RWD

[GetAwayFromMe]

I Bought another 99.5 A4 for a DD this one is also 2.8 5speed like my current one. It has over 200k miles and it needs alot of work and i had this thought of making tt RWD so i can have some fun. I only payed $300 for it because it's pretty beat up both body and engine. If there is anyone that did this what all is needed to complete the project? I really would like to do this so give me what you got.

Before you go saying why? it's quattro blah blah i already have one and just want to have some fun at auto-x and what not.

[blmlozz]

yes it's been done before, and no, it's not that hard. Remove the axels, weld the center diff shut. Done. Don't even really need to do the first part if you're lazy, since when you weld the diff they won't get any power anyway.

[GetAwayFromMe]

Any info on what exacly needs to be welded?

[blmlozz]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...version&page=2
post # 31 & 32 nothing fancy, just something to keep the parts from moving basicaly.

[GetAwayFromMe]

Awesome guys thanks alot i might be doing this over the weekend.

[GetAwayFromMe]

Does anyone know if i should weld the rear diff also? If i weld the center diff and not the rear would both rear tires spin or just one? I dont see the reason to remove the front axels if they are not gonna have any power going to them unless there could be a problem it it spins the front diff. I think if i do this it would be fun to go and try some drifting at the track but hearing that the rear diff is weak i shouldnt be launching the car hard.

[blmlozz]

you don't need to do the rear diff unless you want one wheel wonders . front diff dust power equally between the front wheels center dust between the front and rear wheels, and the rear diff dust power equally between the rear wheels.

[onemoremile]

Pick up a Porsche 944 rear diff and machine the bearing bosses to fit the Audi bearings. Now you've got a great limited slip in the rear for a fraction of the cost of a new Torsen.

[GetAwayFromMe]

I'm gonna look for a used center diff that way i have spare just in case i want to go back to AWD. There is one out of a 00 1.8t are they any different than the 2.8?

[AudiA4_20T]

I'm gonna look for a used center diff that way i have spare just in case i want to go back to AWD. There is one out of a 00 1.8t are they any different than the 2.8?

same thing

[onemoremile]

Keep in mind that although the stock drivetrain is overbuilt those rear axles were meant to see about 40 hp each. Not that I think you'll break a lot of parts with a V6 but it bears saying anyway.

[GetAwayFromMe]

Keep in mind that although the stock drivetrain is overbuilt those rear axles were meant to see about 40 hp each. Not that I think you'll break a lot of parts with a V6 but it bears saying anyway.

They do look pretty small, i think i herd them clicking so they might be going out anyway. I was gonna beat on it and do some launches and drifting, it's a $300 car i cant loose to much.

[onemoremile]

Beat the hell out of it. Let us know what it takes to break it.

[GetAwayFromMe]

How much does a used center diff go for? The guy at the local junk yard does not want to separate which i understand. Anyone has one for sale?

[andyrew]

100-200 range for center diff. How much does he want for the whole trani? Its a good idea to keep a spare one if your going to beat on it..

[audee3]

i actually have done the rwd conversion to my car and it is alot of funhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxP6loGqHMg

[GetAwayFromMe]

i actually have done the rwd conversion to my car and it is alot of funhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxP6loGqHMg

Nice vid. Did you do anything else besides welding the center diff? I was thinking on not even removing the front axels since they wont get any power either way.

[GetAwayFromMe]

100-200 range for center diff. How much does he want for the whole trani? Its a good idea to keep a spare one if your going to beat on it..

Around $600 but it's a 1.8t tranny and my is 2.8 so i would probably have to replace the final drive if i was to use that tranny.

[djwimbo]

Around $600 but it's a 1.8t tranny and my is 2.8 so i would probably have to replace the final drive if i was to use that tranny.

Not if you're going to make it RWD. The 2.8 has a 3.70 ring gear vs the 1.8T's 3.89. As far as the center diff goes, if you have a one piece put in a a one piece. Same deal with the 2 piece setups.

As far as welding it up and what not, go for it. I'd remove the front axles, I don't know who said it didn't matter but it does, or should. The other option would be to remove the front half of the Torsen while welding the rear half. Not sure I'd go that route since the input shaft(pinion shaft) for the front diff wouldn't be supported in the rear at that point.

One last thing. If you remove the front axles, make sure you go to the junk yard and pick up a pair of junk out CV joints. Remove the insides and bolt them in place like a normal CV. This will save your bearings, those wheel bearings need to be held together, not just pressed in.

[audee3]

ya the front axles must be removed as your center diff is now locked leaving them on will remain quattro but locked diff, also i unplugged my abs/traction control to allow wheel spin

[GetAwayFromMe]

ya the front axles must be removed as your center diff is now locked leaving them on will remain quattro but locked diff, also i unplugged my abs/traction control to allow wheel spin

Thanks guys, i will be doing this soon and will let you know how it went.

[onemoremile]

ya the front axles must be removed as your center diff is now locked leaving them on will remain quattro but locked diff, also i unplugged my abs/traction control to allow wheel spin

I was wondering what all was needed to run on a 2wd dyno and this really helped. I assumed it but didn't know it as fact so thank you very much.

