What breaks when you beat?

[CorneliusRox]

I am just curious who tracks their car's and beats on them in general. I am not really talking about the drag strip which will eat up maybe some mounts, a clutch, and possibly a tranny. I am talking suspension, chassis, drive line, bearings, brakes, etc.

I went out beating on my car for quite a while Sunday, and when I was driving back, I got this sort of metal to metal vibrating noise (it sounded like my brakes got really hot and were cooling down). I just wonder how many times our cars can take that sort of abuse.

stories, pictures, theories all welcome.[wrench]

[groundround]

I have a good share of spirited runs during 119k miles. Problems I have had were motor mounts were fucked and transmission mount very soft. Other than that I have had no other problems except the DV and carbon build up that caused misfires on all cylinders, cleaned and gone.

Oh and recently my n276 shit the bed

[GA42.0T]

I did the mountain run at SOWO last year and beat on the car like I've never done in anything prior. Car had about 30K miles and was 100% stock everything at that point. I was amazed what it could do. Granted, I've never tracked or raced anything, but I was holding my spot between some modded out GTI's and B5's.

I was holding revs at 4 and 5K staying in 3rd or 4th gears. ESP and ABS were going on and off all over the place. At one point the whole train of 50+ cars came to a stop when something happened up ahead. We all waited for like 10 minutes and the whole place STUNK like brakes. After a bit we were on it again and were just balls out for maybe 20 or 30 minutes.

By the time we were done I was so worried that the car would explode or catch fire. Or at least be leaking something. I SO wanted to pop my hood and look around, but didn't want to look skert. I did catch a glance under the car once or twice to make sure nothing was leaking. After that run, didn't notice anything that had broked.

So that was just one experiene, but you asked for stories....

[swoardrider]

Brakes, tires, and rubber bushings throughout the suspension. I'm on my 3rd set of front Alcon rotors (other 2 sets cracked at the track). 2nd set of rear Alcon rotors. Too many race compound brake pad sets burned up to count. 4th set of street compound pads. 3rd set of track tires (2 sets of street/track mix use, 1 set of dedicated track tires almost used up).
Your vibrations are most likely due to brake pad material transferring onto the rotors. Mine vibrate like crazy after a day on the track. It takes me about a week for the vibes to go away. Also a small possibility you warped a rotor if the vibes don't go away, hence the need for a good BBK, always! Very small possibility you knocked off some wheel weights, or internally separated the belts in the tire (had about 6 sets of front tires separate on the insides)

Example of what a belt separation looks like:
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRY9nUfiQbsGvp6XJNWJwx4T_X7pNbDy 5esjQ-MZiLX0aJgX898

[CorneliusRox]

Brakes, tires, and rubber bushings throughout the suspension. I'm on my 3rd set of front Alcon rotors (other 2 sets cracked at the track). 2nd set of rear Alcon rotors. Too many race compound brake pad sets burned up to count. 4th set of street compound pads. 3rd set of track tires (2 sets of street/track mix use, 1 set of dedicated track tires almost used up).
Your vibrations are most likely due to brake pad material transferring onto the rotors. Mine vibrate like crazy after a day on the track. It takes me about a week for the vibes to go away. Also a small possibility you warped a rotor if the vibes don't go away, hence the need for a good BBK, always! Very small possibility you knocked off some wheel weights, or internally separated the belts in the tire (had about 6 sets of front tires separate on the insides)

Example of what a belt separation looks like:
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRY9nUfiQbsGvp6XJNWJwx4T_X7pNbDy 5esjQ-MZiLX0aJgX898

My 'moan' or a noise/vibration went away after a nice, easy ride after. I just figured it was the brakes. That's what it sounded and felt like.
So basically you are happy with the car, just the brakes and tires you tend to eat up? That actually makes me feel a lot better about it. I always feel bad beating on it because I feel like an A4 was not built for it like possibly and S4 or RS4 would be (although there dont seem to be very many different parts).

Mike,
Howd you know your n276 went bad?

[Adub-Drew]

I do alot of backroad driving and i see my brakes go quite often! On my second set after 25,000 miles...

