DRC woes

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

Well I brought the car in for that free audi summer checkup thing and they mentioned my rear suspension is leaking quite a bit. I have a year of CPO left so it’s covered but I still have to dish out the deductable - still waiting to hear exactly how much, but the tech said it’ll probably be something around $100-$200.

The car had the DRC recall done on it before I bought it so I’m assuming it’s already on the c revision. The recall ended on June 29th apparently so this can’t be covered again under that.

It’s just frustrating getting this done knowing that it’ll probably poop out again eventually.

Maybe it’ll be more worth it to just suck it up and get aftermarket suspension since I do occasionaly hit the track? Most threads on the topic (DRC replacement vs aftermarket) are at least a year or two old around the time the recall was issued.

I’ve been looking at the KW V3s since the Stasis MSs have that rebuild thing you have to do every year which seems like a PITA plus the fact that we get so much salt during winter here.

Does anyone have any experience with the Vogtland ones via JHM?

#2

get the DRC replaced first and then upgrade to the aftermarket.

that way at least if you ever want to go back to stock you can with a good DRC

this is what i was planning on doing…having mine checked out before i go stasis

i am still under factory warranty…at least for this week i should have gone in already

but then i have CPO til 08/14 not sure on the exact date

if you dont think you are ever going back to stock then gut the whole DRC ie take it all out.

#3

I bet you were on the b revision.

Wanna bet a Coke?

Deductible is only fifty or one hundred right? No big deal. How the hell did he get two hundred?

Anyway I was hoping for a Drc recall not being done to my car when I bought it, but it was. if it fails, I can get them to install the euro super sport suspension at the same tune. Since they are in there the labor should be free.

It was an option offered in Europe for a bit firmer ride and a resultant 20mm lower ride height. Not sure if they do the suspension one corner at a time in the event of drc failure but if you car get then to do all for that is a thought. Parts are like 700…

#4

CPO deductible is $85

#5

not here it isn’t

We are in Canada, mistro and I.

#6

If you go aftermarket keep in mind ANY C/O system will need a rebuild at some point, it’s just maintenance imo. The stasis annual thing is BS. When the time comes to rebuild them you send all four to them and they rebuild them for around $100 - $125 each. Same deal as any other C/O rebuild cost. BTW, there are people with 60K+ miles on them without any issues. I have to be close to 30K+ by now. Not even a hint of failure anywhere and we have plenty of salt and sand etc here in the winters. That’s what Boeing T9 products are for. GREAT product and I highly recommend you pick up a can or two of both the cleaner and the lube/protectant seal. Inexpensive preventative product that saves you money in the long run.

#7

Can you expand on that a little?

#8

I’m hoping/assuming it’s just $100 or so.

If it were the b revision I’d be a bit surprised since I was told it had been done recently… but maybe I’ll flip Alex @ AoM another email to get some details on the previous maintenance. If it is still rev b maybe I’ll try pushing to get them all replaced.

The euro sport suspension would be just the springs that can go with the DRC shocks right?

#9

That doesn’t seem all that bad actually. I was reading some threads that mentioned figures in the $500 range for rebuilds which seemed crazy after factoring in labour to remove/reinstall plus shipping. I’ve only put on around 8k miles on it in a year so it would seem like I can go quite a bit with them. Do you have to do the rebuild every year regardless to keep the warranty though? (And is that warranty even all that useful?)

I’ve never been to NY in the winter, but here in Toronto we get a shit-ton of salt and brine put on the streets at even the lightest hint of snow.

#10

That’s what I was referring to - “warranty?” What is going to happen to a coil over that would warrant a “warranty” repair? You still have the hassle or cost of having the part removed, shipped (which costs money) to Stasis for “inspection” then they repair or replace it and ship it back, then you pay to have them installed again or do it yourself. Plus, what’s the chances of all 4 going bad at once and having them ALL covered under Stasis’s “warranty?” I want mine rebuilt at the same time.

