OEM Strut Tower Bar figured out.
10-25-2003, 02:51 PM
#1
OEM Strut Tower Bar figured out.
****Updated, see faq*****
Well im posting this here because i was able to find out how to put an OEM strut bar in a B5 A4.
I dug through some german forums and some info on Clubb5.com...it seems B5 passat people have been adding the A6 strut bar for the past year. it requires shortening the bar and adding new mounting holes.
From what I can gather from the german forum, using the A6 bar brackets and the S4 bar is possible with no modifications. Direct bolt-on. Total cost would be about $100. I believe you can still use the oem battery and the cover, retaining stock look and feel. there might be a slight fitment issue with A/C lines on the passenger side. Note that the S4 brackets are welded in, where as the brackets from the A6 (98-2000) are bolted in.
I'll be ordering these parts and trying them out. the germans are saying the bar has a very noticable impact on the car's dynamics.
BTW, Domstrebe is strut bar in german :P
(disclaimer, i havent tried this personally, but i have parts on order, proceed at your own risk)
The parts:
A6 Brackets:
(1) 4B0 803 357A LEFT BRACKET
(1) 4B0 803 358A RIGHT BRACKET
S4 strut bar:
(1) 8D0 805 645A CROSS BAR
(4) N 902 218 03 SCREWS
Other related Parts:
(1) 4B1 805 645 CROSS BAR (A6 steel)
(1) 4B0 805 645 CROSS BAR (A6 Aluminum)
Links:
<a href="http://62.116.119.245/geri/Autos/Passat/Domstrebe.htm">German site describing the A6 bar</a>
<a href="http://www.clubb5.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=29175&highlight=a6+strut+brace&sid =2342d207119c364c45f6b02a00c4c598">Clubb5 forum posts about it</a>
<a href="http://www.drewparts.com/Products.asp?ParentID=33354">parts vender the passat guys use that is selling an A6 kit</a>
<a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2F7797.rapidforum.com%2Ftop ic%3D100184914131%2526search%253DDomstrebe&langpai r=de%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools">VERY LONG german forum post about the A6 bar, and using the S4 bar</a>
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/11.JPG">
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/12.JPG">
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/501.JPG">
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/502.JPG">
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/503.JPG">
Well im posting this here because i was able to find out how to put an OEM strut bar in a B5 A4.
I dug through some german forums and some info on Clubb5.com...it seems B5 passat people have been adding the A6 strut bar for the past year. it requires shortening the bar and adding new mounting holes.
From what I can gather from the german forum, using the A6 bar brackets and the S4 bar is possible with no modifications. Direct bolt-on. Total cost would be about $100. I believe you can still use the oem battery and the cover, retaining stock look and feel. there might be a slight fitment issue with A/C lines on the passenger side. Note that the S4 brackets are welded in, where as the brackets from the A6 (98-2000) are bolted in.
I'll be ordering these parts and trying them out. the germans are saying the bar has a very noticable impact on the car's dynamics.
BTW, Domstrebe is strut bar in german :P
(disclaimer, i havent tried this personally, but i have parts on order, proceed at your own risk)
The parts:
A6 Brackets:
(1) 4B0 803 357A LEFT BRACKET
(1) 4B0 803 358A RIGHT BRACKET
S4 strut bar:
(1) 8D0 805 645A CROSS BAR
(4) N 902 218 03 SCREWS
Other related Parts:
(1) 4B1 805 645 CROSS BAR (A6 steel)
(1) 4B0 805 645 CROSS BAR (A6 Aluminum)
Links:
<a href="http://62.116.119.245/geri/Autos/Passat/Domstrebe.htm">German site describing the A6 bar</a>
<a href="http://www.clubb5.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=29175&highlight=a6+strut+brace&sid =2342d207119c364c45f6b02a00c4c598">Clubb5 forum posts about it</a>
<a href="http://www.drewparts.com/Products.asp?ParentID=33354">parts vender the passat guys use that is selling an A6 kit</a>
<a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2F7797.rapidforum.com%2Ftop ic%3D100184914131%2526search%253DDomstrebe&langpai r=de%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools">VERY LONG german forum post about the A6 bar, and using the S4 bar</a>
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/11.JPG">
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/12.JPG">
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/501.JPG">
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/502.JPG">
<img src="http://www.a4-freunde.de/upload/503.JPG">
10-25-2003, 08:45 PM
#2
Former Vendor
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: San Diego, CA
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Yep
The OEM A6 bar is a little long. It does need to be trimmed down a bit.
We've got some custom bars made for the A4 coming in, and offering the center car, with the ends, all powder coated black.
Initial offer is $150 shipped if you're interested.
Check my pic poster for out sample piece.
We've got some custom bars made for the A4 coming in, and offering the center car, with the ends, all powder coated black.
Initial offer is $150 shipped if you're interested.
Check my pic poster for out sample piece.
10-26-2003, 04:53 AM
#3
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That would be a perfect solution if it didnt hit the a/c lines.
If it's just close, I'd love to see a top-down picture of the passenger side bracket to see what kind of clearance is there.
10-26-2003, 09:15 PM
#6
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All bolt in.
Sports package bar only came with 2001.5, and was welded in.
<img src="http://www.purems.com/images/my_storage/end_closeup.jpg">
<img src="http://www.purems.com/images/my_storage/sb_assembled.jpg">
<img src="http://www.purems.com/images/my_storage/end_closeup.jpg">
<img src="http://www.purems.com/images/my_storage/sb_assembled.jpg">
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10-28-2003, 07:47 AM
#10
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No, but regarding the AC line..
The AC does rest directly on top of the bar.
In the close up picture I posted of the end bracket, it would rest directly above the closest bolt through the bar. After about 10k miles with this installed, I didn't notice any excessive wear on either the bar or the AC line. Powdercoating is still in tact, and not worn through.
In the close up picture I posted of the end bracket, it would rest directly above the closest bolt through the bar. After about 10k miles with this installed, I didn't notice any excessive wear on either the bar or the AC line. Powdercoating is still in tact, and not worn through.