Im sure you know this already but whenever your on the brakes for a long amount of time (foot down) and the brakes are heating up, never let of and go back on right away. It will warp the rotors. It's essential to let em cool down first.

[swoardrider]

These cars hold up well when beating on them. They are made to go on the Autobahn. They are built as good as an S4 or RS4. Problem is that they weigh 3900lbs, and are 50/50 with the stock 2:1 center diff. This combo makes the tires work way harder than any other car I've ever seen at the track (my tires gain 15-18lbs when hot, even with nitrogen in them!) The deflection of all the rubber suspension bushings throw the tire geometry off in a turn, and that puts even more stress on the tires (which is why the use heim joints on the race cars)

Basically Quattro is what keeps us on the asphalt, but at the expense of parts. Other companies use suspension geometry (BMW), or weight savings (Lotus), etc to keep their cars on the asphalt. They don't call the BMW the ultimate driving machine for nothing!

[CorneliusRox]

These cars hold up well when beating on them. They are made to go on the Autobahn. They are built as good as an S4 or RS4. Problem is that they weigh 3900lbs, and are 50/50 with the stock 2:1 center diff. This combo makes the tires work way harder than any other car I've ever seen at the track (my tires gain 15-18lbs when hot, even with nitrogen in them!) The deflection of all the rubber suspension bushings throw the tire geometry off in a turn, and that puts even more stress on the tires (which is why the use heim joints on the race cars)

Basically Quattro is what keeps us on the asphalt, but at the expense of parts. Other companies use suspension geometry (BMW), or weight savings (Lotus), etc to keep their cars on the asphalt. They don't call the BMW the ultimate driving machine for nothing!

Love me some heim joints. I have them on my truck to replace johnny joints (which are still great), but they dont hold up to time and weather as well. How often do you track and have you looked into getting a different center diff?

[Vorsprung]

PS pump went on me after a few Auto-X's. Wasn't too bad, parking was a bitch though.

[swoardrider]

Love me some heim joints. I have them on my truck to replace johnny joints (which are still great), but they dont hold up to time and weather as well. How often do you track and have you looked into getting a different center diff?

One of these days when I get some extra cash, I'm gonna pull the diff out and send it to JHM. They've never modified a Tip trans diff, but said that they probably could, if its a similar design as the T2 manual diffs. No money equals no track time for the last 2 years [=(] Prior to that, it was a once a month adrenaline rush. FUCK YOU, REAL ESTATE MARKET!

[DRAKLORE]

That was a lot of fun! Didn't see you but I was at the front. When we stopped the first time to let a POV get out our way, I got out and noticed my brakes smoking quite badly. The pedal was softer it seemed.
Thats why I made sure to upgrade everything this year before the mountain run

We'll have to meet up this year[up]

I did the mountain run at SOWO last year and beat on the car like I've never done in anything prior. Car had about 30K miles and was 100% stock everything at that point. I was amazed what it could do. Granted, I've never tracked or raced anything, but I was holding my spot between some modded out GTI's and B5's.

I was holding revs at 4 and 5K staying in 3rd or 4th gears. ESP and ABS were going on and off all over the place. At one point the whole train of 50+ cars came to a stop when something happened up ahead. We all waited for like 10 minutes and the whole place STUNK like brakes. After a bit we were on it again and were just balls out for maybe 20 or 30 minutes.

By the time we were done I was so worried that the car would explode or catch fire. Or at least be leaking something. I SO wanted to pop my hood and look around, but didn't want to look skert. I did catch a glance under the car once or twice to make sure nothing was leaking. After that run, didn't notice anything that had broked.

So that was just one experiene, but you asked for stories....

[Charles.waite]

One of these days when I get some extra cash, I'm gonna pull the diff out and send it to JHM. They've never modified a Tip trans diff, but said that they probably could, if its a similar design as the T2 manual diffs. No money equals no track time for the last 2 years [=(] Prior to that, it was a once a month adrenaline rush. FUCK YOU, REAL ESTATE MARKET!

