Banger]

Wow, I just removed the servotronic and the steering feel is so much better and accurate/stable. This mod was so easy to perform that I'm surprised it yielded the results it did.[az]

[Tanner]

The A3 can have the amount of boost adjusted through the vagtool but it's a different system entirely. The next B8 may have this adjustable.

Funny story, I took my car in for service then at the end of the day when I picked up the car, the mechanic took the car out for a drive and thought it needed a new steering rack but they didn't have one in stock so it was put on order. At least when I mentioned the servotronic to the service adviser, he knew what I was talking about it and laughed.

[coryliv]

not sure i'd mess with the servortronic. if this mod (process of modding) results in damaging the system you could be in for some serious $$$ repairs. i do like the assist when parking and when driving my wife's saab 9-3 it feels like a cement truck compared to the a4. i don't have a problem keeping the car stable on the road just would like more feedback which is going to be addressed in the B8 A4.

[Nico]

How come I don't have torque steer?

I am fwd too and my car is putting 300Lbs+ to the wheels.

My steering wheel does not move when
I accelerate

What size are your wheels and how much PSI in your tires? This will surely affect torque steer.

[Tanner]

not sure i'd mess with the servortronic. if this mod (process of modding) results in damaging the system you could be in for some serious $$$ repairs. i do like the assist when parking and when driving my wife's saab 9-3 it feels like a cement truck compared to the a4. i don't have a problem keeping the car stable on the road just would like more feedback which is going to be addressed in the B8 A4.

It's not going to damage anything. All the servotronic is doing is varying the amount of boost..... more at low speed so it's lighter and less at higher speeds.

[Tanner]

What size are your wheels and how much PSI in your tires? This will surely affect torque steer.

That and turn off ESP, and let go of the steering wheel and floor it in first. Of course do this where you got a lot of space :)

[konijay]

This should be the first mod.

[4-tified]

Wow, I just removed the servotronic and the steering feel is so much better and accurate/stable. This mod was so easy to perform that I'm surprised it yielded the results it did.[az]

This comment just goes to show how "feel" can alter how a person thinks his car is actually running.

Removing the relay can not make the steering any "better" objectively and certainly not more "accurate/stable". "Better" is subjective, so you may indeed like the feel for you. However, it is not more accurate or stable. The steering rack is still the same, the steering components are still the same.
All you are doing by removing the relay is altering the electronic steering which is servo activated. The relay simply controls how much "boost" it gives to the power steering, that's all.

Firmer steering wheel feel does give the impression of greater accuracy and stability, but that's not the what's actually happening.
At first I too thought I like the less boosted feel, but the accuracy and stability did not change. Audi's A4 steering is quite good actually.
The problem I have with no servo is that the steering becomes too heavy.
As much as the light parking lot boost feels artificial, the heavy no boost feel felt artificial as well.
The feel is nice at speed, but the no boost feel sucks in the parking lot.
It's actually much heavier than my previous BMW 3.

To me, it feels like the only difference with the servo is at speeds greater than parking lot. Once you get moving above slow the steering feel gets as firm as if there is not servo. IOW, the wheel feels as firm with or without a servo once you get above parking lot speed.
So, in effect, it's the same feel other than when moving slow around corners or parking.
That's why I kept putting the servo back in and out. In the end, what I really wanted was a tad less boost at lot speed cause the feel at speed is the same.

That was long winded. [:D]
I just wanted to give a different perspective from someone who also thought, at one time, that the servo needed to go.

[4-tified]

This should be the first mod.

Konijay,

I have a very nice Momo knob and boot, they attach.
I used it in my BMW and it has a great feel. It's nice and weightly.

Does the A4 knob remove by just pulling up on it, or do you unscrew it?
Is the diameter of the shaft about the same as the Momo or did you need an insert? Are you using a Momo boot too?

Thanks.

[Queens4Banger]

This comment just goes to show how "feel" can alter how a person thinks his car is actually running.

Removing the relay can not make the steering any "better" objectively and certainly not more "accurate/stable". "Better" is subjective, so you may indeed like the feel for you. However, it is not more accurate or stable. The steering rack is still the same, the steering components are still the same.
All you are doing by removing the relay is altering the electronic steering which is servo activated. The relay simply controls how much "boost" it gives to the power steering, that's all.

Firmer steering wheel feel does give the impression of greater accuracy and stability, but that's not the what's actually happening.
At first I too thought I like the less boosted feel, but the accuracy and stability did not change. Audi's A4 steering is quite good actually.
The problem I have with no servo is that the steering becomes too heavy.
As much as the light parking lot boost feels artificial, the heavy no boost feel felt artificial as well.
The feel is nice at speed, but the no boost feel sucks in the parking lot.
It's actually much heavier than my previous BMW 3.

To me, it feels like the only difference with the servo is at speeds greater than parking lot. Once you get moving above slow the steering feel gets as firm as if there is not servo. IOW, the wheel feels as firm with or without a servo once you get above parking lot speed.
So, in effect, it's the same feel other than when moving slow around corners or parking.
That's why I kept putting the servo back in and out. In the end, what I really wanted was a tad less boost at lot speed cause the feel at speed is the same.

That was long winded. [:D]
I just wanted to give a different perspective from someone who also thought, at one time, that the servo needed to go.

Excellent explanation. For now I do enjoy the firmer feel. It is better suited for me.

[Andrew A4]

Well.... as you guys may have noticed I haven't posted since taking out the module yesterday and running out for a test drive.... :) All i can say is WOW. The steerings feel is far superior than the sloppy feeling the car had when the car had servotronic engaged.

