Paldi

Suppose one wanted to put S8 trans and rear differential gears in an A8L? What else would need to be changed?

JimR

A term from the motorcycle world.

This is where you remove the gas cap, slide out the A8, slide in the S8, replace the gas cap, and proceed.

IIRC, the problem is that the final drive for the front differential is buried in the transmission, and maybe isn't available as a separate Audi part.

Paldi

especially the salesmen that have an S8 they want to sell me. So, is the S8 really worth the $10,000 price premium? What's the difference besides the length and how are the differences important? Seats, 3-spoke steering wheel, wheels/tires, short wheelbase, lower suspension, more HP, and different geering.

Paldi

If anyone would like to answer the question, I'd appreciate it!

ryoung

"Suppose one wanted to put S8 trans and rear differential gears in an A8L? What else would need to be changed?"

If you mean replace transmission <b>gears</b> and rear differential <b>gears</b>, the A8 and S8 transmission gears are the same; but as Jim said, "the problem is that the final drive for the front differential is buried in the transmission, and maybe isn't available as a separate Audi part."

If you mean <b>replace the entire transmission</b> and the rear differential gears, that should work without needing anything else (as if that wasn't enough).

And I assume we're talking about a D2 A8L.

Paldi

you get the 3.73 gearing for faster off the line. Question was in the direction of whether or not the electronics would have to change too and would it just be some tweaks with a vag-com or would there be hardware changes needed like computers and sensors...

ryoung

For me, the only advantage of the S8's final drive is when accelerating from 0-40mph. Since after three years, I can still count on one hand the number of times I've accelerated from 0-40mph at full throttle, this is really no advantage at all. Even on track, 1st gear is only used once, when exiting the pits. Everything else is 2nd, 3rd, and the much too tall 4th (and never 5th). The A8's gearing is actually better suited for the track than the S8's because the A8 usually doesn't need 4th.

If it would'nt destroy an already dismal resale value, you could have my S8 tranny and rear differential if you'd pay for the installation of a new or low mileage A8 tranny and diff in my S8.

Paldi

Why do these A8's seem so slow off rest?