Lifting a B5 A4 Quattro???

[Tumbler510]

I am looking for a quick/cheap way to lift my B5, as I am going to take it to the Gambler 500 in a month, and sell it shortly thereafer.
The lifted B5 that I've seen the most detail about the build is the one posted below.

The lifting looks fairly simple, adding 60mm of length to the front shocks, and raising the rear shock mounts on the lower A-arms.

I took my front shocks out, and I don't see how I can extend it down an additional 60mm. Looking at the pictures, I think he removed something on the front end. Can anybody confirm?

I was looking for options to lift it. Thanks for any assistance!

[Rodgman15]

contact user garytightpants on here. he's done all kinds of cool shit like that.

[thedanplasse]

Gary

Gary

Paging Gary

[mobildetroit]

I'm interested in lifting my 2001 A4 Avant...I've bottomed it on the oil pan a few times already.
Is there a way maybe to use Allroad suspension parts to do it?
The Allroad has an airbag system for doing that right?

[vrmm]

I did the opposite to my front struts. H&r race springs made the front and rear look uneven, so I cut the front struts'posts' like what's pictured. If you're going to do that, you best be using hardened steel and get damn good penetration. In my mind that's kinda pushing it. It would suck quite a bit to be out in the middle of the woods and have one side completely slammed with a strut dragging on the ground. I'd try a6 suspension. I have billstien struts instead of airbags on my Allroad and I think they say that it keeps it at 'level 2'. Which is definitely enough to get what you're going for.

If you were to weld in height to the front, adding to the rear to match would be more difficult. Drilling out the rear strut bolt holes and putting them lower would only gain you like an inch tops. Subaru folk change top hats I believe, so as far as I understand it, you'd just be adding height via rubber ontop of the strut. What Audi struts have thicker rubber ontop... I have no clue maybe none. Guess just saying it's one method that may be possible.

[garytightpants]

Soooo, you lifting it or not? Because you said you don’t have time. But it seems more like you just don’t know how to put 2+2 together....Image1529592979.233258.jpg


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[garytightpants]

I did the opposite to my front struts. H&r race springs made the front and rear look uneven, so I cut the front struts'posts' like what's pictured. If you're going to do that, you best be using hardened steel and get damn good penetration. In my mind that's kinda pushing it. It would suck quite a bit to be out in the middle of the woods and have one side completely slammed with a strut dragging on the ground. I'd try a6 suspension. I have billstien struts instead of airbags on my Allroad and I think they say that it keeps it at 'level 2'. Which is definitely enough to get what you're going for.

If you were to weld in height to the front, adding to the rear to match would be more difficult. Drilling out the rear strut bolt holes and putting them lower would only gain you like an inch tops. Subaru folk change top hats I believe, so as far as I understand it, you'd just be adding height via rubber ontop of the strut. What Audi struts have thicker rubber ontop... I have no clue maybe none. Guess just saying it's one method that may be possible.

My old front lift struts. Solid 1” chromoly welded to the bottom to make that longer, as well as longer strut tubes (rear Raceland strut body from Mk3 VW) with delrin spacers and KW inserts inside. 800lb spring over a 1300 spring to equal ~490lb springrate. Was going to make a lockout for the 1300lb spring but never did. IMG_2225.JPG


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[garytightpants]

Image1529593483.318084.jpg

The pic is upside down, but you get the point. Stock Bilstein sport suspension has removable springs seats that are held up by a c-clip. Machine a groove higher up for the spring seat and boom, lift. Second pic is before and after, with 225/70/15 (28”) tires
IMG_2071.JPG


This is going to be the easiest method, and probably best for you since you seem to lack the ability to figure things out on your own.


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[Tumbler510]

Got the front suspension removed and added 2 3/8" of height via sleeving. I am now wondering the easiest way to get the upper control arms back into the pinch bolt locations.

I've tried a few things, but I haven't found the magic formula yet.

- Spring compressors will barely fit, but won't be able to be removed if the control arms are installed
- Compressing the shock didn't seem to have much effect
- Turning the wheel didn't make it much easier
- Jacking up the lower ball joint, compressing the suspension gets them closer, but then they need to be forced inward to the control arms. This gets harder as the suspension compresses.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

IMG_0428.jpg

[garytightpants]

Got the front suspension removed and added 2 3/8" of height via sleeving. I am now wondering the easiest way to get the upper control arms back into the pinch bolt locations.

I've tried a few things, but I haven't found the magic formula yet.

- Spring compressors will barely fit, but won't be able to be removed if the control arms are installed
- Compressing the shock didn't seem to have much effect
- Turning the wheel didn't make it much easier
- Jacking up the lower ball joint, compressing the suspension gets them closer, but then they need to be forced inward to the control arms. This gets harder as the suspension compresses.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

IMG_0428.jpg

did you loosen the upper control arm bolts?

[Tumbler510]

These bolts? If so, no I have not loosened them at all. Does that help?

Capture111.JPG

[GOODBYNAAIR]

You can rip the UCA rubber if you lift it to far and don't loosen them.

[garytightpants]

It will also allow them to come down and go into the knuckle.

[Tumbler510]

Interesting. I'll loosen them after work today and try again.

Thanks for the advice!

[Tumbler510]

Definitely helped, but still having trouble getting the knuckle into place.
Did you guys man handle it into place, or use rope/ratchet straps, or what?

Is it worth it to remove the steering tie rod end, get everything bolted into place, then adjust the length of it so it fits into the knuckle again?

[Tumbler510]

Got the front end squared away. The key is to jack the suspension up from right below the shock mount. This doesn't allow the other parts to bind up and they are easier to maneuvewr into place. Also a second set of hands is a huge help.

Onto the rears...

IMG_0483[1].jpg

[Dfender08]

What wheels are you running and is the back done the same as the front?

- - - Updated - - -

It will also allow them to come down and go into the knuckle.

What wheels are you running and is the back struts done the same as the front?

[Jbakeroats]

Definitely helped, but still having trouble getting the knuckle into place.
Did you guys man handle it into place, or use rope/ratchet straps, or what?

Is it worth it to remove the steering tie rod end, get everything bolted into place, then adjust the length of it so it fits into the knuckle again?

I ran into that issue with my control arms.
Use anti seize on the ends to help them slide.
Partially install them on the knuckle first and then attach the control arm to the upper strut mount

This keeps knuckle aligned and then up can tug downward the control arms twist them back and forth until they seat.