Stasis wants you to remove, ship and reinstall every year to keep the parts under warranty - f’ that. It’s cost prohibitive and costs more in the end when compared to enjoying the parts for 50K+ miles and then shipping it to them for a rebuild at that point. You have saved on at least 3-4 shipping and removal/installation costs in that time period assuming you drive around 10K a year.

So my logic is as follows:
Buy the system you want.
Drive until they need a rebuilding.
Remove, ship or bring to shop of choice and re-install.
Enjoy for another 50K+ miles.

Imagine if you weren’t a DIY’er and you piad to have them removed to ship to Stasis and they denied a warranty claim? Then you pay for shipping both ways and reinstall…for nothing?! It doesn’t make sense to me.

#11

Sure - which part?

#12

yes

Mississauga gave reysujou rev b on his 2008

#13

When a dealer puts your VIN number into Elsaweb it will say what your CPO deductible is. The price varies from when you purchased the car. I remember seeing deductibles range from $75 to $150 when I was still at the dealership. You may not like this next statement but either way a deductible under $200 is cheap as hell for most of the repairs that get done on one of these cars since a hour labor runs from $80 to $200 depending on where you live. Still can’t believe Audi Manhattan wanted $200 for a hour labor at one point.

I am pretty sure the DRC recall shocks were all revision B for the sedans and fronts of the convertibles. The convertibles used a revision E for the rears I think. Either way if both rear shocks are leaking then I would really push for all four shocks to be replaced since the shocks are hydraulically linked diagonally which means the corresponding front shocks will be low on pressure too.

If you want to look for some aftermarket coilovers then I recommend looking into these: http://www.audizine.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=76576

A43Go6MT posted the above link in the classifieds section here to the ad for the B7 RS4 KW V3 Clubsports on Audizine. Those Clubsports are normally three grand and he only wants $2,150 which is a steal. Recently I installed the front KW Clubsports on my S4 as part of my build thread and when I get the front suspension all done then I will do the back.

#14

Great thanks for the tips guys.

I contacted that seller but he’s in the states so shipping and brokerage might be a pita, but I’ll dig around. Btw, those seem to be the V3s not the clubsports from what I can tell? If they are the clubsports then maybe I can ask him if he’s willing to do it via USPS to avoid the brokerage from fedex or UPS because that’s one heck of a deal.

http://pgperformance.com/kw-v3-coilover-for-audi-rs4-b7.html
vs
http://pgperformance.com/kw-clubsport-coilover-for-audi-rs4-b7.html

#15

why not just get warranty DRC done? And Euro Super Sport Suspension + at the same time!

#16

The rebuild on Stasis MS is $125 per shock, I believe. I had my set rebuilt in the late winter of 2011 as I bought the set used and felt better about putting on a truly “like new” set.

I do not plan on rebuilding these suckers again anytime in the near future. Considering I drive my RS4 about 6000 miles a year (actually, less), I really doubt I’ll need to.

The suspension really transformed the car. Those on stock DRC suspension are really missing out. And stock was no slouch either, but this a completely different league. Not to mention a better ride coupled with ridiculously better handling.

#17

sounds pretty great

are these the 3000 dollar Stasis or the $6000 stasis? I can’t remember which is which.

#18

MS = MSRP around $3,800 irrc - - - can be had new for about $3,200 or better.
SL = MSRP around $2,400 iirc - - - can be had new for about $1,900 or better.

#19

I bought my MS set used for $2000 locally, and then put the $500 into them to get them rebuilt. During install, I also added CPT control arms. And a corner balance and aggressive-street alignment for good measure.

In retrospect, I wonder if the SLs would have been a better choice for me. I haven’t adjusted the height or stiffness since putting these suckers on, nor do I ever think I will. But there is somethign special about those external reservoirs… 8)

#20

i believe i just saw someone post up that the SL can be modified or improved to add reservoirs.

what exactly is the diff between SL and MS?

Also, is my statement true that the SLs can be improved by adding a reservoir in the future?