2002 Allroad Project

[Kaane]

Finally got home from California picking up my new 2002 Allroad. Had to drive 22 hours straight to texas. What a pain.

The car is a 1 owner 2002 Allroad 6MT. Winter Package, no bose. 106K miles. Car is in good shape cosmetically, but will need a few things mechanically to make it perfect.

Suspension / tires first. The air suspension system works, but half the shocks feel blown, every bump I hit the car rolled side to side badly. No leaks in the airbags and some have been replaced in the past, but the shocks are all original. Currently the car feels horrible in the handling department. The tires are beyond bad as well, car has a bad shake over 75mph, but 2 tires are at like 0%, so I am sure everything is out of balance. I will probably get full arnott gen 2 setup and hoping maybe to get some revalved bilsteins if I can figure out what valving will work best, since I really like the air setup and would like to keep it. Control Arm bushings have seen better days, so I will replace all of them.

Engine is in good shape, turbos spool good, no codes. I am sure there is a few leaks from seals from age alone. So I will do full timing belt / water pump / VC gaskets and cam seals. Transmission shifts good, clutch fine for now.

Interior is clean, but i need all new cup holders since none of them work right. Need Door Panel Cubby, since one does not close. Needs new light switch panel, since this one is peeling. Radio is a total mess, will need new speakers and I will probably replace the entire head unit, since I want Blue Tooth / Airplay streaming. Car came with all weather mats and brand new original mats. Roof rack attachement and Ski rack.

Here are some pictures, car is dirty from 1500 miles on the road.

[SteelyS6]

Congrats, does look like a very clean body!

[happy2B5]

Nice pickup. For handling, the hotchkis sway kit really tightens up the turns imo. It is still a heavy pig but I really liked the addition to mine.

[JTown77]

Arnott makes some shocks, but I saw little improvement over my 131k oem shocks. Where is Bilstein when you need them?

[a4kamila6]

Good job, awesome find. Plus shes not a swap!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kaane]

Need to finish my other project and get it out of the garage before I can start on the Allroad. My other A6 needs new 1st gear collar, transmission won't go into 1st. It also needs all new gaskets, since its leaking from everywhere.

Spent today building Wheel Cribs. Was going to buy some, but 12inch ones sell for $150 for a pair! $20 buck of wood and I had 2 built in an hour. Need more 2by 4's so I can build other 2.

[happy2B5]

Arnott makes some shocks, but I saw little improvement over my 131k oem shocks. Where is Bilstein when you need them?

Ya, I agree. I should have kept my oe shocks when I replaced with arnott gen2. I dont love them. And bilstein was in mix but widly held as even worse with their allroad offerings.

[Kaane]

Is anyone happy with the factory allroad suspension? Is it worth fixing? I rarely go offroading, so I am not sure I really need ride height adjustments. I have been researching upgrades for the factory air setup and no one really has anything worthwhile, everything is a compromise. I am either just going to replace all the shocks with factory versions and replace the control arms, or just install coilovers with A6 bits and pieces. Would help to get a ride in a car with good factory suspension so I can see how well it runs.

[happy2B5]

If I had it to do all over again, I would havd ponied up for factory replacements. Shocks for certain. The current and likely only aftermarket offerings just dont cut it. I liked my original factory ride much better than the arnott gen2 air springs and shocks (front). May very well ditch them and just buy new factory components. My front air springs were leaking and needed replacing.

For me, off-roading or not, the allroad is equipped with the air suspension. I dink around with it plenty and love it. Even just in and around town although I do take it camping, hiking, fire roads, mountain biking, skiing, etc...I find it a useful function even if it is finicky to say the least.

[Kaane]

Anyone install this kit? Pricy, but specific to the allroad.

http://www.2bennett.com/allroad_suspension.html

[Kaane]

The rear factory shocks are stupid expensive. $500 each, anyone have a OEM replacement? I know Arnott makes OEM fronts, but no rears, only bilsteins which don't look good.

[happy2B5]

And thats on sale. Lol!
And Arnott are not on par with oem imo

[4rings2turbos]

And thats on sale. Lol!
And Arnott are not on par with oem imo

X2. Arnott on my tip allroad: blahhh OEM on 6-speed and 402'd to hell and back? Very nice.

[JTown77]

I put Bilsteins on my truck a few years ago and they were 2-3 times better than the factory offerings, I wonder what was the problem with their audi fitments?

[SteelyS6]

Don't buy Arnott shocks, one of mine was blown after 13 months. Went back to OEM and the ride is definitely better.

[happy2B5]

I put Bilsteins on my truck a few years ago and they were 2-3 times better than the factory offerings, I wonder what was the problem with their audi fitments?

I dont think its all audi fitments. Just allroads options I guess. I have pss9 on an s4 avant and love them.

[Kaane]

From my research the rear bilsteins for the allroad are a A4 application, no custom valving of any kind just off the shelf shock with collar to work with the air spring. It is way under dampened and floaty due to the car being way heavier.

[happy2B5]

From my experience, you can get away with arnott air springs. Just pay up for factory shocks if you wish to keep the air system (which I do).

2bennet or blauparts for allroad specific coilover system. But I like the versatility of the push button system.

[a4kamila6]

The only thing i like about my blaupart shocks for my a4 b5 are the fact they are limited lifetime warranty. I guess it depends on where you live but still, a set should last 50-60k. I had to replace my rear set already at 20k. Thanfully they paid for it, but maybe I should have just bought Oem, which i will next time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JTown77]

From my research the rear bilsteins for the allroad are a A4 application, no custom valving of any kind just off the shelf shock with collar to work with the air spring. It is way under dampened and floaty due to the car being way heavier.

