Alignment of 02a6

[Jay Kempf]

Hi guys, anyone have any front end alignment information or advice for a
2002 S6 (C5).  Yeah I need to sign up for one of the other lists.
 
I replace my right side tie rod end and went to a local shop for alignment.
They adjusted the toe, however I was told the right side camber  was off,
and on my car it was not adjustable.  Left camber was fine.
 
I can't believe that there is not a camber adjustment.  
 
Thanks, Pete
91 200 (gone to new owner)
02 S6

I just happen to have a 2002 A6 sport 6 spd which is pretty much the same
thing. The manual does not have a camber adjustment at all. If too is too
high normally one of the bushings at the body is wrecked or the upper ball
control arms at the ball joint end. The front lower rear arms take most of
the pounding. Squeaking and some coming and going vibration at around 75mph
is indicative of that. 

If there is nothing wrong with the suspension arms and the camber is off
side to side the idea is to loosen the lower frame bolts and shuffle it
around to even it out side to side. The value of the angle is less important
than being similar side to side. These cars are not that hard on tires. I
have 178k miles on mine and have only done the upper arms recently. The
lowers were done on the recall at around 30k like most A6s. Still drives
great and all the arms are still happy. Some have not had that kind of luck
with these cars.

If one of your cambers is way out there could actually be something pretty
wrong with one or more of the arms or something could be bent. Shouldn't be
cubic dollars to fix regardless. I bought a whole front end kit from
FCPGROTON.COM recently. Watch out for cheaper asian knock offs. Most of them
are bad. The whole kit was $275 free shipping. They stand behind these
parts. 



jfk


-------------------------
Jay Kempf
jkempf at madriver.com
802 272 5868