Driving with RS4 sway not completely attached...

[freeflow]

Is it a horrible idea?

I did the install yesterday and as many of you know it is a TOTAL PAIN IN THE A$$ if you try to use the stock brackets... so i ordered the correct brackets (8E0-511-439) and am having them overnighted to me.

In the meantime, how bad would it be to drive LIGHTLY around to the store and back etc. without cornering at a speed higher than 2mph?
Is this an absolutely terrible idea?

thank you.

[80CID]

the brackets are the same it's the bushings that are different.

and yes it's a bad idea.

[ItsThat2.0T]

I don't have tires on my new wheels yet, can I drive on them?

juusttt kidding, yes, it sounds like a terrible idea. Ride a bike.

[minameismud]

i had the same problem. ended up cross-threading one of the holes and having to take it to an audi mechanic to get it fixed and installed proper. in the mean-time, i just used smaller bolts (that don't thread into the stock locations) and a couple nuts & washers to hold the brackets on. and...drive it easy with that setup, of course. had to go a week like that before the appointment with the mechanic.

[minameismud]

the brackets are the same it's the bushings that are different.

and yes it's a bad idea.

the brackets are different. the brackets for the RS4 sway are bigger to accept the larger bushings. go ask your parts guy.

[tivs31]

just take the whole bar off and then you can drive all you want

[80CID]

Why would the bushings be bigger? The inner diameter would be bigger but the outside dimensions should not change. But mines been hanging on the garage wall for months now....so I don't know from experience yet. Besides you want as little movement as possible.

[GEkido]

The bushing would be bigger to compensate for "greater" forces exerted on the car. Engineers that desinged the cars would assume that the RS4 would be driven a bit harder than a standard A4 so in turn, it would have beefer components. And as to the OP's question, would you drive your car with the wheels not attached properly? Probably not, I think the same logic would apply to any suspension piece "not properly attached".

[Sly Raskal]

the brackets are the same it's the bushings that are different.

and yes it's a bad idea.

They are NOT the same brackets.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=225821

More closely:

NOTE: The new brackets are larger than the stock brackets and fit exceptionally well. Anyone who says the stock brackets are OK with the larger bar is WRONG.

Also, there is a picture on the board of a both the stock A4 and the RS4 brackets and you can visually see the difference in the sizes.

I know this personally because when i picked up the brackets from the dealership it specifically states that the RS4 brackets are meant for the 22mm sway (super sport) and there is another bracket for the 20mm sway (sport) which is probably off the S4, and then a third which is probably for our bracket on the stock A4. I should have got the part #'s for all three to put this claim to rest.

[PerfCafe]

The bushing would be bigger to compensate for "greater" forces exerted on the car. Engineers that desinged the cars would assume that the RS4 would be driven a bit harder than a standard A4 so in turn, it would have beefer components. And as to the OP's question, would you drive your car with the wheels not attached properly? Probably not, I think the same logic would apply to any suspension piece "not properly attached".

The proper part number for the larger bracket is "8A0511439" And I wouldn't recommend driving w/the sway "half on" I would put either your stock sway on or the RS4 sway on ... which ever is going to mount properly in order to drive the car.

[Quattro]

why not just put stock back on?? I agree with the gods at performance cafe =D

[GottaAudi2]

You can re-use the same brackets. A short cut to getting the stock brackets over the new bushings: hand tighten the top bolts until the threads are just started, then take a vise-grip and pull the bottom of the bracket inward against the bar. Let sit about 45 seconds. The bushing will be sufficiently squeezed and not rebound immediately. Remove the vicegrip and screw in the bottom bolt. Tighten.

[freeflow]

The proper part number for the larger bracket is "8A0511439" And I wouldn't recommend driving w/the sway "half on" I would put either your stock sway on or the RS4 sway on ... which ever is going to mount properly in order to drive the car.

It was the "gods" at performance café (JB) that told me that the brackets are the same for the A4 sway and the RS4 sway when i ordered it from them... clearly they were wrong, and the part numbers quoted above are wrong:

OEM RS4 Rear Sway Bar Brackets # 8E0-511-439 (the top brackets in the pic)
OEM A4 Rear Sway Bar Brackets # 8A0-511-439 (the bottom brackets in the pic)




The gods must be crazy....
-1 rep for perf café lol... jk

[Quattro]

gods make mistake too =x

[AudiWxGuy]

You can get the bar on with the stock parts. My shop did it yesterday. Just takes a little bit of TLC. Makes a huge difference in handling characteristics of the car. The steering is so much more responsive.