If I wanted to run as FWD on a dyno should I assume that I could swap in a welded diff and remove the propshaft? Seems much quicker since the front end of the shaft has to be disconnected to pull the diff housing anyway. Am I on the right track here?

[GetAwayFromMe]

Another question. Wouldnt i go through tires really fast since both rear tires will be moving at the same time?

Sorry ONEMOREMILE I'm a noob i this thing so i have no idea.

[andyrew]

Your rear axles is not welded solid , just the transfer to the rear is welded solid...

From my understanding

[audee3]

exactly your rear is not locked it still goes from left to right but only in the rear

[snowaudi]

audee3...
first... what year is your?
second... what exact steps/mods did you do to your car?
(rear is easy... front is concern. need old axles to hold together? details!)
i think there are a lot of us looking for a step by step how to!!!

love the video!!!

[audee3]

sorry i didnt take any pics but after i put the center diff back on the car install rear drive shaft. the front axles i did not have a spare set which would of been better but anyway you remove the outer boots and then knock the bearing ends of the shaft with a hammer, now the shafts you wont be needing but the part you removed (with the abs speed sensor ring on it)usually what the boot is protecting you need to bolt that back into your hub so your wheel bearings dont come apart because thats what holds it all together my car is a 96 by the way with a 1.8t

[onemoremile]

If you weld the center you've still got open fronts and rears. This vid shows why our cars can really use a real mechanical rear diffy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92agFA9daQI

[djwimbo]

Seems much quicker since the front end of the shaft has to be disconnected to pull the diff housing anyway. Am I on the right track here?

Yes.

If you weld both the front and rear gearsets of the center diff you will have a straight 50/50 split. Removing power to one of the axles (front or rear, not left or right) will make the trans only power the connected wheels.

Random thought though, what if somebody only welded the rear gearset and left the front alone? That way the front wheels could spin a different speed for corners, but you'd always have immediate power to the wheels. Instead of being translated by the TBR first.

[DriftNasty]

so this whole rwd thing can be done to the b5 1.8 too?
im just curious cause i wanna slide on the real.
how much would this setup cost?

[onemoremile]

Random thought though, what if somebody only welded the rear gearset and left the front alone? That way the front wheels could spin a different speed for corners, but you'd always have immediate power to the wheels. Instead of being translated by the TBR first.

A rear spool would create a lot of understeer and maybe some popping and chunking around tight corners. Definitely not fun on the street and probably not on the track unless talking about drifting, rally, or something along those lines.

[dmaize]

does anyone know if you would get better MPG? could it be worth it to switch it in the summer.

[biketsai]

so this whole rwd thing can be done to the b5 1.8 too?
im just curious cause i wanna slide on the real.
how much would this setup cost?

Just man up and learn how to whip it around. haha
jk, but seriously, why not just AWD drift?

And for the MPG, i think it would only get like 1-2 mpg anyways./

[DriftNasty]

to be completely honest ive never been able to get the car loose.

and i mean i have whipped that car countless times in the rain and it just wont do it.

its so damn depressing :\

but i found a guy who will weld my center diffy for fifty bucks.

and he said the rear should easily be able to handle 200hp.

cant wait to go pick my apr chip up :DDDD

[djwimbo]

on stock power the car can barely get out of it's own way. Snow is another story, rain takes some more practice.

[biketsai]

to be completely honest ive never been able to get the car loose.

and i mean i have whipped that car countless times in the rain and it just wont do it.

its so damn depressing :\

but i found a guy who will weld my center diffy for fifty bucks.

and he said the rear should easily be able to handle 200hp.

cant wait to go pick my apr chip up :DDDD

Get an upgraded rear sway bar, and get a small front one.,

[djwimbo]

Get an upgraded rear sway bar, and get a small front one.,

F- That. H-Sports FTW. I forgot how nasty stock sport suspension was until last week when I got to beat on a customer's car. I thought I had 10 fat chicks in the back.

[DriftNasty]

your sayin a sway bar upgrade will help me slide because from my understanding the sway bars only help keep it level during cornering, now i understand how this could help slide the car but that by itself i dont think will make it nasty sideways......because i know all the drifters i roll with are rockin lsd's and i just wanna be the only audi sliding around.

and i get no snow in bama. :[

oh second question, what kinda coilovers should i get if i wanna slam my a4?
and anyone know a hookup on some rs4 18' replicas?(maybe already wrapped)

[biketsai]

Yea, im not so sure about getting nasty sidewayzz, but that would just give quattro a bad rep. haha. But i know that there are some rs4 reps for sale in teh classified, and if not, ill sell you mine at the right price ;]

[andyrew]

If you want more grip on the front, tighten the rear. If you want more grip on the back, tighten the front.

THUS. get the biggest rear sway bar you can get. ALSO upgrade to metal end links AND reinforce your sway bar mounting bracket. If you look at it under the car you'll figure it out.

If you still have a problem getting it sideways after all that, disconnect the front sway bar (disconnecting one link will do just fine).

FYI I can go sideways JUUUST fine, and hold it under power (I do a lot of long sweepers at the autox sideways so I can flick it on the next corner).