1999 audi a4 fwd rear shock removal

[rreeves91]

Alright so I'm trying to install some new shocks/struts what have you, and I can't find a good DIY article there mostly for the quattro I believe. I located the top hat bolts behind the back seat and I have no clue how to get the bolt closest to the trunk out there's barely enough room for my hand to get in there with a wrench, I looked at some jetta DIY because there similar but the bolts in a jetta are on the bottom not the top. So any suggestions on how to get that rear bolt off would be greatly appreciated.

[SquishyPanda]

Have you got the side bolsters on the rear seat off? You lift the bottom and bend the whole thing a little so the bottom tab comes out of its corresponding slot, then the whole thing swings up and out on the top tab (there's a clip in the middle that will pop out with a worrying noise, IIRC). Once that is off there is an unrealistic (but no longer impossible) amount of access to the upper bolts.

The bolsters go back in in sort of reverse order: top clip, bottom clip, whack the middle with your hand to set the middle clip.

(disclaimer: I don't have my Bentley book close to hand so this is all from memory)

edit: Oh yeah, and once the bolster comes off there's a chunk of foam wedged into the space where your hand/wrench will need to go. Just yank that sucker out and there's the bolts. I swear it's like Audi's engineers stopped trying once they got to the back half of the car.

[rreeves91]

Lol I got that far and got the two bolts out but unfortunately I couldn't get the bolt at the bottom of the shock off no matter how much strength and strain I put on it. I honestly had an easier time with the front shocks lol. I think I'll just take it to a shop if I can't come up with any ideas to get that bottom bolt off. I'm pretty sure it's seized in there.

[rreeves91]

So I still havent done the rear struts on my A4 I was wondering what the easiest way is to get the bottom bolt and nut off.

[SubaruAudiGuy]

im doing the same thing, i used pb blaster on it left it for 15-20 mins and they came right off, now my problem is getting the top hats off does anyone have a clue????

[woolveren]

im doing the same thing, i used pb blaster on it left it for 15-20 mins and they came right off, now my problem is getting the top hats off does anyone have a clue????

Just use the screwdriver to pry out the cap.. Audi discontinued those caps and are hard to find anywhere, so make sure you don't damage them while removing.

PS: If you are asking about how to remove the top cap from the slot in the car body, then I think the whole assembly needs to be turned around 90 degree after removing the lower mounting bolt of the strut.