Weight Reduction Thread

[Jay@JXB]

Hi All.

I'd just like to start a little thread to see what people have done as far as weight reduction out there! Everybody talks about wheels, rotors, LWFW's, but what about the rest??

My car sits at 3960 on a full tank (B8.5 6MT). What is a realistic goal for these? What have others trimmed theirs down to? I'm talking a race setup, not a very street-friendly setup. I have to believe there's 200 lbs to be saved between removing rear seats, replacing fronts, and putting the battery on a diet.

[whiped]

Westwest has done a bunch and documented it.

There is a thread over at AudiRevo about it.

Here is the link: https://goo.gl/Ya4yws

[shonseb]

Lol sorry, had to.

Carbon body parts. Namely hood, roof and trunk, which also have a small negligible effect on lowering center of gravity helping with handling.

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[AudiTFSI3o3]

there's only so much you can do to shed weight whilst keeping the car functional for the street. obviously removing seats and interior will get the most weight off, but not for a daily. you could replace your battery for something like a braille battery to save 20-30lbs, but being the rear of the car will throw off the weight distribution. BUT shedding weight also depends on where and how it's used, for instance less unsprung weight at each corner will help you accelerate faster and corner and handle better - while carbon body parts, lightweight seats, stripped and gutted interiors will lower the overall weight and center of gravity.

My daily wheels are 22lbs a piece, coupled with aftermarket BBK, in my case Stoptechs, which are A LOT lighter than OEM BBK, as with the JHM rear rotors. I don't run anything in the spare wheel well, and of course aftermarket stainless exhausts weigh significantly less than OEM exhaust.

[Victor Newman]

i wouldn't want to do anything extreme to mine, but on previous cars i ran lightweight batteries. one odyssey and one braille. i'm debating on whether to remove the spare and jack, and keep a tire repair kit and fix-a-flat in there instead.

it might sound crazy, but one thing i noticed is the weight of the stock grille vs the chinese rs grille. maybe half? and that's on the nose of the car. wish i weighed them both, but wasn't thinking about it

i don't think i would do it on the s4, but i would rather hear the exhaust than listen to music, and i wonder what the savings would be removing all the speakers of the b&o system. i don't need nav, either, but it's unfortunate that the mmi does a whole lot more than nav and sound

[cspcrx]

My car was 4182 with me in it, forget how much fuel. I think it was less than half a tank since I was at the track.

Joking aside, the drivers seat is often where the larges reduction can be found. I dropped 40lbs and as a result had to run my CRX, race/street toy, at almost a full tank to make weight for class. On a 1987lb car it has an impact!

I am all for lighter weight parts though. My wife jokingly asks, when I buy a new car part, if it is lighter. I did lighter weight wheels, VMR 803s and ECS two piece rotors on my S4.

[fitzydude]

I removed that chassis brace over the driveshaft tunnel because my exhaust was hitting it. Easily dropped 2lbs.

[Sudz]

Got divorced, that saved a good 150 lbs, I'm guessing I never really knew.

[draekin13]

Got divorced, that saved a good 150 lbs, I'm guessing I never really knew.

Hey this worked for me too, though it was in the 220+. Though she has been replaced with someone new that is a LOT less :) Best weight loss plan ever.

[colby7]

The solid state aftermarket crank pulleys save weight over the oem crank pulley. (Insert debate about safety)

Aftermarket exhausts save weight over stock.

Test pipes and headers weigh less than stock cats.

Aftermarket shocks like KWs weigh less than stock.

Even tires can save weight. PSSs are nice and light.

I've shaved 170 lbs off my Q5, with 76 lbs of that coming off rotational mass: 56 lbs off my wheel/tire combo, and another 20 lbs off my rotors.

[yjypm]

I wonder why people would want to spend thousands of dollars to lose several dozen pounds off of their car while themselves are over 200 pounds.
I am glad a few people in this forum knows how important a driver's weight can impact the car's performance. If you are skinny, no only does it make your car lighter, but more balanced left to right.

[LINDW4LL]

1) Lightweight Battery
2) Carbon Fiber Hood
3) Lighter seats. Not many options here without making the car lose it's feel; I'm a big fan of the Recaro Sportster CS.
4) Spare tire, jack removal
5) Wheels and Tires
a) Tires are probably overlooked by most, but the Potenza S04s weigh 5lbs more per corner than the Super Sports, for example (stock 255/35/19 size- 24 vs 29 lbs)
6) Two-Piece Rotors
7) Lightweight Flywheel

[Victor Newman]

does anyone have an RS grille off the car that they can weigh? I've got a stock one in the attic that I can weigh. Curious as to the difference



and one other thing I forgot is that, while not adding much, wheel spacers add weight, so if you're running stock wheels and spacers, lightweight aftermarket wheels will take weight out of both

[fitzydude]

I wouldn't do it, but you could lose the crash bar if front of the radiator. Probably a little better cooling too.

