allenst

so I visit my mechanic today and he tells me he's gone to strutmasters on his '05.
I ask, "what did you do with the air struts ?"
there over there he says. "do you want them ?"
I'm like yes !
he gave them to me no charge.

now he's not really an Audi guy but owns one and is a mechanic. he runs a very busy shop and deals mostly in regular NA cars

but like I said owns an '05

he went to struts cus his car was on stops. he tested air compressor and it was fine. he changed valve block, it was fine. changed relay and fuse.
so he tried a lot of things and just decided to make change

we talked about the symptoms and he said his compressor would come on and shut off in like 10 seconds.
that's an interesting behaviour that neither of us had an answer for.....

GradecEngineering

I see what you did there...nice score.

allenst

on driver front
but the upper control arm pinch bolt is seized seized seized
48 hrs of wd-40, heat from torch = nothing
that bolt is not moving

haggisuk

Cant you cut the bolts out?

the_duke

I just did this a couple of weeks ago and fortunately mine came right out. It should be pretty easy to cut it if needed though.

allenst

and as you know the nut can't slide off even when loosened so cut it off.

literally is in there like a pin.

i drove the car about 10km and it's still stuck in there.

had a steel malett and punch. nothing.

took it to my guy and we'll see.....

the_duke

That sucks! My car has 135k miles and isn't pristine but I didn't see any corrosion when I did the upper control arms. I hope it works out.

Mister Bally

If you go back about 15 months, I had a seized pinch bolt on the drivers side. I had to remove the both upper control arms and the hub & bearing assembly to press out the UCA bushings on my press. Six months later I did the other side and the pinch bolt came right out. Searh for it as I posted photos.

The seized one has both the hex head and nut sheared off. No amount of heat & penetrating oil as well as a punch with Ball Peen Hammer would get the old one out.