Guidance with down pipe removal w/ tip tranny.

[wisco608]

Hey all, running the risk of being told to use the search engine (which I completely agree with) I can't seem to find specific info on removing the DPs on a 2001 B5 S4 with a tip.

I've read all the techs on removing them on a 6sp and have followed all the steps. What I can't get clear on is where exactly to lower the tranny a bit to allow room for the pipes to slide out. Some say drop the sub-frame but the next post will say if you do that you run the risk of misaligning the front end.

Can someone shed some light on exactly what I'm supposed to loosen/drop to remove the pipes?

Thanks in advance,
-Matt

[millerchris85]

I've loosened the rear of the subframe for things before without alignment. Then again, alignments are fairly cheap. I've done downpipes with motor in on a 6MT car and wouldn't do it again. AT would arguably be worse. I'd suggest considering a motor pull.


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[MacDaddy]

If you drop the subframe your camber will be out, camber is set by shifting the subframe left or right to even it out on both sides.

Anyway, its a PITA, but doable.

Lift the car up as high as you can (this will give you more wiggle room later), remove two rear subframe bolts, leave the front two in place so subframe position is retained, also remove transmission mounts to allow for further lateral movement. Removing front o2 sensors all together is in your best interest too.

Now you should be abel to access the 4 17mm bolts holding the downpipes to the turbos.

Soak the bolts overnight to make things easier
You will need swivel sockets
You will need long extensions (2')
May want to remove cv shaft heat shields from trans to give more room

[wisco608]

When you say "loosened the rear of the subframe" what does that entail? Could you give me a rough geography lesson on the subframe? And thanks for the motor pull advise... This started out as a valve cover gasket job and when I realized how easy it is to get at O2 sensors, heat shield bolts and top flange nuts with the everything off of the top of the engine I "thought" it'd be a good time to piggie the DPs... Should have just pulled it.

[wisco608]

Thanks MacDaddy,

I've got the CV shields off and have pulled the O2 sensors. Again sorry for my noob question but the transmission mounts I get - I am just not sure which two subframe bolts are to be removed.

[millerchris85]

The ones furthest back where a drivetrain stabilizer would go


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[wisco608]

Copy, Thanks.

[MacDaddy]

I did piggies on mine, didnt notice a big difference. Maybe if you swap out stock cats for high flow ones.

[wisco608]

I was just looking at options for the tip (not many) SSAutoChrome comes up the most. Looks like their tip pipes are catless "test pipes". We don't have very strict emissions here in Wi so could prob get away with it. Not very responsible though. Will probably also do piggies and maybe look into the Magna Flow cats.

[2003svtjrc]

I did the ssautochrome dp's for mine along with wrapping them with dei titanium exhaust wrap! Get ready to curse those stupid heat shields on the way out


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[seanf86]

I just pulled the motor, was much easier cause if your cars from the salt belt and higher mileage theres a chance you're going to break a turbo stud which I did. Also if you have a torque converter code nows the perfect time to fix it and install your downpipes.

[vavJETTAw36]

This is the sucker I used to get to my Downpipe bolts. really helps with the limited space between the turbos and subframe:



http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...het-96369.html

[wisco608]

Thanks all for the tips. Hopefully get to them this aft.


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[spennerus]

Tip trans here. I didn't have to do anything to the subframe or trans mounts when I pulled mine, just wiggled them out. I believe I did have to remove the heat shields first.

[wisco608]

Well that would def be my first choice.

[wisco608]

Gentlemen (and ladies), I've had many successes in my life including the birth of my two children, marrying my wonderful (and understanding of the "Audi thing") wife but nothing, I repeat nothing compares to finally getting your first 2001 Audi B5 S4 Tiptronic down pipe out without damage to it, you or the car! Lol

Thanks to all for the great advice and tips. In addition to the articulating ratchet wrench suggestion by vavJETTAw36 I had great success with this (could remove 3 of the 4 down pipe nuts with it):




https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[cameratoaa]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ies-(For-6spd)

this was a diy i saved a while back for when i was going to do piggies, process should be the same + headache of the tip being so big...i know its for a 6spd but i was planning on following it for my tip car anyway.

[wisco608]

Thanks for the link. But your too late (kind of) I printed off your DIY weeks ago and used it for my Avant project. Plan to use it again when I do the '02 6spd next. So thanks for the write up!


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[vavJETTAw36]

Gentlemen (and ladies), I've had many successes in my life including the birth of my two children, marrying my wonderful (and understanding of the "Audi thing") wife but nothing, I repeat nothing compares to finally getting your first 2001 Audi B5 S4 Tiptronic down pipe out without damage to it, you or the car! Lol

Thanks to all for the great advice and tips. In addition to the articulating ratchet wrench suggestion by vavJETTAw36 I had great success with this (could remove 3 of the 4 down pipe nuts with it):




https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hell ya. Glad you were able to get those suckers off. Not fun at all to do but after a few months you won't even remember ;)


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[wisco608]

Ok fellas, another question with these dp's.

As mentioned I've got both dp's out. The top heatshields are still perfectly intact and for that matter still in place (just pulled dp's out from underneath them). But I seriously think I could shave god only knows how long off of the reinstall once I have them gutted and rewelded if I remove the shields.

Is the heat wrap tape a reasonable option? And I'd welcome opinions from both the "form & function" audience. There are a lot of aftermarket things we could be putting on these B5's but I really appreciate the ability to keep these cars close to the original spec. So in short does heat tape work but is it looked down upon by the majority?

-Matt


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[audacity]

do not bother putting those stock heat shields back on. just wrap with the ti-tape stuff. you could get away without the tape also if you want i know plenty of people who does use the wrap.

[vavJETTAw36]

Plus 1 on the tape...

I used some DEI exhaust titanium wrap. Sprayed it with the header "ceramic" spray first to give it a coating so it won't rust from any moisture. The titanium stuff doesn't need the silicone sprayed over it either.

You do not want to install those heat shields. It makes maintenance much more difficult.


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[wisco608]

Awesome, thanks for the advice guys.


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