Best ways to weight reduction in a3

[thethirdjq]

Just like the title says, what are your opinions and strategies for reducing weight, while preserving luxury and refinement in our 3315 lb (61/39 %) nose heavy A3s. If you would, to help me out and hopefully others, please post hard numbers of the savings, and perhaps an estimated cost. I tried my best using the search function, but came up empty, please post links if you find anything.

First thing I would do is reduce unsprung weight with lighter wheels and suspension.

I think the 17" 16 spoke wheels weigh in at around 24.5 lbs and replacing these with some 17"or 18" OZ Allegerita HLTs at 15.1lbs and 17.4 lbs would result in a total reduction of 37.6 lbs and 28.4lbs. This would set you back an est. $1200 +

I do not know how much any of the coilover or cupkits weigh in at, nor do i know the weight of the stock suspension.

APR says their anti-sway bars are lighter than stock but I am unaware of the savings.

Of course carbon fiber can save some weight by replacing body parts and fenders. Anyone have any numbers?

I would like to find a strategy to get the vehicle closer to 3k lbs, but without having to rip out the whole interior. Let me hear your findings.

[tpliquid]

300 lbs is alot w.o stripping the car

[thethirdjq]

true, but how close could one get? and how?

[fusionx]

spare tire and the stuff with it?

change out of the cigarette compartment? ;)

[HotSauce]

Battery is easy savings. Lightweight battery will be a significant improvement off the right end of the car.

[GQ//S4]

Treadmill, 10% Incline, 45 min a day..... GO!

But seriously, you're best by starting at the spare tire and accessories. Moving the battery to the trunk will help redistribute the weight, and you would have to buy a "lightweight" battery if you want to shed those pounds. Lighter wheels and brakes are a good way to reduce the unsprung mass, and a CF hood will help shave a few more pounds from the nose. Besides that, you're moving into sound-deadening removal, and other things, which makes your car more of an R32 than an Audi anyways.

[krazyboi]

CF hood is about 1/2 the weight of OEM. Removing the rear seats helps a good amount. Prob. shed off about 30+ there.

[myang917]

Here are some ideas

- remove rear spare tire and jack equipment ($0)
- aftermarket TBE (~$1200-1500)
- change to a lightweight battery (braille) can save you ~30lbs ($200 includ. battery + bracket)
- upgrade to lighter, stronger rotors and calipers (~$500?)
- carbon fiber hood ($700-1000?)
- if you have the premium seats, change to manual adjustment or get aftermarket Recaros (~$2000+)

That's all I can think of right now, although I don't know if all that adds up to 300 lbs.

[thethirdjq]

Stock wheels:

18 inch Calera: 27lbs
17 inch 5 Spoke S-line: 24 lbs
17 inch 16 Spoke Bi-color S-line: 25.5 lbs

courtesy of fourtitude and audibmi
(http://forums.fourtitude.com/zerothr...32838#55332838)

in most manufacturer's statements, even the carbon fiber hood guys, they only state that their product reduces weight, and not by how much. I could assume, but that isn't fun. Maybe APR can chime in on how much there sway bars and tbe might weigh compared to stock.

And yes, 300lbs is a lot of weight, but in general i am looking to reduce the weight as I mod the car. If weight was my only concern, then i wouldn't have gotten a glass roof which is probably about 100 lbs right there, if not more.

Anybody have any numbers on big brake kits? They claim to be lighter.

[GQ//S4]

Stock wheels:

18 inch Calera: 27lbs
17 inch 5 Spoke S-line: 24 lbs
17 inch 16 Spoke Bi-color S-line: 25.5 lbs

courtesy of fourtitude and audibmi
(http://forums.fourtitude.com/zerothr...32838#55332838)

in most manufacturer's statements, even the carbon fiber hood guys, they only state that their product reduces weight, and not by how much. I could assume, but that isn't fun. Maybe APR can chime in on how much there sway bars and tbe might weigh compared to stock.

And yes, 300lbs is a lot of weight, but in general i am looking to reduce the weight as I mod the car. If weight was my only concern, then i wouldn't have gotten a glass roof which is probably about 100 lbs right there, if not more.

Anybody have any numbers on big brake kits? They claim to be lighter.

Look up Jet Jockey, his b6 CF was 20-some lbs lighter than stock.

[UberA3]

run the car with 1 gallon of gas at all times. This will save you about 80 lbs

Carbon fiber frame seats

[eltonsi]

My question for you is why do you want to reduce the weight?

A FWD A3 is not exactly an ideal project car for the track IMO. You might be able to shed some weight here and there, but when it's all said and done, it's still a heavy car unless you rip it apart like Jet Jockey.

With the money spent, you could probably get a used Miata for track use. The idea of turning my DD to a track car has often entered my mind. But every time I think about the money I have already thrown in this pit and the result, it never adds up. So after the RSB, I will be officially concluding my mods. Saving up for an Elise instead.

One thing to add to the list here is the removal of the rear seats. The bottom portion can be pulled out.

[thethirdjq]

its not really my goal to make it ultra light and not my goal to use it as a track car. But i noticed this was not really addressed in any previous a3 threads. And when I read on suppliers websites that this said part reduces weight, well, I just want to know how much weight is reduced and what exactly that means. Its definitely a heavy car, more than it should be in my opinion. I guess I am just trying to get everyone to help build a database specific to the weight issue.

Thank you all who have chimed in so far.

[fusionx]

a friend told me that every 100 lbs you take out that is equivalent to 10 hp

[adam's rotors]

new seats

[the4ringer]

best way to reduce weight in an A3 is to never get in it. i'm jus sayin...

[drew138]

Sprung and Unsprung weight matters. carbon ceramic brakes, lighter wheels, low profile tires. Interior: lose the audio components, remove floormats, ditch rear seats & passenger seat and related hardware, get new light-weight carbon fiber driving seat. Ditch the fogs lights, remove rear wiper and rear wiper motor. There are probably some suspension mods that are lighter than OEM. Lighter battery. Replace air vents with grill fabric, remove glove box door, get rid of trunk deck, spare tire, jack, particle board cover for the tire well / trunk flooring. Carbon fiber hood, remove catalytic converters (not legal), lighter aftermarket exhaust. Kill the AC compressor. Ashtray Delete, armrest delete.

:)

[cheeba]

Look into ditching the front anti-sway bar. On my MKIV Golf I tossed it - not only did I lose the weight, the handling improved a fair bit (less understeer). That said, I had a stiffer suspension to compensate for the bar being removed. The front bar, spare, jack, and tools could get you close to 100lbs right there - all for free.

Also, look into exhaust weights; on many cars, you can save 20-30lbs. Since you get a HP/Tq gain, that one is win-win.