Anything else to do while getting the serp belt done? [S4]

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

Is there anything else that’s a “while you’re in there” item in the context of the serp belt replacement? My list is so far at:

  • LWCP
  • Apikol snub mount
  • Tensioner
  • Water pump?

I was thinking of getting the intake manifold at the same time, but I don’t think I’ve got the most out of the car without it. Plus I was wondering about manifold + piggies and whether the gains would be worth it. OTOH, is getting the mani on and off easier (and as I’m sending the car to a garage for this, read “cheaper on labour”) with the front end of the car off while they’re in doing the belt.

Other maintenance items this spring:

  • Spark plugs
  • Fuel filter
  • Broken front window regulator
  • brand new Michelin Pilot Sports (had PS2’s on a previous car - loved them)
  • Oil (am I being extreme with a change at every 5000kms)
  • Install karsty’s motor/rear diff mounts (thanks!)
  • New brake pads. I settled on OEM - don’t want to deal with the squeal of the Hawks plus I’m no track superstar. Having said that I might be doing a charity track day but it’s mainly 1600m straights. I’ve been very happy with OEM so far.

I was also thinking about some Hotchkis sway bars. But I can’t decide on S4 vs RS4.

Other than the front driver’s window, the car is a beast. Love it.

#2

Get Michelin super sports…the pilot sports 3 suck compared to the old ps2 which is now discontinued

#3

Might as well do the idler pulley while you are there.

#4

don’t bother with a water pump, I’ve only ever heard of one failure and that was a thermostat

#5

DIY for the window regulator: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/393612-B7-Window-Regulator-Tutorial

Don’t get the VDO brand. Had one fail in 3 weeks >:(

#6

Ha ha I fail at typing. I meant Super Sports. Which are what was delivered and are in my car. Phew!

#7

Cool, thanks for the link. I often forget to look in the A4 sections for stuff like this.

Fair enough, t-stat it is.

Will do.

Thanks for help guys! Booked in for Weds, just waiting for the West Coast to wake up so I can overnight some parts from JHM.

#8

Really, what makes you think that about the PS3’s? I have a set coming in today. A guy out in CO are trading me the PS3’s from his stock wheels that are brand new for the Nokian snow tires my car came with.

#9

that’s a good trade. Suck was the wrong word. They’re just not as good as the PS2s were in a variety of ways. Michelin made the Super Sports the replacement for the PS2, and the PS3 were another tire not as awesome, but solid.

I’m sure you’ll love them. Some of the road course guys swear by the SS vs. the PS3, and reviews on the SS are that they’re the best tire out there. If I could get a set for a significant discount (PS3) the way you did, I’m sure I’d welcome them with open arms.

the PS3s have a bit of an all-season look to them

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/michelin/mi_pilot_sport3_ci2_l.jpg

the supersports look very similar to the PS2…all business

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/michelin/mi_pilot_ss_ci2_l.jpg

#10

[quote=“bangoman,post:1,topic:3473”]
You don’t have to fully take the front end off to do all that stuff. Just have them put it into service position by taking the bolts out and moving it forward a few inches. To fully take the front end off you have to drain the AC refrigerant, disconnect the coolant and power steering lines, etc.

It would be a good time to install the engine mounts though unless you want to do them yourself. The engine mounts are not hard to replace, it is just tight like everything else on one these cars and the passenger side 13mm nut on the top is kind of a bitch. Especially when you have the purple pink OEM mount fluid running down your arm - oh that was probably just me.

#11

don’t bother with the tstat if your car warms up fine, it was a random failure

#12

x2 on not touching the thermostat. I’d do the idler pulley while you’re in there. Check the front main seal for leaks while the crank pulley is off.

#13

Cool, no on the tstat then. Decided against sways for another day.

#14

Clean the front of the motor :wink:

That is if it is that dirty lol

#15

So it looks like this or better:

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Jimmybones777/mycleanedengine1.jpg

#16

Woah that is clean! What do you use? Simple Green Extreme and a scrub brush? That is what I like to use for cleaning, breaks down grease and is safe on aluminum.

#17

Mine looks like that and I haven’t even cleaned it. (it was also installed just over a year ago ;D)

#18

I used ZEP engine degreaser, brake clean, small wire brush, and a bunch of zip ties all tied together. I started a thread on Audizine right after I did the work.

#19

Very nice indeed. I suspect mine is quite dirty after spraying oil pre valve cover gaskets!

#20

I used Gunk Engine Degreaser, a bunch of stiff brushes, and about a dozen cans of brake cleaner to ‘power wash’ the sides of the motor that I couldn’t get with a brush

This is what it looks like after the engine degreaser has been sitting for a few minutes. It litterally melts away the grease

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x59/joec1992/DSCN0145.jpg

And all done…

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x59/joec1992/photo-98.jpg

[/whoring my clean motor]