2003 A4 B6 1.8T FWD MT Overhaul. Round 2

[zerovandez]

So I've had my B6 for a few months now. Round 1 of this overhaul consisted of timing belts and components, thermostat, coolant hoses, high pressure p/s line, p/s pump, water sensors, Febi B5 S4 motor mounts, and many other things.

This round, and I hope is the final, will include the following

1. Subframe replacement (current has a busted bushing)
2. 034 control arms
3. 034 rear transmission mount
4. 034 breather hose kit
5. 034 Billet DV
6. Block to Oil Cooler Adapter Gasket
7. Oil pan gasket
8. Steering Rack (by Rack Doctor)
9. Intake manifold gasket (plan to remove for breather hose replacement)
10. Oil level Sender Seal

Is there anything else I should add onto this list while I'm working in these areas?

[mpsmith]

Differential mount, engine/ tranny mounts,

[Matt Devo]

Differential mount, engine/ tranny mounts,

he's FWD, and already listed the engine/tranny mounts.

OP - how about an AWD conversion? =)

[zerovandez]

I actually thought about that but I've got other projects on my plate that I need to finish (Track Turbo Civic). I just want this thing to be reliable A-B, sometimes C daily driver. It's a nice car and want to keep it as stock as possible.

[Spike00513]

Why would you replace an entire subframe, because of one bushing? You know the subframe has 6 bushings, right? How do you know a used subframe will not have a bushing fail shortly after? (Not that it should). Having it out would be a good time to do the cheaper alternative to 034's subframe bushing insert mod, if you want. Such as replacing those two little diff carrier bushings, and filling them with urethane or something while you have them out.
Why do you need 034 control arms? They are expensive and used on cars that are too low.
You can get steering racks in places other than Rack Doctor, I'd look into DIY rebuild

There is a ton of other things you can add to the list, depending on the details of the car...what mileage it has...
You'll need P/S fluid and a new low-pressure P/S suction line as well as P/S system banjo bolt line connection sealing washers..

he's FWD, and already listed the engine/tranny mounts.

OP - how about an AWD conversion? =)

He lives in LA, where it's 70 degrees in the dead of winter...

[Furly]

Why would you replace an entire subframe, because of one bushing? You know the subframe has 6 bushings, right? How do you know a used subframe will not have a bushing fail shortly after? (Not that it should). Having it out would be a good time to do the cheaper alternative to 034's subframe bushing insert mod, if you want. Such as replacing those two little diff carrier bushings, and filling them with urethane or something while you have them out.
Why do you need 034 control arms? They are expensive and used on cars that are too low.
You can get steering racks in places other than Rack Doctor, I'd look into DIY rebuild

There is a ton of other things you can add to the list, depending on the details of the car...what mileage it has...
You'll need P/S fluid and a new low-pressure P/S suction line as well as P/S system banjo bolt line connection sealing washers..



He lives in LA, where it's 70 degrees in the dead of winter...

i live in cali too and it doesn't matter if its 100 degrees or -30, FWD CVT will fail and cost $$ to replace. :D
and its an audi, it needs quattro to be 100% IMO. but if its just a daily for him, and he doesn't mind the CVT, then it doesn't matter i guess.

@OP, FCP has a complete control arm and suspension kit for cheap, and its good. people love it.

DIY as much as you can, and research a ton before buying anything. very important things.

[zerovandez]

I've researched until I bled through the eyes, lol.

There's 4 main bushings on the MT chassis for the front sub frame; 2 front 2 rear. The 2 rear are cracked and torn due to P/S fluid leaking on them over the years, as are some of the CA bushings for the same reasons. I sourced a replacement sub frame from the same Y/M/M w/sport suspension on a vehicle that wasn't involved in a front end collision that fit the bill, and was lower in price versus purchasing parts and paying for labor. All bushings look dry and ready to use. I could have opted to replace them with 034 billet units or OEM replacements but I don't have the time to truck it to the shop to get it installed correctly.

I've had the 034 control arms for a while now. Just needed the right time to install. 034 seems like a reputable vendor here and I believe the will stand behind their product should it ever fail. I wanted something stronger than OEM, and to give a "stiffer" feel.

Why would I need a low pressure suction line if all that I'm doing is removing the banjo bolt?
For the steering rack. I did look into a DIY rebuild but again, as with the case of the sub frame, I don't have time to sit and rebuild it. I've seen the complaints against Rackdocktor and the owner, seems to always chime in on those types of threads. Should he have not responded, I wouldn't have bought from them. But because he backs up his product and work and responds to these threads, I decided it was a cost effective alternative.