2001 S8

Hey D2 Owners,

As I'm getting to know my D2 better, I noticed a broken piece in my passenger's side front wheel well. It looks like it's some kind of tie-down between the strut and car.

What is this piece broken? Is it something that needs to be addressed right away or can it wait until my next service? I've included photos of the broken piece as well as one on the driver's side that is fine.

Any advice would be appreciated.


2001 S8
Black on Black

silverd2

It's a strengthening brace for the upper strut bracket...probably adds a bit of precision during hard cornering and lessens long term metal fatigue where the bracket attaches to the body structure.

No emergency, but you may want to pre-order the part before going in for service...not likely a stocked item...I've never seen one broken before.

Part # 4D0412395B ...same for left or right side.

Pretty cheap part...only $30 at full dealer price...or less than $30 including shipping from here >>>

http://genuineaudiparts.com/parts/in...&siteid=214407

pwstein

One of them was broken on my 2000. Replaced it but somewhere along the way I learned it was discontinued/ignored/unnecessary. I think it was Bentley.

silverd2

I found that note in Bentley, that it was discontinued late in D2 production. BUT the fact that any of them broke indicates that there was stress and movement there...Therefore the need for a brace.

Audi has made a few other stupid decisions for whatever reason...shave a few dollars off production(?)...not enough of them broke(?)...who knows?

I would absolutely replace it.

silverd2

P.S.

Audi used the same defective plastic water pipe (guaranteed to fail) on the oil cooler well into D3 production...even though they had clear knowledge of the failure of all of them at high mileage.

Once I found a direct phone line to the A8/R8 division, I questioned this stupid decision and was told that it wasn't changed because they didn't fail till near or over 100K miles (well out of warranty) and "things just go wrong with cars at that mileage"...NO KIDDING!!

Audi is a for-profit company, just like any other. Design changes that don't affect warranty cost money...parts omitted save money.

2001 S8

Thanks for the info and link silverd2.

Glad to know it's not something critical or very expensive! I might take a crack at fixing this myself.


2001 S8
Black on Black

nyrobbie77

is this something only on the later/face lift D2's? my 97 A8 doesn't have this. unless someone removed it in the past.

nevermind - I see that it lists it as just 2000-2003