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DYI Shock Replacement on '99 A6 quattro
05-30-2010, 07:51 AM
#1
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DYI Shock Replacement on '99 A6 quattro
My 1999 A6 quattro just turned 120,000 miles on the odometer. I'd like to replace the front and rear shocks to improve the ride quality. Will I need any special tools to change the shocks? Will the front end need to be re-alligned? I do primarily highway traveling, along with occassional two lane road driving.
What shocks would you recommend and what advice could you give me in changing the shocks.?
So far I've changed the upper and lower control arms, as well as inner and outer tie rod ends. Timing belt service done at 98,000 miles. Thanks for your help Audiworld.
What shocks would you recommend and what advice could you give me in changing the shocks.?
So far I've changed the upper and lower control arms, as well as inner and outer tie rod ends. Timing belt service done at 98,000 miles. Thanks for your help Audiworld.
05-30-2010, 12:57 PM
#2
AudiWorld Super User
You'll need a strut compressor or a pair of them. You won't need to realign the front or rear end unless you turn an eccentric bolt head. If you know how to change an upper and lower control arm you know how to take out the spring/strut. After that, all you have to do extra is compress the spring, change out the shock, and put it back together.
05-30-2010, 05:34 PM
#3
Re: KYB shocks
You'll need a strut compressor or a pair of them. You won't need to realign the front or rear end unless you turn an eccentric bolt head. If you know how to change an upper and lower control arm you know how to take out the spring/strut. After that, all you have to do extra is compress the spring, change out the shock, and put it back together.
05-31-2010, 03:48 PM
#5
AudiWorld Super User
I cannot recommend KYB shocks. I've never had a set last a reasonable amount of time.
If you're going to sell the car in a year, go ahead and get KYB.
Otherwise bite the bullet and get koni ør bilstein. They're also lifetime warranty although I've never been able to collect on them.
If you're going to sell the car in a year, go ahead and get KYB.
Otherwise bite the bullet and get koni ør bilstein. They're also lifetime warranty although I've never been able to collect on them.
06-01-2010, 06:16 AM
#7
I found a kit sold by Blau Parts. It appears to come with:
Front Shock Absorbers
(Improved 50mm verses the stock 45mm on select models.)
Front Shock Mounts
Front Shock Bump Stops
Front Shock Dust Sleeves
Front Suspension Shock Absorber Hardware Kit (Req'd for Proper Reassembly)
Rear Shock Absorbers
Rear Shock Bump Stops
Rear Shock Lower Spring Perch Plate
Rear Shock Lower Spring Perch Packing
Rear Suspension Shock Absorber Hardware Kit (Req'd for Proper Reassembly)
Includes New Camber Bolts!
Anti-Seize Assembly Lubricant
Thread Locking Compound (Req'd for Proper Reassembly
Is this a complete kit, i.e. will I need to buy anything else? $530.00 seems like a reasonable price. What do you think?
Front Shock Absorbers
(Improved 50mm verses the stock 45mm on select models.)
Front Shock Mounts
Front Shock Bump Stops
Front Shock Dust Sleeves
Front Suspension Shock Absorber Hardware Kit (Req'd for Proper Reassembly)
Rear Shock Absorbers
Rear Shock Bump Stops
Rear Shock Lower Spring Perch Plate
Rear Shock Lower Spring Perch Packing
Rear Suspension Shock Absorber Hardware Kit (Req'd for Proper Reassembly)
Includes New Camber Bolts!
Anti-Seize Assembly Lubricant
Thread Locking Compound (Req'd for Proper Reassembly
Is this a complete kit, i.e. will I need to buy anything else? $530.00 seems like a reasonable price. What do you think?
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06-01-2010, 06:30 AM
#8
AudiWorld Super User
It's quite reasonable considering konis will cost you $125 or more apiece for 4.
The blauparts kit also seems to contain upper shock mounts, even for the rear. Those rear bits are anywhere from $70-125 apiece and you need two.
The enhanced kit with the 50mm shocks seems like a good deal...I don't know if they're KYB shocks.
IF this kit had been available (or maybe I missed it!) a few years ago I would have done it rather than mess with the Koni shocks and the associated other bits I had to buy.
The blauparts kit also seems to contain upper shock mounts, even for the rear. Those rear bits are anywhere from $70-125 apiece and you need two.
The enhanced kit with the 50mm shocks seems like a good deal...I don't know if they're KYB shocks.
IF this kit had been available (or maybe I missed it!) a few years ago I would have done it rather than mess with the Koni shocks and the associated other bits I had to buy.
06-01-2010, 06:34 AM
#9
I found a kit sold by Blau Parts. It appears to come with:
Front Shock Absorbers
(Improved 50mm verses the stock 45mm on select models.)
Front Shock Mounts
Front Shock Bump Stops
Front Shock Dust Sleeves
Front Suspension Shock Absorber Hardware Kit (Req'd for Proper Reassembly)
Rear Shock Absorbers
Rear Shock Bump Stops
Rear Shock Lower Spring Perch Plate
Rear Shock Lower Spring Perch Packing
Rear Suspension Shock Absorber Hardware Kit (Req'd for Proper Reassembly)
Includes New Camber Bolts!
Anti-Seize Assembly Lubricant
Thread Locking Compound (Req'd for Proper Reassembly
Is this a complete kit, i.e. will I need to buy anything else? $530.00 seems like a reasonable price. What do you think?
Front Shock Absorbers
(Improved 50mm verses the stock 45mm on select models.)
Front Shock Mounts
Front Shock Bump Stops
Front Shock Dust Sleeves
Front Suspension Shock Absorber Hardware Kit (Req'd for Proper Reassembly)
Rear Shock Absorbers
Rear Shock Bump Stops
Rear Shock Lower Spring Perch Plate
Rear Shock Lower Spring Perch Packing
Rear Suspension Shock Absorber Hardware Kit (Req'd for Proper Reassembly)
Includes New Camber Bolts!
Anti-Seize Assembly Lubricant
Thread Locking Compound (Req'd for Proper Reassembly
Is this a complete kit, i.e. will I need to buy anything else? $530.00 seems like a reasonable price. What do you think?
06-01-2010, 06:37 AM
#10
AudiWorld Super User
Same as replacing the front shocks. You'll need std metric tools plus a strut compressor(s).
It takes me twenty minutes to remove a front strut and another 10 minutes or so of screwing around with a pair of strut compressors (AND a power wrench...don't ask) to get the spring off. You need to take the spring off to get the front upper shock mount off IIRC.
Worst case is the top jesus nut on the strut is really tight...have to cut it off with a dremel or cutoff wheel.
Same with the rears...except you need to cut around the old upper strut mount (it's aluminum on stock) about an inch to get to the jesus nut.
This is why you should always replace the rear upper strut mount when replacing shocks....the upper strut mount has to be destroyed and quite likely the upper shock rod cut off to remove the new shock maybe 5K miles after you install it if you don't put in a new upper strut mount.
It takes me twenty minutes to remove a front strut and another 10 minutes or so of screwing around with a pair of strut compressors (AND a power wrench...don't ask) to get the spring off. You need to take the spring off to get the front upper shock mount off IIRC.
Worst case is the top jesus nut on the strut is really tight...have to cut it off with a dremel or cutoff wheel.
Same with the rears...except you need to cut around the old upper strut mount (it's aluminum on stock) about an inch to get to the jesus nut.
This is why you should always replace the rear upper strut mount when replacing shocks....the upper strut mount has to be destroyed and quite likely the upper shock rod cut off to remove the new shock maybe 5K miles after you install it if you don't put in a new upper strut mount.