B7 A4 Timing Belt Change

[fly300kts]

I did evacuate the system because I had access to the Freon bench but it's not mandatory, you can swing the front end on the side

Phil

[illegitimus]

I did evacuate the system because I had access to the Freon bench but it's not mandatory, you can swing the front end on the side

Phil

thanks for confirming this...

[tankdeer]

Great job. Curious, what mileage are you at Phil? I'm at 60k so trying to plan when I should tackle this myself.

[fly300kts]

Great job. Curious, what mileage are you at Phil? I'm at 60k so trying to plan when I should tackle this myself.

Here is the answer



Phil

[tankdeer]

If only the firewall at work didn't block the pics. I'll check it again when I get home. Thanks man.

[fly300kts]

Burn the firewall !!!!

Phil

[EuroA4]

Phil, do you happen to have any of the Tq specs for the various bolts in this procedure?

[fly300kts]

^^ Damn, that's a good one, I trashed my notes. If you give me some time and really need them, I can search them again

Phil

[shamrok]

Whatever the paper says, I would not gamble with this. Yes, once removed, the belt look almost like new but I would be more concern about the Tensionner and other small bearings. If they seize, you are done and it will end up costing you more . My tensionner once removed, had a pretty consequent side play

Agreed, but I'm CPO'd, so I'll wait until 100k personally.

[dougyfresh]

This thread really should be a sticky. You guys should petition for a B7 A4 DIY/FAQ subforum.

Phil, do you happen to have any of the Tq specs for the various bolts in this procedure?

OP... Please add this to the original post. Thanks!

In reference to the timing belt exploded diagram below:
(8) eccentric pulley - 25Nm
(12) damper roller - 25Nm
(14) water pump bolts - 15Nm
(15) damper roller - 35Nm
(1) (5) timing belt cover bolts - 10Nm




and reference to the serpentine belt exploded diagram:
(3) crank serpentine belt pulley [replace anytime removed] - 10Nm plus 90deg (1/4 turn)
(6) serpentine belt tensioner bolts - 23Nm


everything else (front end): good and tight

[fly300kts]

I asked the Mods to make it sticky but they don't seems to care
Oh well

phil

[Sharkfin]

Hey Phil I'm bumping this with a few questions:

1. Did you buy a kit or the individual parts from the dealer?

2. how long would you say it took you total?

I'm at 70k and don't plan on doing this until at least 80k if not farther.

[fly300kts]

1. I bought a kit on the web. fyi, Most of the kits don't provide the 6 Allen screws of the crankshaft pulley. Get them from me Dealer because you will have to replace them
2. I took my time, and ended up finishing the job in 7 hours
3. Don't wanna be an ass but prefer be safe than sorry in life. I would not extend the replacement further than 80K. I know that Audi has extended the life to 115K (I think) but as a reminder, Audi also says "recommend". If the belt failed before, you are on your own, whatever Audi recommend.

Phil

[Sharkfin]

Where did you get your kit from?
And yeah I know I shouldn't wait too long, but I honestly don't have time to do that (or the space/tools) until at least August of this year.

[fly300kts]

Don't really remember. It was $290 shipped

phil

[CleverA4Name]

Where did you get your kit from?
And yeah I know I shouldn't wait too long, but I honestly don't have time to do that (or the space/tools) until at least August of this year.

I did a rough price comparison between the one offered on europaparts and ecs, and from what I found it seems that the EuropaParts kit is a much better bang for your buck.

With the Europa kit, you get the thermostat and the service sticker (I didn't even see the thermostat on ECS, but maybe they could chime in and point me in the correct direction if it is there).

Another thing that I found was that the ECS didn't come with the 6 M8x16 bolts as Phil was saying, while the Europa kit did.

Here are the links to the 2 kits, hope this helps Nate!

http://www.europaparts.com/timing-be...aign=postreply

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B7_A4-...Kit/ES1876845/

[illegitimus]

I did a rough price comparison between the one offered on europaparts and ecs, and from what I found it seems that the EuropaParts kit is a much better bang for your buck.

With the Europa kit, you get the thermostat and the service sticker (I didn't even see the thermostat on ECS, but maybe they could chime in and point me in the correct direction if it is there).

Another thing that I found was that the ECS didn't come with the 6 M8x16 bolts as Phil was saying, while the Europa kit did.

Here are the links to the 2 kits, hope this helps Nate!

http://www.europaparts.com/timing-be...aign=postreply

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B7_A4-...Kit/ES1876845/

I actually discussed the kit with Europa rep over IM and they also confirmed that the parts in their kit are all OEM as opposed to any other place I talked/emailed where their parts could not be confirmed OEM. Honestly, I'd rather pay more but make sure the stuff is OEM.

[CleverA4Name]

^This as well, I forgot to put that in there about Europa, thanks for catching that Illegitimus

[fly300kts]

The parts I installed where OEM (they all came in OEM packaging)

Phil

[Sharkfin]

I was planning no getting them from Matt at Europa, but not for several months. We'll see what happens as i rack up miles this summer

[FASTONE]

Phil strikes again!!! Amazing DIY!!!

[illegitimus]

The parts I installed where OEM (they all came in OEM packaging)

Phil

Do you remember what place it was by any chance?

[fly300kts]

Found it !!!
And they now include the 6 crankshaft bolts
http://www.blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GH21129-1

Phil

[dougyfresh]

1. I bought a kit on the web. fyi, Most of the kits don't provide the 6 Allen screws of the crankshaft pulley. Get them from me Dealer because you will have to replace them
2. I took my time, and ended up finishing the job in 7 hours
3. Don't wanna be an ass but prefer be safe than sorry in life. I would not extend the replacement further than 80K. I know that Audi has extended the life to 115K (I think) but as a reminder, Audi also says "recommend". If the belt failed before, you are on your own, whatever Audi recommend.