[Sly Raskal]

It was the "gods" at performance café (JB) that told me that the brackets are the same for the A4 sway and the RS4 sway when i ordered it from them... clearly they were wrong, and the part numbers quoted above are wrong:

OEM RS4 Rear Sway Bar Brackets # 8E0-511-439 (the top brackets in the pic)
OEM A4 Rear Sway Bar Brackets # 8A0-511-439 (the bottom brackets in the pic)




The gods must be crazy....
-1 rep for perf café lol... jk

That's the picture I was referring to in my post above!

Also, the part # you posted is correct. It's the same number I posted up in the FAQ thread.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=126

[B7A4WD]

why what was wrong with the stock brackets? do they not fit the rs4 sways?

[AudiWxGuy]

they do. i guess it just take a little more work.

[A4CE1]

spray some lube on those bushings and use every ounce of strength you have to hold that bracket on tight while you thread the screws.

dont be afraid to use a lot of muscle. and beer. :)

[Sly Raskal]

What I don't get with this whole discussion about the RS4 Rear Sway Brackets is that the brackets/clips are a cheap part and obviously, as reported by other members and myself as being an easy way to get the sway bar on properly.

They are only $8-$13 a piece. Not an expensive part really. Why not just buy the clips and do it right? I don't get it, spend 40K on a nice car, and skimp out on an relatively cheap bracket/clip.

Why is this even up for discussion?

[80CID]

It was the "gods" at performance café (JB) that told me that the brackets are the same for the A4 sway and the RS4 sway when i ordered it from them... clearly they were wrong, and the part numbers quoted above are wrong:

OEM RS4 Rear Sway Bar Brackets # 8E0-511-439 (the top brackets in the pic)
OEM A4 Rear Sway Bar Brackets # 8A0-511-439 (the bottom brackets in the pic)




The gods must be crazy....
-1 rep for perf café lol... jk

I stand corrected....but if it would of been me designing the RS4 sway bar I would used the same brackets (lower cost, this can add up on 10’s of thousands of cars) and used a “stiffer” rubber bushing…..but it wasn’t up to me.

Btw why do they sell it as an up grade for the A4 without the brackets? Just add $20 bucks to the price….simple.

[Sly Raskal]

I stand corrected....but if it would of been me designing the RS4 sway bar I would used the same brackets (lower cost, this can add up on 10’s of thousands of cars) and used a “stiffer” rubber bushing…..but it wasn’t up to me

The extra 4mm of space between the stock sway and the rs4 sways need to be accounted for somewhere.

the extra 4mm of space required the bushing to have a larger opening, that's a given. I don't know if this is true or not, but I would imagine the bushing on the RS4 is also stiffer than the stock a4.

Fine they probably could have used a stiffer bushing on the base a4, but the fact that the opening on the RS4 bushing won't match the base a4 sway is enough for them to require different bushings and clips/brackets to make a tight/snug fit to eliminate play in the bar's movement. Not everything can be a one size fits all even if they want to save money.

[CardNation]

I plan to use the stock bracket, simply because it works and I'm impatient.

[greene08]

I'm the one who did that writeup you see from the pictures above. BUY THE LARGER BRACKETS. They have the correct fitment. Car parts were not meant to be wrenched on.

[GEkido]

The extra 4mm of space between the stock sway and the rs4 sways need to be accounted for somewhere.

the extra 4mm of space required the bushing to have a larger opening, that's a given. I don't know if this is true or not, but I would imagine the bushing on the RS4 is also stiffer than the stock a4.

Fine they probably could have used a stiffer bushing on the base a4, but the fact that the opening on the RS4 bushing won't match the base a4 sway is enough for them to require different bushings and clips/brackets to make a tight/snug fit to eliminate play in the bar's movement. Not everything can be a one size fits all even if they want to save money.

In my particular case it wasnt about saving money, it was just not included in my group buy. I went ahead and used some good ol' elbow grease and managed to get it on. Not saying that having the larger brackets wouldnt have been easier, they just werent around. And really, having an easily mounted mod just sitting there waiting for some brackets just doesnt sit well with me. I'm like a kid in a candy store.

[freeflow]

To answer my original question.... I called my local audi dealer who told me it was no problem at all to drive without the sway bar or with it not fully attached.

The new larger brackets came in 2 days later... and fit like a charm. 5 mins a side to install with the new brackets... no cursing... no NEEEEEd for beer (still had a couple tho of course)... no straining.

For anyone trying to do this mod in the future.... get the right size brackets. It is a royal pain in the ass to try to reuse the stock brackets which are NOT the right size.

test drove around a bit earlier.... LOVE THE DIFFERENCE. Best bang for your buck since i got my APR93

[has6]

I had the same problem with the stock brackets on my B6 A4 and I drove around for a day or two without one of the brackets on one side of the RS4 sway bar and my car handled like a Grand Cherokee. I'm pretty sure unless you're loading the car constantly through the corners, it's not going to kill you to drive with it loose/missing/disconnected/etc.