Replacing Air Springs on the Audi allroad - Project allroad

[@brianhaygood183]

That lower control arm bolt was installed correctly. If you make it convenient to remove by putting the bolt in from the front, the end of the bolt will gouge the rear control arm at full lock steering. So, the bolt goes in from the rear as you found it in this case. Also, the lower o-ring between the spring and strut came unseated when you deflated the bag. That doesn't tell you whether or not that lower o-ring was the source of your original leak. So far it seems about 70% of the time the o-rings are the only problem, so it is often worth just cleaning and greasing the o-rings, checking their condition, and pressurizing it. Kudos to you for not just spinning the shock with the impact to get that top nut off. Sometimes you do have to use the impact to crack it, like you did, but at least you didn't just spin it for ages to get the nut off. Good on you there. I've ground some flats on a socket so I can just put a wrench on the outside of the socket.

[@douglaswells2739]

Nice job. I own an Allroad, I suggest you don't drop it all the way down on the empty bag, just part way and start the car to get the bag partially inflated and then slowly drop it down completely. Won't damage those new bags that way.

[@TheSteelord]

Fantastic video! I put new whole struts in mine and after watching this I probably didn't need to. I'm going to the garage to check the o rings on the old struts now. Thanks for the video!

[@dalethornton1113]

Great effort on the video, helped me greatly along the way. Sometimes you mention what tool you are using, that helps gather the needed supplies. If you make a habit of telling the size and type of tool, it really helps us out!

[@keithjohnson3832]

Wondering the cost of this KIT

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Great video. Good to see someone replacing the bags and not attempting to put normal springs onto it. In my opinion normal springs and dampers are such a compromise that you ruin the car. It makes me annoyed to see all the videos where people fit some sort of after market delete kit.

[@Badgertronix]

The allroad wouldn't be the same without air suspension. I was surprised at how simple it is and how reasonably priced spare parts are. Thanks for watching

[@netguru598]

@@Badgertronix How reasonable priced, please share your suppliers. My car is vertically sitting in the wheels need to get it fixed ASAP

[@leradze7125]

i can't get over how easy that pinch bolt came out

[@terryatkinson899]

Never knew there was a shock absorber inside the air bag. You are taking the mystery out of doing this type of job, I wouldn't have known where to start. Amazingly clean under there, in Ireland it would be rusty as f***.

[@Badgertronix]

I had no idea either until I started looking at this one! I'm enjoying learning about this one. I couldn't cope with rust, that's why I stopped messing with cars in the UK. Cheers

[@tomsalek]

That bolt 4:00 was properly mounted. Always mount it that way, its very important. OMG Always inflate air spring before dropping car down !!!

[@StevenFosdick]

What is the reason for that? I have just checked my allroad and on both sides the head of that bolt is closer to the front of the car and the nut to rear.

[@tomsalek]

@@StevenFosdick The bolt with nut is 2-3 mm longer than head side of the nut and in some position can scratch that back control arm.

[@TheCowgirlNiamh]

Great job Jonathan! A handy tip for next time is to use a spark plug socket on the top of the strut. Then you can use a spanner to tighten it 👍

[@Badgertronix]

Great tip! I probably would have remembered that if I wasn't doing it late at night after putting the kids to bed 🤣

[@sheratron1251]

mans doing the work, 0 dislikes!! :) Great job, thank you very much!!

[@MTechGuy]

Gotta love finding the ‘spare’ bushing after reassembly 😫

[@Badgertronix]

True! At least I didn't need to mess with spring compressors to get it sorted. Cheers

[@se4000]

How did you get the rearward lower control arm ball joint back in the hub after you dropped it to remove the control arm lower bolt? I'm having a hard time getting mine lined back up to put back

[@dawnsmith3444]

Where can I buy the tools online and how much are they usually I have a 2000 wagon allroad.

[@rkan2]

The strut bolt is not actually really backwards and you should be able to hammer it off withthe wheels turned to the left or right (cannot remember which)

[@simonrawle7885]

did the same thing with strut top last week . looked on the bench and see a washer left over

[@Badgertronix]

Annoying, but at least I hadn't put it back on the car already

[@villasirga100]

Hola compañero, como saber que amortiguador falla?

[@garcea5876]

the 4 dislikes are from the 4 old air springs

[@MacRes99]

What is better 5w40 or 10w40 for 4.2 allroad?

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Hoovie gave an interesting account on one of these. I think it would be great for Christchurch particularly if you ski the club fields.