Phil

All.
Be careful with those 6 allen bolts.

They are aluminum and can strip out easily. I stripped 3 of the 6 when I did my friend's B7 timing belt the other month. Managed to get two of those three out with a larger allen and then I broke that allen in the third on. Had to hammer a 12pt 12mm socket over that last one to get it out.

Make sure you use a new allen socket and clean out the heads of the bolts prior to trying to break them free. A tap of a hammer on the socket to seat it properly in the bolt will also help prevent stripping them.

[fly300kts]

You can always drill them, I did that for 2 of them

phil

[dougyfresh]

You can always drill them, I did that for 2 of them

phil

I was. But drilling doesn't help when you break off a hardened steel allen head in the bolt.

[CT Transporter]

this writeup was asbolutey incredible ! this makes me want to do it myself just for the glory of it....Phil...where can i get all the tools for this job?

[fly300kts]

I rented the tools from the same website, but if your Camshaft and Crankshaft seals don't leak, than you don't need any tool beside the usual shop wrenches.
It was a great project. Just don't rush it and you should be fine. It's great to see how much money you saved once the task is completed.

Phil

[rs6]

Just did this yesterday. Some observations:

-Yes, those 6 allen bolts for the crank pulley are a b!tch to remove and very easy to strip, although I got lucky and managed to save all of mine (using quality tools here makes all the difference, thanks MAC). It does appear that they are stretch bolts so they should be replaced but I had no time to buy them so I reused the old ones.
-The coolant hose that runs in front of the top cover is also a b!tch to remove. I left it in place and worked the cover off with some muscle and finesse.
-You don't have to remove the radiator support/radiator/condenser. Using an old B5/B6 trick, use the long reinforcement bar bolts, screw into bumper shock holes and you can pull out the rad. support to provide enough room to work with.
-When refilling the coolant, remove the bleed screw on top of black metal tube next to the cylinder head and slowy add fluid into reservoir until fluid comes out of bleed hole.

[fly300kts]

Glad you found it was useful

Phil

[ClownTrigger]

Insert 2 bolts on each side of the frame to be able to slide and support the front

I know that there's a special tool number for these bolts, but does anyone happen to know the thread size and approx length so I can just go over to home depot and get a few long bolts and washers?

Thanks for the DIY!

[clemsongt]

This is the thermostat, yes?

[fly300kts]

I know that there's a special tool number for these bolts, but does anyone happen to know the thread size and approx length so I can just go over to home depot and get a few long bolts and washers?

Thanks for the DIY!

Don't worry about them,you can do without them
I think they are M8, 150 mm long

Phil

[fly300kts]

This is the thermostat, yes?

Yes it is

Phil

[wre_fer]

Awesome write up, at 90k and ready to do this.

thanks!

[fly300kts]

Awesome write up, at 90k and ready to do this.

thanks!

Feel free to contact me during the process if any question

Phil

[ClownTrigger]

Don't worry about them,you can do without them
I think they are M8, 150 mm long

Phil

Thanks, and yes, they're M8x1.5 thread. Something to make your procedure a little simpler...

Without evacuating the AC, you can't remove and swing away the lock carrier (rad support) so there really isn't any need to remove the intercooler pipes, ducting, impact sensors, reinforcement bar, or even the headlights. The lock carrier "service mode" pulls everything out enough to get the job done, and there's enough slack in everything so you don't have to disconnect anything (except in my case at least, the fan connector and the one below it had to be disconnected and removed from the bracket for slack). After removing the bumper cover, screw the M8x1.5 bolts into the frame, and remove the six T-30 torx screws and the six 13mm bolts, and the whole thing sides out with everything still plugged in. According to the service manual, you're supposed to take two of the T-30 screws and screw the rear upper holes of the lock carrier into the front holes of the fenders to keep it from flopping around, but I left them out to allow for more clearance.

I've noticed that a few posts above refer to the crank dampner bolts as "allan bolts". On my 2005.5, as well as the replacement bolts I got with my kit, these bolts are not allen head bolts, but are 10mm XZN (triple square 12 pt) bolts. A six sided hex key or socket will almost surely strip these out.

Has anyone else had a clogged coolant petcock? I turned mine CCW, then back CW, then CCW again (90 degrees), tapped it with my hand, stuck a needlenose into the drain hole.... nothin. I had to pop the hose to get the coolant out. I felt like I was working on a Mk2 again.

[Sales@RAI]

Hey guys, great thread here. Getting your hands dirty is a great way to save some $$ and keep your car happy.

http://www.raimotorsport.com/RAI-B7-...tbkitb7fsi.htm

That is our B7 timing belt kit, I can also get the 6mm bolts in the kit, just shoot me a PM when you order!

I actually discussed the kit with Europa rep over IM and they also confirmed that the parts in their kit are all OEM as opposed to any other place I talked/emailed where their parts could not be confirmed OEM. Honestly, I'd rather pay more but make sure the stuff is OEM.

FWIW, if the parts were Genuine Audi, they would be quite a bit more. OEM in today's world just means that the brand makes the parts for Audi. Some OEM manufacturers are better than others

[schirm]

doing this over the weekend

[ClownTrigger]

The kit I just got from europaparts wasn't all OEM. It was all definitely quality stuff, but IIRC the only thing I got with four rings on it was the updated DV that has nothing to do with the TB kit. I can list off manufacturers when I get home tonight if anyone's interested, but nothing I received was second rate.