commonfool

I am planning on replacing my stock non-sport with H&R and Bilsteins today. I don't have the manual and I can't quite tell how to access the top of the rear shocks to remove them from the car. Can anyone give me some insight. I tried removing the rear deck and pulling away the insulation in the trunk but I can't seem to find the way to get at those top bolts.
Any help is appreciated.

richard

Rich L.

The shock attaches to the lower control arm and is the lower spring carrier. The upper spring carrier is a housing that bolts in the wheel well and also holds the top of the shock.

You need to lift the whole rear of the car to extend both sides of the suspension. Then remove the lower shock fixing bolt. Diconnect the upper control arm from the wheel bearing assembly. This is the joint that sticks toward the top of the tire. Then remove the 4 bolts holding the upper assembly to the wheel well. Once all this is loose, push the bottom of the shock in and the top will come forward. Be really careful as it's easy to hit the fender and chip the paint.

When the assembly is off the car, you can compress the spring and remove the top shock fixing bolt.

Good luck with this. I have a more detail set of steps written up from my experience doing this job. It's at home, however, and I'm at work. Email me back if you want, and I'll give you my phone number if you have trouble. It's quite a job but really fun.

Good luck,
Rich<p><a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=2007"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/RLets-Signature.jpg"></a>

commonfool

I got the rear done but now I'm having problems with the fronts. I'm trying to get the lower shock bolt off but another one of the arms is blocking the bolt from coming all the way out. I am also having trouble removing the upper control arms from the vertical part attached to the wheel hub. Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
richard

CARYB

<p>currently no email.
<a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=2176">
<img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/Audi-Signature-3.jpg" BORDER=0></a>

Rich L.

On the fronts, I was able to work the hub around until the bolt has a clear shot out. The instructions actually say to remove the ball joint to move the rearward lower arm. The upper deals came out with a hole punch and a hammer from underneath.

Sorry if this help is late. It's Sunday evening and I hope you've got it back together. Mine actually spent a week on jack stands in the middle of the project.

Good luck,
Rich<p><a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=2007"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/RLets-Signature.jpg"></a>

commonfool

I got it done around 9 sunday night and I drove it to work today. It's nice but a bit more bouncy than I expected. It's probably because I have spent too much time in my non-sport. I also expect the set-up to break-in and soften up a bit.

richard