[BlownOne]

Aside from the items posted already, take into consideration a clean empty car free of clutter, briefcases, clothes, papers, etc helps too. Floormats, trunk lining, spare/battery cover and a low fuel level will help lighten you up. Also, taking a nice healthy shit before you head out knocks off a few pounds 😂

[vwblackb5]

My BF reduction and weight management strategy consists of lifting 3-5x a week, 2-3x HIIT, and the obvious monitoring macros #fitfam #iifym #gainz #swolepatrol #cbl

[eurotic]

1) Lightweight Battery
2) Carbon Fiber Hood
3) Lighter seats. Not many options here without making the car lose it's feel; I'm a big fan of the Recaro Sportster CS.
4) Spare tire, jack removal
5) Wheels and Tires
a) Tires are probably overlooked by most, but the Potenza S04s weigh 5lbs more per corner than the Super Sports, for example (stock 255/35/19 size- 24 vs 29 lbs)
6) Two-Piece Rotors
7) Lightweight Flywheel

With the S4 already being so front heavy I never worry about the weight in the back of the car besides additional fuel. At autocross I run with just over an 1/8th of a tank but never take out my spare/jack/tools. As for tires, in 2015 I ran PSSs and in 2016 ran RE-11s. The RE-11s are 4lbs per tire heavier but they didn't disintegrate like the PSSs did (down to cords and chunks of rubber peeling off the outer blocks). That was 9 events on the PSSs and 15 events on the RE-11s. But I do agree that if you can find a lighter tire that works for your needs then use it. All that extra weight is further out so I would think saving a couple of pounds in the tire is more important than saving that same weight out of the wheel...both would be ideal of course.

[shonseb]

Although expensive, Carbon Ceramic brakes can shed a good number of pounds off unsprung weight. Also titanium lugs, titanium spacers. Replacing the roof with cf will also get rid the sunroof

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[Victor Newman]

Weight anywhere is good to remove, right? Even if the S4 is front-heavy, wouldn't removing weight from the rear help rotation anyways? No reason to have to accelerate a spare tire, jack, etc. in a curve (or any other time for that matter).

[doughboy17]

Got divorced, that saved a good 150 lbs, I'm guessing I never really knew.

;-)

[shadycrew31]

West bought a $2000 battery to shave 40lbs, so you could start there. Or just realize the S4 is a boat and go about your day.

[eurotic]

Weight anywhere is good to remove, right? Even if the S4 is front-heavy, wouldn't removing weight from the rear help rotation anyways? No reason to have to accelerate a spare tire, jack, etc. in a curve (or any other time for that matter).

At some point it would have to hurt more than help...I have no idea at what point that is though. But imagine taking 1000lbs just off the rear...that car would be horrible to drive I'd imagine. And I thought having a little more weight in the back would actually help the back end come around...it will at least continue to come around due to inertia. Maybe a light back-end on power would rotate better like a pickup with nothing in the bed?

[DBFL]

With the S4 already being so front heavy I never worry about the weight in the back of the car besides additional fuel. At autocross I run with just over an 1/8th of a tank but never take out my spare/jack/tools. As for tires, in 2015 I ran PSSs and in 2016 ran RE-11s. The RE-11s are 4lbs per tire heavier but they didn't disintegrate like the PSSs did (down to cords and chunks of rubber peeling off the outer blocks). That was 9 events on the PSSs and 15 events on the RE-11s. But I do agree that if you can find a lighter tire that works for your needs then use it. All that extra weight is further out so I would think saving a couple of pounds in the tire is more important than saving that same weight out of the wheel...both would be ideal of course.

I don't see how saving weight on the tires is more beneficial than saving weight on the wheels. Both are unsprung rotational mass. I'd rather get a very lightweight wheel and use the tire that best fits the conditions in which you will be driving.

[KRp220]

I wonder why people would want to spend thousands of dollars to lose several dozen pounds off of their car while themselves are over 200 pounds.
I am glad a few people in this forum knows how important a driver's weight can impact the car's performance. If you are skinny, no only does it make your car lighter, but more balanced left to right.

so those over 200# shouldnt bother trying to get light weight parts? LOL
as much as i love my car and increasing its performance, my body weight's effect on my cars performance has rarely crossed my mind

[eurotic]

I don't see how saving weight on the tires is more beneficial than saving weight on the wheels. Both are unsprung rotational mass. I'd rather get a very lightweight wheel and use the tire that best fits the conditions in which you will be driving.