[@Badgertronix]

Parts are cheap and if I can fix it myself it shouldn't be too costly to run. It's a much nicer ride on dirt roads than the Wife's Santa Fe so it might be the new snow car. Cheers

[@MrButtonpresser]

Liking the Audi refirb. Will you tackle the headlining?

[@Badgertronix]

I put some staples in it and I'm happy with that for now. It was only sagging in the boot

[@AngelReyes-vc1be]

How you skip the whole part actually separating the bag from shock?

[@Badgertronix]

How did you miss it?

[@bwholz]

Another awesome video great content and great advice keep up the great work.👍

[@Badgertronix]

Thank you and thanks for watching 😄

[@MrThaiko]

Just a tip. The Bentley Manual states the car needs to be in the air (wheels off ground) if removing compressor or bags, when filling them with air. Otherwise the compressor can get "damaged" as it states. But nice vid!

[@lucianbeilic4781]

Because Bentley has damping control! All good with audi if you put it in" jack mode" !

[@MRPK1967]

Last year i changed my front air bags the pump and the valve. I still have a small leak. Maybe from rear bags or the airline where it connects to the air bag - i remember there not being an o ring on the connector but wasn't sure if there should be one. Did you have o rings on the air line connectors?

[@yellowsubmarine1995]

Yes! There have to be o-rings

[@zaffarfaridoon363]

Good job

[@wayniexagt]

i have come from 6 years of subaru outback in Australia and i am now back in the Uk so searching for a similar vehicle .. would it not be cheaper in the long run to just fit new struts and coils and do a way with the air ride all together ?

[@Badgertronix]

2 air springs in 18 years sounds like a non issue. Stick with the air suspension and have a more capable and comfortable vehicle

[@HereComeThePunks]

Where exactly did you place your jack stands?

[@Badgertronix]

On the jacking points

[@dawidpredecki2405]

What key did you use to unscrew the torx? And what key to unscrew the cover from the shock absorber?

[@Badgertronix]

They're triple square. Not sure on the size

[@grenvillephillips6998]

Looked pretty daunting but tackled with aplomb. Did you do much research? Great video!

[@Badgertronix]

Thank you 😃 there wasn't a heap of information available so had to wing it. It turned out to be fairly straightforward. Cheers

[@luisseichter8]

I need a allroad just like that so badly

[@samrichards8251]

I’m a little Suss about the quality of the aftermarket bags. Mine blew out after 3 months. What ever the ring is that holds the bottom bag into place it failed and popped when I was driving. But they are so cheap I bought another. Will see how long the next one lasts.

[@Badgertronix]

these seem decent quality so far. Have done some fairly aggressive offroad stuff and they're holding up just fine

[@yellowsubmarine1995]

Maybe you should buy some which are not “so cheap” - they should hold up to the task.

[@puff081]

can I ask you the size of the ring, just to buy one?

[@who_wantsit]

​@@puff081they are on eBay listed for the Allroad

[@wyattoneable]

The baby powder trick made me laugh. That's how you do it! (As you said)

[@Badgertronix]

I though it would help visualise the leak. Funny how you do things differently for a video. Thanks buddy

[@illchoosemyignorance62]

Nice video but having a strut wrench make any suspension job much easier.

[@Badgertronix]

Having the right tools make it too easy. Nice to have to troubleshoot occasionally. My strut wrench is 22mm so too big for these. Cheers

[@txsviking]

That will make a difference.

[@Badgertronix]

It sure has. Air ride rocks 😃

[@robinpelletstovesuk9194]

I replaced mine with pieces of 4x4 wood !

[@keepthinking2666]

Well the CV boots already torn so you may as well go ahead and replace it all

[@paulmayou370]

great work as always but one thing is i was waiting for the baby oil or was i watching the wrong video lol

[@Badgertronix]

You need to watch it 5000 times and click on all the ads to the see the baby oil 🤣 cheers mate

[@paulmayou370]

@@Badgertronix 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 only got 4999 to go lol

[@Badgertronix]

🤣🤣🤣

[@teejay6139]

Uhm...🤔 When you have the whole strut out and there's no weight on it holding the air spring downward against the shock seat, OF COURSE it's gonna leak air from the bottom 😄. I guarantee you that wasn't where it was leaking from, I've replaced 30+ air springs and seen many allroads for 15 years straight and not once has 300+ all roads leaked from that bottom seal. That bushing fell into the rubber bladder when you took the shock out of the bladder, I was following it until you cut the video and lost track when resumed. Anyway, it's all back together

[@Badgertronix]

Old spring bad, new spring good 🤷‍♂️ that's all you need to know. I've never changed one before

[@davidjones8680]

Bostin job ma'mon.

[@Badgertronix]

Cheers 😄