SilberUrS6

I see zwoobah's R&R in the FAQ, and it looks simple enough. I've never done it on a C4 car, so I'm hoping there's no "gotcha" I need to worry about.

When I'm replacing the shocks and strut inserts, just to be thorough, what else should I replace? Strut bearings, OK. Dust boots? Anything else? Nothing worse than having it all apart and not having everything you need. Any special tools make the job go faster and easier? (Any excuse to buy a special tool is a good one, IMO.)

I am also assuming that either Boge or Bilstein is an acceptable replacement. This is the family truckster, and the car my wife drives - and this R&R is a tune-up for when I do the S6 (mandatory S-car content), not an exercise in Audi performance suspension tuning.

:-)

islingtonaudi

Try to get the 2069 strut tool (check my picture poster). It makes things loads easier.

UrSoccer_mobile®

naah, pipe wrench from underneath is cheaper.

islingtonaudi

True but you have to jack it up to relax the coils. I rented mine for $10.

4Driver4

You'll have to remove the whole suspension versus slipping the strut insert in. The dust boots will be a bitch too. If they need it, do it, but otherwise skip.

Zwoobah

you can compress the spring and lower the strut down. this gives you *just* enough room to slip the strut bearing in place. I tried this because repeater said it was possible, and he was right.

SilberUrS6

Your step-by-step pics are cool.

I plan on replacing the strut bearings and dust boots - one of the boots is missing, and the other is torn, so they do need to be replaced. I really don't want to have to disassemble the whole damn thing.

Because once I get into it, if I screw up, I really don't want to have to admit defeat, put it back together, then beg for help.

BTW, your Avant looks very nice. I like the stereo work you've done.

islingtonaudi

not using Meyle mounts, I put two new ones in and one went bad in 7 mos. I ended up getting a used one from a '95 A6 and it's still fine. Hmmm...?