Watching Top Gear last weekend with the Rallycross Segment made seriously start to look into clubs and track days around Seattle. I didn't realize Pacific Raceways had so many open track days. All you need is a helmet when you've got an unmodified car. $100 a pop for the day. Sounds like an absolute blast.

How did you get into it? local club? Buddies who went out on weekends?

[CorneliusRox]

I just read that it is the exact same differential, it just isnt sitting in your face like on the 6mt's. This is according to the thread floating around where the guy had his TIP upgraded (TQ and VB).


One of these days when I get some extra cash, I'm gonna pull the diff out and send it to JHM. They've never modified a Tip trans diff, but said that they probably could, if its a similar design as the T2 manual diffs. No money equals no track time for the last 2 years [=(] Prior to that, it was a once a month adrenaline rush. FUCK YOU, REAL ESTATE MARKET!

[swoardrider]

Watching Top Gear last weekend with the Rallycross Segment made seriously start to look into clubs and track days around Seattle. I didn't realize Pacific Raceways had so many open track days. All you need is a helmet when you've got an unmodified car. $100 a pop for the day. Sounds like an absolute blast.

How did you get into it? local club? Buddies who went out on weekends?

I had the unfortunate (sarcasm) experience of befriending the head race car mechanic of Dinan Engineering back in the early 90's. Hung out there too much, and I caught the mod bug. He took me in a customer's Dinan E30 M3, and the mod bug turned into an epidemic. Had a BMW 635, then a track/street prepped E30 M3, but both were totaled before I could get either car on a big track. Used to have a 2-stroke motorcycle in the 90's, that I took to Laguna Seca. Started riding along in friends' F430, GT2, 350Z, at Laguna Seca in the early 2000's. That got me addicted like a hooker with a crack pipe. Had Stasis build up my whip before I ever took delivery of the car, which soon turned into what we all know today as their Signature Series. If I'd have waited a year, I coulda bought a Signature car for a lot less than what I paid for mine. [headbang] Learned how to drive an Audi on the track when I joined my local Audi Club.

I'm really hoping JHM can modify my TIP diff to a 4:1. I've pushed the car on the track as far as it will go. It really needs more power now and less front wheel spin. If I can't modify the diff, then I'm not to going to put any more money into it. I'm going to sell the car and get something with more track capabilities when funds allow. I'd love to do a Stasis Signature A5 2.0T with a EFR kit, but the bastards of Audi North America won't put the S-tronic in the A5's, only in Europe. Or maybe a TTS, or 911, or 335i, or Elise…………or just put a bullet in my head and end the addiction.

[swoardrider]

I just read that it is the exact same differential, it just isnt sitting in your face like on the 6mt's. This is according to the thread floating around where the guy had his TIP upgraded (TQ and VB).

Yep, it sits in this housing behind the tranny, just like the the 6mt, but last time I talked to Stasis and JHM (2 years ago), they hadn't ever seen one out of a Tip to know if it's able to be modified. Do you have a link to the post that says its the same diff?

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5203/5252623187_07bf19d840_b.jpg

[groundround]

well I got a code p2294 (i am pretty sure).I was basically in limp mode and talked to one of the guys from HPFPupgrades and suggested the intake pump. So I changed that started up and nothing, also changed the MAF and N80 prior to that. Then Camoto (camel toe) stopped over with his vagcom and researched, there is an n275 diagnostic you can run. Basically it activates it and you can listen for multiple clicks (good). Mine did nothing, hooked it up to his car and clicked away, prob solved ordered HPFP.

[Charles.waite]

ETKA lists the Center Diff as:
02X 409 751A for the 6-Speed manual (02X)
0A3 409 751B for 0A3 (GYH, HVE, JMJ, GVB, HSM)
0A3 409 751J for 0A3 (HVM, JMF)
09L 409 751 for the Tiptronic.

[CorneliusRox]

Yep, it sits in this housing behind the tranny, just like the the 6mt, but last time I talked to Stasis and JHM (2 years ago), they hadn't ever seen one out of a Tip to know if it's able to be modified. Do you have a link to the post that says its the same diff?

