So I will be lowering my A6 this weekend.....any tips?

**QuinnsterKID** · 09-14-2016 07:24 AM

I have had the H&R springs sitting in the garage for about a year now and I just picked up a set of 20's and figured it is time. I have been dreading it after I took a crack at the rear about 6 months ago and realized this isn't just a quick 2-3 hour job. I am just trying to get everything in line so I can get this done as quickly as possible. I am doing new front wheel bearings while I am in there and will be inspecting control arms and ball joints. I ordered new pinch bolts and nuts for the upper control arms. Does anyone have any recommendations to make the task easier? Any tips? I am going to go off the Stasis coilover install for help. I'll be digging in friday and I want to get this done quickly and smoothly.....which in my case usually never happens. Thanks guys!

**2010A6** · 09-14-2016 12:16 PM

If the control arm pinch bolt is stuck, DO NOT REMOVE IT YOURSELF!
I ended up snapping on the head then trying to drill it out myself... Lesson learned $2300 later at Audi after a shitty second hand shop destroyed half my suspension getting it out. My A6 was fairly new being a 2010 and that thing was still stuck so bad it seemed to be welded in there...

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**QuinnsterKID** · 09-14-2016 12:19 PM

Yea I have been doing my research and have heard multiple people talking about them. Im hoping with my car being a west coast desert car that I do not have such an issue but we will find out. What are you lowered on?

**2010A6** · 09-14-2016 12:22 PM

Haha mine was a Burlington Vermont car... Definitely had seen a few winters worth of salt. Apart from that it would have taken me only 5hrs total. I was on the last corner too -_- . I'm on the ST-X coils.

One tip is when you're compressing the old springs, get a jack under the hub and raise the whole knuckle up a bit, tighten compressor/clamp, jack again, tighten again. Keep repeating that and it should be easy to get the springs out. Does that make sense?

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**AFONE** · 09-14-2016 01:29 PM

My car had spent 2 years in Boston so the pinch bolt was seized as well. That added hours to the job which ended up being costly since I let a shop do the install instead of tackling it myself.

**QuinnsterKID** · 09-14-2016 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by 2010A6

Haha mine was a Burlington Vermont car... Definitely had seen a few winters worth of salt. Apart from that it would have taken me only 5hrs total. I was on the last corner too -_- . I'm on the ST-X coils.

One tip is when you're compressing the old springs, get a jack under the hub and raise the whole knuckle up a bit, tighten compressor/clamp, jack again, tighten again. Keep repeating that and it should be easy to get the springs out. Does that make sense?

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Makes perfect sense. Hoping this goes smooth

**QuinnsterKID** · 09-14-2016 02:33 PM

When I made my attempt on the rear awhile back, I could not really get the spring compressor inside the tight space, seeing as the control arm is so bulky. I am using the rental from Autozone. Is this what you guys used?

**2010A6** · 09-14-2016 03:13 PM

I got the two piece system stuck so I ended up going with the one piece that goes up the center of the spring. Worked a little better for me

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**Mickmerr62** · 09-14-2016 04:37 PM

My 09 had one previous owner but it's spent it's whole life in the Boston area and continues to do so, fingers crossed.

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**se.farrell** · 09-14-2016 06:30 PM

Pro tip: dont use he H&R's in your garage, just remove OEM springs. You achieve max low that way

**2010A6** · 09-14-2016 06:56 PM

^^

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**Euro_head** · 09-14-2016 07:03 PM

lmaoo

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**QuinnsterKID** · 09-16-2016 09:50 PM

Well I just spent 10 hours in the garage and did not get a damn thing done. Started the tear down and got everything unbolted. Pinch bolt came out in about 3 seconds and just slid in and out (west coast is the best coast!) All was going smooth until I got to the first hub. The metal is so soft on those 4 12pt bolts that I stripped one beyond recognition and had to drill it all the way out. Such a time consuming issue. I got the springs swapped over and all put back in. The car is ready for wheel bearings, but I ran into another major issue. I had gotten mine through the local parts store and they are wayyyyy larger than the ones I pulled off. I tried another parts store and same issue. Anyone know why that is? I thought maybe I got the wrong bearing assembly, but the second parts store bearing was a different brand and still a huge wheel bearing. I am going to call Audi tomorrow and take a shot and see what they charge for a bearing (I am expecting a stupid amount) The bad part is I need the car back ASAP and there are not that many wheel bearings here in town. All stores have to order them. I have pretty much the only two in the city and they do not fit.