I was just meaning that since the weight of the tire is further from the center that it has a greater impact on rotational forces. So if you had to choose either saving 4 lbs from the wheel or 4 lbs from the tire I would think the 4 lbs from the tire would be better. It's a stupid hypothetical.

[eurotic]

so those over 200# shouldnt bother trying to get light weight parts? LOL
as much as i love my car and increasing its performance, my body weight's effect on my cars performance has rarely crossed my mind

And not every person that's 200+ lbs is fat/overweight. But there are some of us that are obese and we still like lightweight car parts even though we might see the irony in the situation.

[DBFL]

I was just meaning that since the weight of the tire is further from the center that it has a greater impact on rotational forces. So if you had to choose either saving 4 lbs from the wheel or 4 lbs from the tire I would think the 4 lbs from the tire would be better. It's a stupid hypothetical.

In theory that is correct. In reality it won't work that way. If you are on a road course you need better grip. The 4 pound per tire penalty of an RE11 vs a PSS is worth it since you get better traction. You'd probably end up with a better overall time having more traction vs saving the 16 pounds. That's my reasoning for saving weight on the wheels over the tires. Now, if you found two tires with the same performance specs you would obviously want the lighter one.

[BaumerS4]

West bought a $2000 battery to shave 40lbs, so you could start there. Or just realize the S4 is a boat and go about your day.

Shocked it took this long to see someone mention West.

[shadycrew31]

Shocked it took this long to see someone mention West.

They mentioned him up top as well. These new people just don't even know...

[eurotic]

In theory that is correct. In reality it won't work that way. If you are on a road course you need better grip. The 4 pound per tire penalty of an RE11 vs a PSS is worth it since you get better traction. You'd probably end up with a better overall time having more traction vs saving the 16 pounds. That's my reasoning for saving weight on the wheels over the tires. Now, if you found two tires with the same performance specs you would obviously want the lighter one.

100% agree. Compound wins. Also the RE-11 just have a better sidewall (probably where the extra weight is) for the heavy S4 too. Trying RE-71's next year for yet another compound improvement and it is lighter too for the stock size, win-win.

[Thurston]

West bought a $2000 battery to shave 40lbs, so you could start there. Or just realize the S4 is a boat and go about your day.

Holy moly.

[Jay@JXB]

100% agree. Compound wins. Also the RE-11 just have a better sidewall (probably where the extra weight is) for the heavy S4 too. Trying RE-71's next year for yet another compound improvement and it is lighter too for the stock size, win-win.

You won't turn back. I'm going to A7s next year and I'm assuming I won't turn back yet again...


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[Jay@JXB]

Shocked it took this long to see someone mention West.

So what did his car end up weighing?


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[Jay@JXB]

At some point it would have to hurt more than help...I have no idea at what point that is though. But imagine taking 1000lbs just off the rear...that car would be horrible to drive I'd imagine. And I thought having a little more weight in the back would actually help the back end come around...it will at least continue to come around due to inertia. Maybe a light back-end on power would rotate better like a pickup with nothing in the bed?

Minor differences in weight distribution (100 lbs either way) can be worked out rotation-wise with tweaks to suspension and alignment. But yes, when pushed to extremes it would significantly change handling characteristics.


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[Thurston]

So what did his car end up weighing?


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yeah good question.

[AudBoost]

Here is a good start...

Replica 20" rotors with Hankook V12's 255/30/20




Vorsteriner V-FF106 with Michelin PSS 255/35/19

[A.C.]

So many threads so little time. I can't recall where actually I saw a thread with S5 peelers was a noticeable difference with unsprung weight compared to the S4 peelers. Obviously they're larger and outweighed but lost a bit with the handling characteristics.

[Brother Owl]

Over 200lbs and worried about weight reduction?

[Victor Newman]

Here is a good start...

Replica 20" rotors with Hankook V12's 255/30/20






Vorsteriner V-FF106 with Michelin PSS 255/35/19

thanks for posting that up. aside from the hurdle of getting the wife to approve a wheel purchase, the 106's are my dream wheel

[BlownOne]

Guys, if you're over 200lbs with +30% body fat you can afford to lose some weight by making healthier food choices. If you're like me and over 200lbs with 10% body fat, you're probably focused on gaining weight, not losing it.