My S6 Avant Fixing Things Thread

[danspach]

Yup. Mine looked similar. Actually started as a valve cover gasket job and (unintentionally) spiraled rather quickly to include timing and once you're in there it makes sense to do tensioner shoes.

I came across a few other broken parts and other I thought I'd replace given ease of access at the time. Some were definitely overkill but others (like my cracked vibration damper) were just plain surprises.

Torque mount, transmission cooler lines, power steering lines along with sensors and smaller things. I did, however, remove my front clip completely as it was the first time I'd done timing on this car so all the systems were disconnected/emptied.

[danspach]

This is what my tensioner shoes looked like with 125k miles)


Outside of timing components and cam chain tensioner/shoes, these are some of the things I discovered (and in one case broke all on my own) prompting replacement.

Fan Clutch


Alternator


Trans cooler lines (super crusty)


Torque Mount (dried and cracked but not separated)


Coolant temp sensor under/behind intake/MAF sensor


Coolant Temp Sensor inside Lower Rad Hose


Power Steering Return (cooler to reservoir)


A/C Pressure switch (I had access)


Vibration Damper (Thanks to @ShelbyM3 for the confirmation that was no bueno)



Air box mounts (not a big deal but while exposed, they were toast)


Pulley for Fan (Crusty AF but NLA from Audi – wire wheel and re-spray)


Three way hose off the coolant reservoir (couldn’t take me swinging the bottle out of the way)


Engine Mount (passenger side was toast – replaced with 034)


Vacumn Lines (again, accessible so why not)


Receiver/Drier (also NLA from Audi)



I also replaced things in an excessive/preventative way (A/C compressor, power steering pump and alternator weren't issues per se) along with new hardware in LOTS of places but the above were the things that needed to be addressed.

[R490]

It's been a while since I've posted an update.

I haven't really done anything.

[danspach]

It's been a while since I've posted an update.

I haven't really done anything. With law school in the horizon and some changes in my personal life, I'm not sure how much time I have to dedicate to fixing the S6 up. I need to replace the tires, since one went flat due to a piece of metal, but I might have to give it up soon. We'll see.

Awwww, man. After only a few months and all the work you put in, that's a huge bummer.

Having said that, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate and hope everything is cool.

[R490]

Awwww, man. After only a few months and all the work you put in, that's a huge bummer.

Having said that, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate and hope everything is cool.

It's a tough call for sure. I think I'll give it six more months (or so) of slower progress, then reevaluate.

[JTF]

It was nice following all this. I hope you can continue to work on it, even if at a slower pace. I too have an aging 2002 S6 Avant w/156K on its clock. It's at the shop now and I was told it needs a new propeller shaft. The shop said they no longer have a source for them. Any suggestions?

Thank you,

[ShelbyM3]

It was nice following all this. I hope you can continue to work on it, even if at a slower pace. I too have an aging 2002 S6 Avant w/156K on its clock. It's at the shop now and I was told it needs a new propeller shaft. The shop said they no longer have a source for them. Any suggestions?

Thank you,

The plight of a C5 these days. I think your best bet is second hand.


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[JTF]

The plight of a C5 these days. I think your best bet is second hand.


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Any recommended sources?

[JTF]

I was incorrect - may still need prop shaft.

[R490]

Long time, no updates.

Drove the car for the first time since Aprilish. I always forget how fun this thing is to drive for a mid-sized station wagon. Got up to temp just fine and drove as good as it normally does.

I still need new tires. It currently has 235/45/17s on it. I kinda want to get another pair in the same size, because I don't want to shell out $800 for a set of the correct sized tires. Spoke with the previous, previous owner of the car and that kinda motivated me to keep going with this car.

[danspach]

Yes! Glad to hear you’re back at it!

I’m struggling with the tire thing too. When I used a foot pump style floor dolly to kick my car diagonally in my garage I pinched and blistered the sidewall. Now I technically need one tire - with the same tread depth - or all four.