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5203/5252623187_07bf19d840_b.jpg

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/472179-517-Trans-TC-and-VB-upgrade-on-the-way?p=7367848&viewfull=1#post7367848

looks like you have been posting all over this though.

[dbens]

I had the unfortunate (sarcasm) experience of befriending the head race car mechanic of Dinan Engineering back in the early 90's. Hung out there too much, and I caught the mod bug. He took me in a customer's Dinan E30 M3, and the mod bug turned into an epidemic. Had a BMW 635, then a track/street prepped E30 M3, but both were totaled before I could get either car on a big track. Used to have a 2-stroke motorcycle in the 90's, that I took to Laguna Seca. Started riding along in friends' F430, GT2, 350Z, at Laguna Seca in the early 2000's. That got me addicted like a hooker with a crack pipe. Had Stasis build up my whip before I ever took delivery of the car, which soon turned into what we all know today as their Signature Series. If I'd have waited a year, I coulda bought a Signature car for a lot less than what I paid for mine. [headbang] Learned how to drive an Audi on the track when I joined my local Audi Club.

I'm really hoping JHM can modify my TIP diff to a 4:1. I've pushed the car on the track as far as it will go. It really needs more power now and less front wheel spin. If I can't modify the diff, then I'm not to going to put any more money into it. I'm going to sell the car and get something with more track capabilities when funds allow. I'd love to do a Stasis Signature A5 2.0T with a EFR kit, but the bastards of Audi North America won't put the S-tronic in the A5's, only in Europe. Or maybe a TTS, or 911, or 335i, or Elise…………or just put a bullet in my head and end the addiction.
I dont get it though.. why not get a 6mt?

[swoardrider]

I dont get it though.. why not get a 6mt?
Bad right ankle makes it hard to toe/heel shift, and more importantly I do everything I'm not supposed to when I drive. Text, eat, and write things down, all at the same time I'm driving. Never enough hours in the day

[CorneliusRox]

So you are on a stock TIP. How quick is the shifting on those? Is it a huge disadvantage or do you get used to shifting before? Downshifting must be really easy in a hectic situation. and does it have paddles? I am not unfamiliar with the TIP really.

[swoardrider]

So you are on a stock TIP. How quick is the shifting on those? Is it a huge disadvantage or do you get used to shifting before? Downshifting must be really easy in a hectic situation. and does it have paddles? I am not unfamiliar with the TIP really.

pretty slow, 1 sec to shift up or down with paddles. I'm so used to it that I've just learned to hit the paddle a second earlier. Down shifts are not like the S-tronic, where the tranny downshifts, matches revs, and is smooth. When the Tip downshifts while entering a corner, it unsettles the car. I'm hoping the center diff mod helps the unsettling. If not, it may be bye bye B7.

[wildcat333]

pretty slow, 1 sec to shift up or down with paddles. I'm so used to it that I've just learned to hit the paddle a second earlier. Down shifts are not like the S-tronic, where the tranny downshifts, matches revs, and is smooth. When the Tip downshifts while entering a corner, it unsettles the car. I'm hoping the center diff mod helps the unsettling. If not, it may be bye bye B7.

I fucking love my paddles. Downshifting from 6 to 4 on the highway and flying by some people with instant power is such a rush sometimes :D

[swoardrider]

I fucking love my paddles. Downshifting from 6 to 4 on the highway and flying by some people with instant power is such a rush sometimes :D

Ever try DSG or S-tronic? It will make you cry when finding out just how shitty our Tips are after driving a dual clutch transmission!

[Charles.waite]

Ever try DSG or S-tronic? It will make you cry when finding out just how shitty our Tips are after driving a dual clutch transmission!

This. Sorry but our tiptronics really suck. Especially when your Torque Converter is on the outs and every shift is both extra-slow and harsh at the same time...

[swoardrider]

This. Sorry but our tiptronics really suck. Especially when your Torque Converter is on the outs and every shift is both extra-slow and harsh at the same time...

No track time in 2 years, shitty transmission, 2:1 bias center diff, 50/50 torque split, etc. [:(] This thread has made me so depressed that I went day dreaming over on the B8 S4 forum! [drive][race]