I just got my A4 yesterday...didn't get the sport package because I saw no need as I plan to replace tires and shocks..ect..myself. I would have basically paid for stuff I was going to toss by the wayside.<p>Anyhow I noticed it looks as if though the stock A4 does not come with a cross tower strut brace...does anyone have any reccomendations...I've read that the LLTek one should be avoided because of some battery problems..i.e. it touches the terminals and causes a short. Does this mean the car has NO rear anti sway bar as a result of not getting the sport pkg??? or is it still there just a little undersized?

Maybe you need to reword your question. The A4 does not have a front strut tower bar because it is not needed. The double firewall more than compensates. If you wanted a strut bar...you could put it on...but it would only be for cosmetics...and would add weight to the car. My recommendation...pass.<p>On the anti-roll bar, or anti-sway bars, issue...the A4 in stock and sport trim both have rear anti-sway bars. The difference in the rear is a 12mm(non-sport) versus a 16mm bar (sport). The aftermarket rear anti-sway bars go from 19mm (ADDCO/LLtek & TAP) to Neuspeed (22mm). Check out the FAQ on this page.<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM

Steve, <p>I don't think you really missed anything...I was trying to pose two questions in one post.<p>I kinda figured that the double firewall construction would offer all of the reinforcement I might need, but I'm not a mechanical engineer (I'm an electrical engineering student, it's different) so I thought I might ask about it anyhow, cause I've never popped the hood on an A4 sport so I wasn't sure if it had one.<p>As for the anti roll and sway issue...again just curious if there was much of a difference between the two trims. Thanks for the info..I appreciate it.

In different model years the sports package has changed a little bit...<p>For 99 the sports package has:<br>1) lower springs (20mm lower than the non-sport) - stiffer? maybe a little bit<br>2) larger anti-sway bar in the rear (12mm - non-sport versus 16mm sport) - I think the<br>front sway bar is the same now on both ...27mm and hollow (could be wrong here)<br>3) sport steering wheel (nice three spoke job)<br>4) wheels (7spoke) and 205/55/ZR 16 Dunlop SP8000E tires (both 1.8T and 2.8)<br> (1.8T non-sport has 15" 8 spoke wheels....and 2.8 non-sport has 16" 5 spoke wheels)<p>Nothing else is different on the cars.<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM<p>P.S. FYI, I am not even close to being an engineer, of any sort.

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I watched (from inside, where I couldn't do anything about it) as a guy in a Suburban backed up fast about six feet into the back of a pearl white A4, caving in the trunk lid, back bumper, etc.<p>Turns out the gal had brought it in to get a scratch on the back bumper touched up, where the garage door had come down on it.<p>Needed more than a touchup...............