Cool to speak to the P,PO. I did that once with my M3 and he gave me some super-helpful insight into the car.

What’s next - after tires, of course.


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[R490]

Yes! Glad to hear you’re back at it!

I’m struggling with the tire thing too. When I used a foot pump style floor dolly to kick my car diagonally in my garage I pinched and blistered the sidewall. Now I technically need one tire - with the same tread depth - or all four.

Cool to speak to the P,PO. I did that once with my M3 and he gave me some super-helpful insight into the car.

What’s next - after tires, of course.


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We're in the same boat then, haha. See, I want to get four new name brand tires, but at the same time I want to upgrade the wheels.



This is what the car looked like with the previous, previous owner. He also sent me the ad from when the car was sold to him by the previous, previous, previous owner. No crazy revelations from any of them, pretty much the same problems have made it down to me. I will have to re-do timing, even though it's not due mileage wise. But it has been like 8 years ish.

I think I'll do timing, maybe find some C5 RS6 wheels and some less aggressive springs and go from there. It's not a show car and never will be done, but it's fun regardless.

[R490]

Okay so yeah gonna do Rs6 wheels with 255/40/18 tires. I'll be using H&R Sport springs. I don't think that'll rub.

[jbain2]

I have a set of C5 RS6 wheels I’d let go for cheap. Shoot me a PM or text if you still have it.


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[R490]

I think the rear output shaft is leaking a little bit. Saw some fresh fluid on the back of the trans. I've only driven the car probably 80 miles since changing the fluid and I did make a bit of a mess with it, so maybe residual, maybe not.

Anyone done that job before?

[R490]

RS6 wheels with 255/40/18 tires. With H&R springs and Koni shocks.

They might rub a little, it's really tight. But at full lock they don't, I just haven't got it on the road yet.

I'm waiting on the new set of the correct H&R springs, since I have the sedan ones on the car right now.

[R490]

Decided to go ahead and put the correct rear springs in. Or at least start putting them in.

The rear shocks were a fight to get off. I couldn't find a C5 specific DIY so I started just taking shit off, until I had clearance. I had to disconnect the rear sway bar from the end link and the body mount.

I wonder how much it's gonna suck to put them back in.







Anyone have any advice?

[Audibot]

On my RS, dropping the subframe a bit on the side I worked on helped me gain some additional clearance when I swapped my V3s on.

[ShelbyM3]

This is what the service manual lists. For the Allroad I know you can undo the 2 inner most lower control arm bolts and the outer upper control arm bolt and wiggle the strut out some without totally messing with the eccentric bolts. I’ve also see a guy use a ratchet strap to pull the assembly down, but it looked sketch and he was on a lift.

Is this helpful for your suspension search at all?








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[R490]

Thanks for the pictures! The Irwin manual was unfortunately not of much help.

I ended up unbolting the sway bar from the link and from the frame, taking out the lower control arm bolts and a few other things here and there.

Completely forgot how to separate the spring from the shock, but I remembered pretty fast once I took a look at it.

Now I just have to put them back together and get it back in after work today. It might be a bit of a fight, but we'll see. I don't think there was any special trick to reassembling the shock and spring?

[Audibot]

Reassembling should be straightforward. Getting them in could be a fight. I recall one of my struts giving me trouble lining up with the bottom hole but the other one being easy.

Just remember that any bushings (not ball joints) need to be at ride height before tightening/torquing to spec. I tend to use a low profile jack to raise the CA to the right-ish height.

[R490]

Gotcha, appreciate the advice

The current issue is that I can't comrpess the springs enough to get them back on the struts

[Audibot]

I would use the other kind of spring compressor. I can lend you mine if you want. Where in NoVA are you? I'd be interested in seeing the car too

[R490]

I would use the other kind of spring compressor. I can lend you mine if you want. Where in NoVA are you? I'd be interested in seeing the car too

Would be much appreciated, didn't even know there was another kind besides the huge professional ones. I'm in Alexandria.

