Height Sensor Link Abnormality
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: UK
Height Sensor Link Abnormality
Hi,
First post so don't bite my head off! :I
Purchased a 2003 4.2 Quattro Sport a few weeks back and thoroughly love the car! I purchased some lowering links off ebay from a good source. However there was an immediate problem when going to fit the fronts.
Apparantly all D3s have straight links that are 135mm long. Mine has 160mm links fitted which could be from a bentley. I assume this was done to trick the system to raise the car for same steep driveway. Anyway I proceeded to fit the adjustable links, initially starting at 135mm. This resulted in putting the car on its bump stops! I went up to 150mm and its perfect now. However after going up the road the links broke off and were lost down the road!
Now only explanation I can give for this is the link contacted the chassis under compression? On the standard link there is a kink to stop this.
Does anyone else have the kinked links fitted to their A8? I wondering if its an early model or sport model abnormality? I assumed the were an after fitment but looks like probably not.
Any thoughts?
The Standard Link fitted to the car...
Std Rear, 135mm Front
Std Rear, 150mm Front
First post so don't bite my head off! :I
Purchased a 2003 4.2 Quattro Sport a few weeks back and thoroughly love the car! I purchased some lowering links off ebay from a good source. However there was an immediate problem when going to fit the fronts.
Apparantly all D3s have straight links that are 135mm long. Mine has 160mm links fitted which could be from a bentley. I assume this was done to trick the system to raise the car for same steep driveway. Anyway I proceeded to fit the adjustable links, initially starting at 135mm. This resulted in putting the car on its bump stops! I went up to 150mm and its perfect now. However after going up the road the links broke off and were lost down the road!
Now only explanation I can give for this is the link contacted the chassis under compression? On the standard link there is a kink to stop this.
Does anyone else have the kinked links fitted to their A8? I wondering if its an early model or sport model abnormality? I assumed the were an after fitment but looks like probably not.
Any thoughts?
The Standard Link fitted to the car...
Std Rear, 135mm Front
Std Rear, 150mm Front
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,831
Likes: 27
From: Vancouver, Canada
Welcome! We don't bite. At least in the beginning. 
OEM links on your car are standard. I don't know where did you find 135 mm and strait. May be your dealer is not that "good source". They have to be bent in order not to touch chassis. You are lucky you didn't brake sensors.
Height you like you can achieve by software lowering. You need VCDS, but you will need it for many other things. It is must tool for these cars.
OEM links on your car are standard. I don't know where did you find 135 mm and strait. May be your dealer is not that "good source". They have to be bent in order not to touch chassis. You are lucky you didn't brake sensors.
Height you like you can achieve by software lowering. You need VCDS, but you will need it for many other things. It is must tool for these cars.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: UK
Hi, thanks for your reply.
The ebay seller has sold hundreds of his straight kits - UK & US and was got 135mm from schematic drawings. Thats why there has been confusion. Hmmm.
VCDS - is that the VAG COM software? I have a macbook pro, will it run on that? What do i need cable wise to connect to the car and where?
Thanks.
The ebay seller has sold hundreds of his straight kits - UK & US and was got 135mm from schematic drawings. Thats why there has been confusion. Hmmm.
VCDS - is that the VAG COM software? I have a macbook pro, will it run on that? What do i need cable wise to connect to the car and where?
Thanks.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: UK
P.S I thought the vag com software can only do a 25mm drop max? It was my understanding that for every 5mm shorter the links are they lower the car 25mm. So for the 150mm link length I liked it was a 50mm drop?
Also, because these cars work by levelling, am I able to have a slight rake like in the picture without causing problems?
Also, because these cars work by levelling, am I able to have a slight rake like in the picture without causing problems?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,831
Likes: 27
From: Vancouver, Canada
You can get 25 mm max without cheating. Front and back independent. Add to that Dynamic setting and you have 50 mm.
Drop rate for links is more like 3:1 than 5:1, so with 150 mm links you have ~30 mm drop. 50 mm would be too much. In Dynamic you would have only about 40 mm of a clearance.
Drop rate for links is more like 3:1 than 5:1, so with 150 mm links you have ~30 mm drop. 50 mm would be too much. In Dynamic you would have only about 40 mm of a clearance.
Trending Topics
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,883
Likes: 5
From: NC USA
Bad news is you need to run a Windows virtual machine via Parallels, VMware Fusion, or Bootcamp.
Just assign the Ross-Tech cable to the VM.
If you have an old copy of XP it works fine with it.
I used to use my MBP, but now use the Air because I'm more likely to travel with it.
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
9 Audi Designs That Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
2026 Audi Q5 Buyer's Guide (Every Model Explained)
Brett Foote
Ranking Every Current Audi 'S' Model From Worst to First!
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Audis That are FINALLY LEGAL to Import to the U.S.!
Joe Kucinski
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,831
Likes: 27
From: Vancouver, Canada
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: UK
Yes it works on a Mac.
Bad news is you need to run a Windows virtual machine via Parallels, VMware Fusion, or Bootcamp.
Just assign the Ross-Tech cable to the VM.
If you have an old copy of XP it works fine with it.
I used to use my MBP, but now use the Air because I'm more likely to travel with it.
Bad news is you need to run a Windows virtual machine via Parallels, VMware Fusion, or Bootcamp.
Just assign the Ross-Tech cable to the VM.
If you have an old copy of XP it works fine with it.
I used to use my MBP, but now use the Air because I'm more likely to travel with it.
Thanks Jake. I have Parrallels on the mbp so that should work then,