Also, since you have a better feel for the road, I firmly believe that it's far easier to get steering feedback when you're driving the car close to the edge of its turning capability.

And like many here said.... in parking lots or getting into my garage, it definitely gives your arms a workout.

-Andrew

[konijay]

Konijay,

I have a very nice Momo knob and boot, they attach.
I used it in my BMW and it has a great feel. It's nice and weightly.

Does the A4 knob remove by just pulling up on it, or do you unscrew it?
Is the diameter of the shaft about the same as the Momo or did you need an insert? Are you using a Momo boot too?

Thanks.

There is DIY for removing shift knob somewhere in Audizine. You can't just unscrew....that is what I thought too

Your Momo should come with rubber adapter to fit any shaft? No?

I am using the factory boot. Tricky thing about putting new knob is that the once the factory knob is removed, the boot is no longer attached to the bottom of the momo knob. You will see what I mean. So I just used little Krazy glue to hold the boot all the way up to the knob. It looks perfect.

[Andrew A4]

This comment just goes to show how "feel" can alter how a person thinks his car is actually running.

Removing the relay can not make the steering any "better" objectively and certainly not more "accurate/stable". "Better" is subjective, so you may indeed like the feel for you. However, it is not more accurate or stable. The steering rack is still the same, the steering components are still the same.
All you are doing by removing the relay is altering the electronic steering which is servo activated. The relay simply controls how much "boost" it gives to the power steering, that's all.

Firmer steering wheel feel does give the impression of greater accuracy and stability, but that's not the what's actually happening.
At first I too thought I like the less boosted feel, but the accuracy and stability did not change. Audi's A4 steering is quite good actually.
The problem I have with no servo is that the steering becomes too heavy.
As much as the light parking lot boost feels artificial, the heavy no boost feel felt artificial as well.
The feel is nice at speed, but the no boost feel sucks in the parking lot.
It's actually much heavier than my previous BMW 3.

To me, it feels like the only difference with the servo is at speeds greater than parking lot. Once you get moving above slow the steering feel gets as firm as if there is not servo. IOW, the wheel feels as firm with or without a servo once you get above parking lot speed.
So, in effect, it's the same feel other than when moving slow around corners or parking.
That's why I kept putting the servo back in and out. In the end, what I really wanted was a tad less boost at lot speed cause the feel at speed is the same.

That was long winded. [:D]
I just wanted to give a different perspective from someone who also thought, at one time, that the servo needed to go.

Having less power steering, thus giving the driver a better feel of the road and the stability of the vehicle is essential in being able to take a car as close to the edge of its performance. I've driven many luxury, exotic, and other sports cars and the ones that performed best were the ones where you can truly feel through the wheel that you're just about to break traction. Cars with too much power steering like my friends G35 coupe will lose the rear end before you get the slightest hint through the wheel that you're about to go sideways.

[4-tified]

Having less power steering, thus giving the driver a better feel of the road and the stability of the vehicle is essential in being able to take a car as close to the edge of its performance. I've driven many luxury, exotic, and other sports cars and the ones that performed best were the ones where you can truly feel through the wheel that you're just about to break traction. Cars with too much power steering like my friends G35 coupe will lose the rear end before you get the slightest hint through the wheel that you're about to go sideways.

I understand your point. I do disagree with you in that "feel" is much more than just steering effort. The G35 losing the rear end is not just about how much power steering there is. The G35 is a RWD, which tend towards oversteer if they are driven incorrectly. However, that's why most cars are tuned for understeer. Again, the power steering in the cars we are talking about is not overly powered enough to make one lose the feel of what is going on, imo. You may not rememer the cars of the late 70's and 80's when power steering was insane. You could turn the steeringwheel, for a 90 degree right hand turn, with one finger, heck, you could almost spin some of them nearly 360 degrees with just a quick flick of your hand and 1 finger.

Firmness of the power steering does not always equate to actually "feeling" what is going on in the handling department.
Many people describe a heavier effort as better "feel", but they don't necessarily go hand in hand.
The driver has to feel more than just what is goint on at the steering wheel.
But, all those things are subtle and combine to give an overall "feel".

The main point I am making is that the A4's steering once above parking speed, which is what 1-10mph, gets nicely weighted.
By 10-15mph the wheel feels as firm with the servo installed as it is without the servo installed.
Thus, the point that you "feel" more of what the car is doing without the servo, seems odd to me as the steering is the same at speed with servo in or out. The only thing that is changed is effort to turn the wheel, the "feel" seems the same to me.

The issue with the A4's steering is not the servo, it's the cars steering and suspension in general.
Many people are expressing that they don't like the new electronic steering systems as they lack "feel" compared to the traditional no electronic assist hydraulic systems.
That's fine as we all have our preferences.
However, even the new 3 series, which is still applauded for it's steering feel, has the new electronic assist steering as well.

Some of the even older guys will even say how much they like no power steering at all. But, that's usually true in lightweight sports car that are RWD with little weight up front, and little weight in general.
A FWD or AWD with no power steering assist at all, and modern heavy weight, would be a serious workout for most drivers, and most would hate it.

Anyway, it's all about preference. I tried it without the servo and for me, I found that parking the car is easier with the servo in place. Once at speed and having fun the steering feels the same with or without it.
More than how much assist there is, the overall steering needs a bit more refinement as does the A4 chassis in order to really get a better feel, for how the car is handling, through the steering wheel.
One thing that is really nice about the A4 steering is that it's very accurate, and on center feel seems really good to me for a sporty sedan.