**SinCityA6** · 09-16-2016 10:57 PM

Call the guys over at CARS 7028232277 and see if they have them or can get them.

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**QuinnsterKID** · 09-17-2016 03:04 PM

Went to Autozone and did some researching around. Wheel bearings from a C5 A6 were a perfect match. Getting them pressed and hopefully put back in later today. Been working on the rear springs all morning......also not fun haha

**OmaHahn** · 09-19-2016 02:13 PM

Update?

**JPJ2007** · 09-19-2016 03:03 PM

If you were to reach a point where you broke something just so you know you can purchase an entire assembly used and have it shipped to you.

I bent/snapped my entire hub assembly when I hit a curb playing in some snow. For $400 I had an entire assembly shipped to me and swapped it out myself.
It was used, but it didn't matter because I had a lot of miles and this was the cheapest, best solution. Just trying to help and let you know you have other options than audi replacing all your parts with new expensive ones or buying cheap aftermarket ones, I'd take the used oem ones.

My assembly I bought from some random shop in Florida and shipped to me on a crate was the control arms (upper and lower) brake rotor, Ball joints, shock/spring, hub and wheel bearing etc...

Edit: Are you on sport or S-Line suspension and going to H&R?
I figured since im on S-Line/Sport springs my best option was to skip to coilovers...

**AFONE** · 09-23-2016 10:12 PM

Any update? Did you get it finished?

**2010A6** · 09-24-2016 08:55 AM

Just to add to the horror story here's a picture of what my pinch bolt looked like after it was removed

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**juniorcruzer** · 09-24-2016 09:50 AM

OUCH

**Euro_head** · 09-25-2016 11:28 AM

It is very possible to install coils without removing the pinch bolt !!!

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**Euro_head** · 09-25-2016 11:29 AM

Takes about an hour a corner, you just remove the axel bolt and it gives you play to be able to take the top control arms out from the strut top and bam its out

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**2010A6** · 09-25-2016 02:00 PM

Genius. Maybe make a post on it so that others can know in the future? The ones currently out there are older and no one (to my knowledge) has written a more current one from a different angle.

Aside from that, those wheels are beautiful. Very jealous

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**Euro_head** · 09-25-2016 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by 2010A6

Genius. Maybe make a post on it so that others can know in the future? The ones currently out there are older and no one (to my knowledge) has written a more current one from a different angle.

Aside from that, those wheels are beautiful. Very jealous

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Thanks bro, it was actually super easy. I had put aside the whole day at work just for it and it ended up being a light task .i wish I would have gone with a smaller tire though but so far only minor rubbing in the rear but I'll raise it a bit

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**Euro_head** · 09-25-2016 07:40 PM

this is as close as it gets going up my super steep driveway

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**Euro_head** · 09-25-2016 07:42 PM

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**2010A6** · 09-25-2016 07:43 PM

What spec tire are you on again? I have 18r35 and I rub in the rear.

I've to get away for a weekend now to adjust it since my new apartment complex doesn't allow working on your car on premises

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**Euro_head** · 09-25-2016 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by 2010A6

What spec tire are you on again? I have 18r35 and I rub in the rear.

I've to get away for a weekend now to adjust it since my new apartment complex doesn't allow working on your car on premises

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255 35 20 on 20x10

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**Mickmerr62** · 09-26-2016 10:58 AM

2010, you're rubbing on 18's?

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**2010A6** · 09-26-2016 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Mickmerr62

2010, you're rubbing on 18's?

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Yea when I installed the coils I had it set to a pretty tight setup to make it easier to fit into the well. She's low as hell right now but I plan on changing that and leveling it out this weekend. I haven't had time with the move and weekend is the first time I've had any free time. Unfortunately, this show season I've been pretty swamped

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**tommygunns** · 10-16-2016 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Euro_head

Takes about an hour a corner, you just remove the axel bolt and it gives you play to be able to take the top control arms out from the strut top and bam its out

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Which bolt is the axel bolt. Have springs on order

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