[s-cars] Shocks and inserts - it's time to change 'em.

[Fred Munro]

Hi Eric;

I bought mine from Autohaus Arizona www.autohausaz.com
 Sachs and Boge are now the same company, so these are basically OEM type
shocks. Autohaus Arizona calls them an "upgraded" OEM shock whatever that
means.

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Phillips [mailto:gcmschemist at gmail.com]
Sent: July 16, 2007 12:22 PM
To: Fred Munro
Cc: Vincent Frégeac; s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Shocks and inserts - it's time to change 'em.


Fred,

I did a search for Sachs Advantage, and came up dry.  Do they go by
another name?

Or was my search half-baked?  I'll cop to the latter - I have been
termed "search-impaired" by members of this list.  ;)

Or, if you have a retailer you can recommend, then I'll go there for
purchase.

Eric

On 7/15/07, Fred Munro <munrof at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Eric;
>
> The Bilsteins will go in through the top.
>
> I just installed a set of Sachs Advantage shocks on the rear of my UrS6. I
> like them so much I've ordered a pair of front inserts. They give a nice
> smooth ride with excellent control - typical good German sports sedan
> handling. They are nowhere near as stiff as the Koni's I had in my UrS4 -
> but then the S4 handled like a go-kart with the Konis. The S6 is much more
> refined with the Sachs :).
>
> I plan on replacing the strut bearings as well, but I was going to do it
> with the struts in the car. I figure if I compress the spring and remove
the
> insert, I should be able to disassemble and reassemble the strut in situ.
> I've never done this, so it should be an interesting weekend when I tackle
> it. I plan on a full alignment after the job is complete.
>
> Fred Munro
> '97 S6
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com]On Behalf Of Eric Phillips
> Sent: July 15, 2007 2:05 PM
> To: Vincent Frégeac
> Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Shocks and inserts - it's time to change 'em.
>
>
> Thanks for the advice, Vincent.
>
> I also have heard that the Bilstein inserts cannot be installed
> through the top hole like the OEM ones - if I choose not to replace
> the strut bearing, and just the insert, what is the brand/type of the
> OEM replacement?
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Eric
>
> On 7/14/07, Vincent Frégeac <s.sikss at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Three words of advice:
> > - Torch: I don't know with the special Audi tool, but I've never managed
> to
> > move the inserts retaining cup with a pipe wrench without plenty of
> > penetrating oil _and_ plenty of heat. Last time, a propane torch was
> enough,
> > but the car was 8 years old, not 13. Small oxy-acetylene can now be
found
> in
> > almost any part store and you'll certainly find other use for it on a
'94
> > car.
> > - ABS Sensor: Bentley says to remove it but I've never manage to remove
it
> > intact. Unplug it from inside the engine bay then pull the ABS cable and
> > leave the sensor attached when you pull out the suspension.
> > - Breaker bar: 3 feet minimum, six feet better, to pull the arm control
> > down. On reinstall, four hands make the job of inserting the ball joint
> pin
> > back into the hub much easier.
> >
> > Otherwise, tools are standard. A marker can help to mark the position of
> the
> > bolts at the top of the suspension. This way, you can have the alignment
> > almost on - mine was dead on - so the car won't have awkward reaction by
> the
> > time you have the alignment done.
> >
> > One last thing, you can't have an alignment done with tie-rod end, ball
> > joint or bushing shot. So the week-end before the suspension, it may be
a
> > good idea to check all the suspension and direction links for play or
> > cracked rubber. Sway bar bushings are easy while-you're-at-it, tire-rod
> ends
> > and control arms are another story. They can be easy, or they can take
the
> > entire week-end by themselves.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Vincent.
> >
> >
> > -----Message d'origine-----
> > De: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> > [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] De la part de Eric Phillips
> > Envoyé: 14 juillet 2007 19:05
> > À: s-car-list at audifans.com
> > Objet: [s-cars] Shocks and inserts - it's time to change 'em.
> >
> > No, not on the S-car.  But it *is* a '94 100*S* Avant.  :)
> >
> > C4 is C4, so I figured I'd ask the guys who know.
> >
> > I want to replace the inserts, strut bearings, boots and shocks.  I'm
> > thinking Bilstein HD, but am willing to listen to reasons why I should
> > use a different brand.  I'm going to use this as an excuse to buy the
> > special Audi tool, instead of using a pipe wrench.
> >
> > What I need to know are all the "gotchas" from some folks who have
> > BTDT.  This is the wife's car, and I don't want it down for more than
> > a weekend, if I can help it.  So I want all the tools, parts, lube,
> > etc. that I needfor this job BEFORE I begin.
> >
> > Who wants to take first crack at this one?  :)