A4QuattroV6

I just took my car to the dealership for an alignment. They said it went well and I asked about the rear toe because the eccentric bolt in the inner toe arm appeared compromised. I specifically pointed that out when I took it to the Audi dealership. When I picked it up, they said they were seized and not to worry. The washer is up over the ridge that it looks like its supposed to be within. Should I worry about it moving?

twentysevenlitres

Would that be the rear camber bolt?
The washer should be behind the stop/tab, as it's where the eccentric rides to alter the camber.

I've found that most aligners don't know VAG/Audi methods, so pick very carefully as a result.

Old_School_Audi

The eccentric washers on the toe adjustment bolt should not ride up over the ridges in the crossmember. It is common for the bolt to become seized in the tie rod inner bushing. That requires some effort (read time) on the technician to correct that problem.
The end result is that you will have to pay for that ($) on top of what they charge for the alignment. The situatuion is compounded by the fact that the technician is trying to finish and move on to the next job.
If this was an Audi Dealer, they should have warned you that this might happen. The Service Writer needs to do a better job here.

twentysevenlitres

If they say it's seized, they must have tried to move it.
If the camber is within tolerance, I wouldn't be too concerned.
Did they give you a printout of the alignment?
It should show was and is measurements and maybe the tolerances...

A4QuattroV6

Let me clarify, this is for toe, not camber. This is the inner toe arm eccentric bolt to rear sub-frame. I know that they were not seized because I had just removed them to replace the rear toe arms, thus creating the need for the alignment. I had the entire bolt within the slot on the rear sub-frame, just not adjusted properly. When I got the car back, the car had just come off the rack and i looked under before driving and saw they were rotated and riding over. They were aligned tho. I marked them with yellow window crayon and drove it very aggressively to ensure safety for the 500 mile round trip I just got back from. After doing donuts and hard swerves and 500 miles after that, the marks have not moved. Am I safe now.

A4QuattroV6

bump. Anybody?

Jyizorz

Without a picture showing the bolt/washer, its hard to say whether your safe or not.

I'd be worried about dirt roads and hard bumps freeing it, not really swerves or donuts.

Old_School_Audi

If you had set the washers between the ridges, and now they are over them, you should go back and ask for a competent mechanic to redo the work. You paid for top quality work and received much less.

From an engineering standpoint, that fastener is now is an undesigned state. It probably has added bending stress on it that is much higher than the tensile stress that the bolt shaft is designed for. If the mechanic had over-tightened it, then the safety factor has dropped considerably.

I see 2 strikes. Your call...

1999Audi

PS
when I leave the car at the shop for an alignment I usually include "Print out" with the eccentric bolt location + photo, and ask to pass this to the tech. so he wont forget.

I always have copy in my glove box ;-) it save me and their time...