That red audi a2. VK55

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

As this has been around a few I thought I would document it's progress with me.

Bought from @bramz7 cheap with known issues.

Oil and filter changed new sump plug. Air filter is ok.

Cam belt and water pump have been replaced 3 years ago. I think by someone on here. Belt looks good.

Looks like this is one of brake problems. Caliper has not been sliding for some time I think !

Disk is toast. Caliper is beyond help I think.

Flexi brake line is cracking.

I guess the other side will be similar.

I will.ask you lot where and what make are good cheap Caliper replacements. Looking online brings wild variations in price. I am looking for cheaper end replacements please.

This is a budget project.

The rear beam axle looks a mess and I am guessing the rear brakes will need much work but I am ignoring that for now. Working on front to back.

Abs warning issues scares me lots, I have no idea on electrics, just hoping that by cleaning and replacing by magic the abs light will disappear..

If anyone has any leads on any a2s being broken. Bits I know I need :

windscreen wiper arm(s) as the fancy pivot mechanism is almost knackered.

Engine undertray missing in action.

Rear parcel shelf would be nice.

rear passenger floor mats.

Will keep you updated

[320touring]

Good to see this still about - I did the oil/filter and air filter on this before it went to @meshking.

Was good fun with a remap dialled into it🤣

Certainly the least worst A2 I have ever owned 

[N Dentressangle]

Yay! Well done.

I'd go for whatever cheaper brand name stuff Ebay offer. It will probably all come out of the same Chinese factory anyway. I try to go for Febi Bilstein given the choice, if that's any help?

The online FB and other groups for these are very active - try them for spares?

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

1 hour ago, 320touring said:

Good to see this still about - I did the oil/filter and air filter on this before it went to @meshking.

Was good fun with a remap dialled into it🤣

Certainly the least worst A2 I have ever owned 

@320touring has this had a remap ?

Any info ? How what etc.

I hopefully look forward to see how it goes. Good job I am attempting  to sort the brakes.

 

 

[320touring]

1 minute ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

@320touring has this had a remap ?

Any info ? How what etc.

I hopefully look forward to see how it goes. Good job I am attempting  to sort the brakes.

 

 

It did have a remap - I did it when @Jim Bell had it.  But I removed it when I sold it to @meshking

I had it up at about 110bhp, was nippy enough, but TBH I'd suggest keeping it as is, cos it just made me drive it like a dick🤣

[loserone]

Can confirm it drove really well when it was mapped.  

 

Part of that might have been that the tyres are too small so the speedometer over reads by a lot though, as JB never heard the end of 😂

[Dj_efk]

@Sir Chocolate Teapot - you should join A2OC  - it’s a wonderfully active, old school online forum and is quite literally a vast encyclopaedia of ALL issues and how to fix / upgrade these things.

For example, there’s a chap on there that you can send your wiper arm to and he fully refurbishes them and upgrades the joints to something harder wearing than standard for £not much. He also does lots else besides - LINK

 

As for brakes - I would say go for eBay’s cheapest as I don’t really understand what the difference in quality could translate to int he real world.

In general, Febi are a great parts brand to stick to with these, the forum guys never have a bad word to say about them no matter what part it is.

[Jim Bell]

They don't have a parcel shelf. They have a load blind thing. The one out of that car was very mouldy and stank so it went in the bin. 

Really enjoyed my time with this car. They're great little things. 

[inconsistant]

15 hours ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

rear passenger floor mats.

I had a spare pair of rear mats from our grey A2, sent them to @BorniteIdentity when he had the troublesome  red one a couple of months ago but I think he might have sold it before they arrived so maybe he still has them and can forward them to you?

[BorniteIdentity]

44 minutes ago, inconsistant said:

I had a spare pair of rear mats from our grey A2, sent them to @BorniteIdentity when he had the troublesome  red one a couple of months ago but I think he might have sold it before they arrived so maybe he still has them and can forward them to you?

They may be at mine, they may have been in the car. I can’t remember tbh!

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

After having worked out via YouTube how to loosen brake shoes via hole in hub. Shoes are pretty worn and cracked.

£68 for. Complete  set of shoes cylinder and drums

Or £15 for just shoes.

Parts canon is loaded.

Via autodoc

Front brake calipers ,disks , pipes, pads and rear full set shoes, cylinders and drums £217. !

No idea on abs fault yet.

Tyres are old and cracked ( and wrong size).

On first look rear beam is no so bad.

Ignoring rear shocks at the moment.

Looks like all 4 springs have been changed some time in past.

Front lower arms have been replaced for solid cast jobs.

Possibly needs Front top shock mounts looking at state of the area. Only problem is how to get at top bolts, crowded engine bay.

 

 

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

Parts arrived. 

First of no doubt many ffs.

This was after few days of soaking in penetrative oil and use of heat.

Qs in ask a shiter area as I have no experience of this.

 

[Dj_efk]

Where are you based?

A shot in the dark, but if you’re in the south east and haven’t already joined a2oc, go on there and contact a guy called Ami (same username) -  he is based in Horsham and will have a good used pipe.

also a2steve breaks them and is based in south wales, another guy called clackers is in north wales.

ill look up the part number you need now in case new is your only option and you can’t get the car to a garage to make a new one up.

[Dj_efk]

Right - this is the driver's side yes? Quite a complex shape I think looking at Audi Tradition's website? They don't deliver to the UK which isn't helpful but the picture is pretty good to compare yours to in order to 100% confirm it as correct.

The part number is 8Z0611764P - you can order it new from Europe HERE

THIS OPTION is in the UK and may be a better option for new? Else just remove the rest of the pipe and take it to a motor factors or garage to make a new one up.