THIS, I think that is the issue with the Bilstein fronts as well, they were designed for another fitment and they just slapped a collar on them.

[8520]

My recommendation is to stop spending money on air suspension parts before you start. Convert to standard a6 suspension and be done with it. Cheaper control arms when you need them too.

[BasicA6]

that all road is super clean.

[Kaane]

Replaced couple things that needed to be fixed asap. New Headlights switch and New Cup Holder :) Now I need to figure out what to do with the AC control buttons peeling.

[Kaane]

Anyone know if the earlier non soft touch climate control have the same wiring? Is it plug and play?

[Kaane]

Installed another cluster with a working LCD panel. Used Vag K Commander to sync to immobilizer and change the mileage.



Got a Stage 1 Tune from Daz and flashed it with nefmoto.



I got a stupid transmission error in the cluster, anyone know how to clear it? It still thinks its in a car with an automatic. I don't see any coding option in the cluster for manual transmission.

[Kaane]

I ordered 19x10 square wheels. Original plan was to run 275/35/19 square setup, but I am worried about the front not fitting. Anyone run 275 fronts with no issues?

how about 275/35/19 rear and 265/35/19 fronts?

[happy2B5]

Wheel et?

4rings has run 275+ I believe.

I run 265/40r18 on a 10 wide wheel at et13. I am very close to uprights and doubt I could run a 275. But, I want to try next tire run.

[8520]

I got a stupid transmission error in the cluster, anyone know how to clear it? It still thinks its in a car with an automatic. I don't see any coding option in the cluster for manual transmission.

There is an option there somewhere. Can't quite remember where but it's in the cluster coding.

Anyone know if the earlier non soft touch climate control have the same wiring? Is it plug and play?

Yes, but the off button doesn't work as it's the econ button on the soft touch ones.

My last allroad I converted to all prefacelift plastics and had zero issues. It's a bit of work but screw soft touch.

[Kaane]

19x10 Et25, I am sure I will get some spacers as well. I might run 255/40/19, not a fan of stretch tires, but the wheels only come in 8.5 or 10, nothing in between.

Daz told me how to fix the adaptation in the cluster. I am going to copy the adaptation from fields 60,61,62 in vcds from old cluster. They control the CAN gateway functions and specify what CAN equipment is on the bus.

[Kaane]

New Wheels arrived, picking up tires later today. Ordered some red center caps as well. Waiting on some spacers, ordered 10mm and 3mm spacers.

19x10 Rotiform SPF 25mm offset.

[SteelyS6]

Nice wheels! May want to go wider on tire if you don't want stretch, I'm running 255/40R19 on 9.5 wide TSW and they are stretched.

[4rings2turbos]

Facelift and pf climate units are non-interchangable. I'm 285 in the front now. 285/30/19 9.5 wide and et12.8, required flare modification.

(shhhh, I'm secretly working on a wider bolt-on allroad flare in carbon fiber. Also working on a bolt on flare spacer allowing 285 square for those that don't want to pony up for the entire flare. Both will be able to be run together for much wider track. Hoping to have this done for camp allroad to show and take orders from anyone interested. Sort of keeping it dl but I also want to gauge some interest.)

Check your alignment before assuming your struts are done. Toe comes out pretty easy and can give a really unsettled ride.

[Kaane]

Nice wheels! May want to go wider on tire if you don't want stretch, I'm running 255/40R19 on 9.5 wide TSW and they are stretched.

I've ran 255 on 19x10 before, so yep they will be stretched, I am worried 275 square setup will rub in the front. I will probably get different tires once I install coilovers and measure exactly how much room I have.

[4rings2turbos]

275 won't rub if the offset is correct. Guaranteed.

[Kaane]

275 won't rub if the offset is correct. Guaranteed.

You 100% certain? I was about to go buy tires. I have 10mm and 3mm spacers coming. So I can go down to 12mm offset front. Do I need more spacer? So 275/35/19 square should not be a problem?

[4rings2turbos]

I'll put it this way so I don't get myself in trouble :)

Front specs before buying new spacers:

19x9.5 et17.8 285/35/19. This does not clear the upright, the tire rubs. But it clears the flare. I need approx 5mm more to clear the spindle. So if I had a tire with 10mm less width then it would give me that 5mm clearance on the inside.


Crucial to this argument is that Pirelli has some of the absolute widest treadwidths of any manufacturer or model- section width is uniform for the most part given a tire size, but the treadwidth varies. If you're going with a Michelin you will have miles of clearance. All the different Michelins I ran in 275 had a similar treadwidth to my P Zero and Ecsta SPTs in 255. If you get a P Zero, especially Corsa or Trofeo R like me, it will be tight. Michelin or Conti? Even more room for activities.

[Kaane]

Tire in question is Bridgestone Potenza S-04 my favorite all around tire.

- - - Updated - - -

Should I get 265/35/19 to be safer?

[4rings2turbos]

The Pole Position is a nice tire. The 275 is a whopping 1.4" more narrow than the 285 P Zero in treadwidth and .8" more narrow in section width. I really think those will be just fine as long as it's spaced out from the upright.

If anything a 265/35 rolling diameter is going to look and be too small. My 285/35 is still smaller than factory rolling diameter.

[4rings2turbos]

Also a 265 on 10" wheel is going to be more stretch than flush. Short sidewalls plus stretch on an allroad doesn't look right.

[Kaane]

285/35/19 = 26.854 factory is 225/55/17 = 26.744, so 285 should be a bit taller.

275/35/19 = 26.579 is pretty close.

ok, I'll order some 275's worst case scenario, I'll replace the 2 fronts if they rub.