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How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

Old Jan 22, 2002 | 09:12 AM
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Default How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

Lets say I've got a ST3500, with LCAs, panhard rod, and torque arm, and I'm spraying a dry 100 shot. Also on E.T. Streets (so I'm assuming a mid 11 second run), would the stock rear in my A4 hold up for a while or is it going to go pretty fast like that?
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Old Jan 22, 2002 | 09:51 AM
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Default Re: How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

As long as you are not getting any wheelhop, that converter will act to "save" your rearend for quite a while. I'd start looking into a new rearend after you get to lower 11s for a safety issue.

Tony
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Old Jan 22, 2002 | 09:56 AM
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Default Re: How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

Tony brings up a good point -----Wheelhop!----

I dont think i've ever experienced that in my A4. Wheelhop is whats gonna really put the strain back and forth on the rear end. Keep it from doing this (which you shoudnt even have to worry bou cuz you have an A4) and you'll be fine.

also:
go ahead and spend 100$ and get a TA cover. they certainly don't hurt the rear and they ONLY could help it.
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Old Jan 22, 2002 | 11:32 AM
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Default Re: How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

[quote]Originally posted by SSBoy:
<strong>(which you shoudnt even have to worry bou cuz you have an A4) </strong><hr></blockquote>

Many A4s have gotten wheel hop. I had it. LCAs cleared it up though. Don’t go thinking that A4s can’t get wheel hop...
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Old Jan 23, 2002 | 12:18 AM
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Default Re: How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

My stock rear end is doing fine. Your experiance may vary though.

If you can swing it, get a 12 bolt (or equivalent)
If not... ride that horse till it dies on you.

Avoid wheel hop and you "should" be fine.

Folks that want to cure wheel hop need to look no further than STICKY tires. Over the years i have had cases of wheel hop (ALWAYS ON RADIALS) Once I would put the "money" tires on. Zero wheel hop.

I ran mid 11's with the rear suspesion completely stock. I only upgraded to the Lakewoods, because, "they were there".

Go for it dude, just avoid the "Dreaded HOP" <img src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" />
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Old Jan 23, 2002 | 12:37 AM
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Default Re: How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

I get massive wheelhop in my A4, even with the Lakewood LCA's. Didnt have any when I switched to 3.73's with stock TC. After I put in the sy3500 and 3.73's I had serious problems spinning through any gear, the 3.73's and TC really made the tires hit a lot harder on the street. The car would spin in pretty much any speed up to about 50 on street tires but once I put on the nittos I couldnt even chirp second...but I got wheelhop in return. I have heard a lot of people do lca/sfc/panhard/torque arm and still get wheelhop if they use a torque arm that bolts to the tranny. More people are getting a huge reduction in wheelhop with new TA and Tranny bushings..should have mine here by saturday and will let everyone know if that helps the wheelhop or not.
Back to thread -> like everyone said, there are plenty of people running 10's with an a4 with stock rear end. The tranny is usually what will go first. There are a LOT of people out there(not online or reading about mods) who just bolt on blowers to their stock car and beat the **** out of it and it lasts fine. Of course they probably arent as hardcore racers as the majority of us are, but none the less theirs are lasting fine. Get rid of the wheel hop and you should be pretty good until you get into HIGH hp and run some serious tire. I cant wait for my vortech 9lb in the next few months...we'll see how the rear end hangs. Hope this helps
-dan
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Old Jan 23, 2002 | 02:48 AM
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Default Re: How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

Raugh is the luckiest guy I know. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

I on the other hand am the complete opposite of the spectrum. I went into this with the confidence that - no way can it go. Boy was I wrong, and it went when I was at the track 150 miles away instead of the one that is 8 miles away.

Instead of spending the money to rebuild the crappy 10 bolt I invested in a 12 bolt. I didn't have any horrendous wheel hop before. A little here and there, but it wasn't bad enough to where it should have caused the rear to go.

Just saying, always make sure you have the option available to you in case something happens. I was running 3.73's, ST3500 and BFG Drag Radials and it happened on a mid 12 second pass... go figure.

It shouldn't happen to an A4, but every now and again it does, just saying, us A4 guys gotta stick together, don't get too overly confident!!! <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0">
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Old Jan 23, 2002 | 09:00 AM
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Default Re: How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

I agree. You never know when something is gonna break when you beating it hard, regardless of how much power you’re making.

It is a VERY good philosophy to never beat on any parts that you can’t afford to replace at any time. Problem is, not too many of us can afford that philosophy... <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0">
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Old Jan 24, 2002 | 02:52 AM
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Default Re: How Much Can The Rear REALLY Take (A4)

Just for the record, when I say Sticky tires.

I am referring to E.T. Streets or Drags. Not any kind of radial. DR or not DR.

I have not run my car on radials at the track since I bolted in my first 2800 converter.

Good luck.

Campbellini'
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