[Supernaut]

Late to the party but RTG Group on eBay are quite reasonable for brake parts.

For example I paid under £70 for a pair of refurbished front calipers for my BMW and they've been on there at least 6k miles now, and I haven't even slightly died yet.

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

Other side rear brake pipe also knackered.

I think I will have a go at making up brake pipes myself. Will order the tools and pipe etc this week.

In following pic what are the round hard  plastic plugs called ?

They are very worn and the brake shoes slide on them. Would be a shame not to replace whilst in there.

So  what are they called and where to buy please. I guess all brake parts are the same as vw polo stuff.

front brakes coming along nicely 

 

[Jenson Velcro]

56 minutes ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

In following pic what are the round hard  plastic plugs called ?

They are very worn and the brake shoes slide on them. Would be a shame not to replace whilst in there.

So  what are they called and where to buy please. I guess all brake parts are the same as vw polo stuff.

front brakes coming along nicely 

 

I’m not sure what they’re called, but if they’re the same as a Polo then I’ve recently bought these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304789320966

[inconsistant]

On 13/06/2025 at 13:47, Dj_efk said:

Where are you based?

A shot in the dark, but if you’re in the south east and haven’t already joined a2oc, go on there and contact a guy called Ami (same username) -  he is based in Horsham and will have a good used pipe.

Ami was a massive help when i had the grey one. I went down to Horsham to meet him at his workshop, he had all the bits and bobs I needed and was brilliant for advice. I got the strong impression  he wants the best for all A2 owners rather than being in it for the money. Highly recommended!

[Dj_efk]

Seems like you’re sorted now.

 

When you come to bleed it, hopefully the fluid has t drained out of the ABS modulator - which would necessitate use of VCDS to bleed it.

Either way, once done make sure to bleed the clutch slave cylinder as the two circuits share the same reservoir- it’s easy enough to do and ensure your gear teeth don’t start shaving each other.

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

On 16/06/2025 at 13:59, Dj_efk said:

Seems like you’re sorted now.

 

When you come to bleed it, hopefully the fluid has t drained out of the ABS modulator - which would necessitate use of VCDS to bleed it.

Either way, once done make sure to bleed the clutch slave cylinder as the two circuits share the same reservoir- it’s easy enough to do and ensure your gear teeth don’t start shaving each other.

Did not know about drained abs unit, thank God I did put clingfilm under oil reservoir cap as I have only squashed broken end of brake pipes while waiting for flarer and pipe etc to arrive. Lucky tank still pretty full.

 

[Dj_efk]

Should be golden then. The ABS unit only becomes a problem if you drain the whole system. 

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

 

Drum brake plastic plug things arrived. 

Autodoc trying to out do amazon on the packaging front

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

It had to happen at some point.

1st striped thread, front caliper mounting point. 

Next new skill, helicoils.

Good job I enjoy learning new stuff and tinkering and not soo much driving !

[Dj_efk]

The pics won’t load but I can guess what you’re referring to: The sliding pins stripping is very common and they’re an odd size - easily repairable though.

 

if I’m right - Would you like me to send you my repair kit to borrow?

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

11 hours ago, Dj_efk said:

The pics won’t load but I can guess what you’re referring to: The sliding pins stripping is very common and they’re an odd size - easily repairable though.

 

if I’m right - Would you like me to send you my repair kit to borrow?

Very kind offer. I will DM you.

Thx

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

Whilst waiting for the thread repair kit to arrive I found this idea / hack for stopping oil leakage, if you have  tyre valves sitting  around. Seems made to measure.

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

Little update.

Spare couple of hrs today so :

Decided to take off whole brake pipe as will be explained .

Very pleased with myself as this is 1st time doing hard brake lines. 1.5 meters worth of bends and turns.

Reason for whole pipe is after trying to cut and join just on suspension arm for easy repair found out that old audi pipe is very slightly fatter and new unions do not fit without sanding down pipe.

Probably best i have fitted new complete brake lines both sides now..

Started bleeding system with this set up

Buy cheap and lament is the saying. What a disaster even after following instructions and using low psi pressure. Not recommended and at least 500ml of new dot4  down through engine bay. Back to borrowing a second person at the pedal for me and waiting for new bottle of dot4.

The rear suspension beam looks bad but thankfully only surface rust and is actually very solid. If I have time will wire brush and lanoguard one day. 

 

 

[Dj_efk]

The rear beams on these always look like they’ve been in the sea for a few years. Don’t worry about it.

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

Bit more progress on this project.

To the ABS warning  light 

My cheap £25 reader does not read.

Borrowed a more expensive 1.

Google said yaw sensor.

Luckily @bramz7 said there was a 2nd hand one in glovebox. Thx to whomever on here bought it and left it there.

Bottom of pic is original, they are physically the same but different part numbers. After a goole search for position in car i put it in anyway.

Seems to have worked as abs code is gone and dashboard all clear.

I have only driven it 0.5 miles soo far though.

Amazingly on the engine and braking front no other codes from obd reader.

I may get some insurance organised and take it for a spin.

If it drives for more than 10 miles next job are the wiper arms, a known issue on these.

The double pivot area wears out, eventually scratching the windscreen. This is not scratching yet fortunately , but will be soon.

Needs new bushes and pins somehow.

Who, how or where do i get this fixed ? Any leads appreciated.

Other things to do.

Weld an exhaust hanger.

Incorrect tyre sizes fitted.

Source a good condition air box/ filter holder as a plastic clip is broken. Maybe a bit of bodgery will suffice.

Who does this amount of work to a 140,000 audi a2 !

[Dj_efk]

Contact a chap called Paul Whittle on A2OC. Among his many talents and aftermarket products he refurbs the wiper arms on these to better-than-new. Handle is depronman.