[jbain2]

Try flipping the spring compressors around. Use a wider starting point snd then compress.


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[Audibot]

Would be much appreciated, didn't even know there was another kind besides the huge professional ones. I'm in Alexandria.

It's not huge but not that small (I do have the ones you have). Turning yours around as jbain2 suggested may help too.

[R490]

So I just pulled the silver shock part out a little bit and got them on.

HOWEVER, I don't think there was enough tension on the springs still because I can move the bottom of the springs by hand. Haven't done this in 10 years ish.

[justinotha]

Mildly unrelated to where you're at with the correct H&R avant springs, but what happened with your original quest for factory springs? I recall you had pieced together some of them

I think I've decided I need at least one car at factory height, and my s6 is going to be it.

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[R490]

I gave up, I couldn't find the right factory springs. missing one.



This is what it's like.https://i.imgur.com/KYRgO4L.mp4

[ShelbyM3]

So I just pulled the silver shock part out a little bit and got them on.

HOWEVER, I don't think there was enough tension on the springs still because I can move the bottom of the springs by hand. Haven't done this in 10 years ish.

It’s hard to say because I’m not sure how you’re tightening the strut nut, but it almost looks to me like your strut itself doesn’t really have a spring perch, at least not a good one, and that may be why the spring is moving and not necessarily your install.


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[Audibot]

Now that you pointed that out, I can see it haha

OP I might have a couple in storage; I'll see if I can dig up.

[R490]

Appreciate it guys.

I'm not sure if these just weren't installed with perches, or if they just don't have them .

[jbain2]

There’s definitely a spring perch on there. I can see it in the pics. But you definitely shouldn’t be able to move the spring around. It should absolutely be under tension when you tighten the strut nut with top bushing.


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[R490]

Might just come down to me needing more tension on the spring, to be honest.

[ShelbyM3]

Might just come down to me needing more tension on the spring, to be honest.

Based off this picture it’s really hard to tell if your perch has provisions to catch the end of your coil spring and hold it. I think I misused spring perch earlier when I meant spring seat, but some struts themselves have the seat and perch as one and it almost looks like there’s a raise spot to catch the spring, but I can’t tell for sure. I also don’t know if this suspension was supposed to be installed how you found it.

Parts diagram shows a couple spring seats (#3&4), which you have the upper of, and something they call “strut packing” (#2) whatever the eff that means. This lack of parts could also explain why you’ve got some play. I bet those things could even raise the vehicle slightly.

Upper seat

Lower seat

Strut packing



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[R490]

Went ahead and put it back together until I can find the right parts.


It didn't rub coming out my driveway and around the block. I didn't take it too far since the other side still has the Avus wheel and other spring.

[ShelbyM3]

99% of the time you’ll be fine with it like this, I just worry about high speed suspension unloading, like on the freeway on a big dip at an overpass, and that spring moving on you and making a mess. Probably wouldn’t ever happen, but that’s why we wear seatbelts, right.
20 year old me sent that, but 38 year old me who is a dad says it’s not worth it. Just my $0.02. I’m by no means familiar with an S6 like I am an Allroad, but that just seems off. There needs to be rubber or something in there as a bushing.
I’ll be interested to see if the passenger’s side is the same as the driver’s.


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[R490]

Oh I'm 100% going to make it right, I just can't keep it on jack stands until then, or my property value will continue to go down

The passenger side is the same, I took a peek before putting it back together.

At least it looks good for now lol .

[justinotha]

I gave up, I couldn't find the right factory springs. missing one.



This is what it's like.https://i.imgur.com/KYRgO4L.mp4

Well if you have 3 of 4, I may be interested in them. Let me know what you have

[R490]

Update: Drove the car more than a mile for the first time since April.



It was not happy. When I turned the AC off, the temperature went back down to one tick above halfway.



This fan isn't running at all. Maybe that's the problem? Luckily, I have a spare one. The car has fresh coolant and everything.

Before the car had its hissy fit, met up with another AZ user.