2 Blocks of Steel

[get1962]

Hello All

whilst cleaning my A2 I decided to check out the rear tool storage area. Apart from the tyre goo being 3 years out of date I noticed that the expanded foam in which all the tools are held was very heavy & after investigation I have located 2 large blocks of steel one weighs in at 1.8 kilo and the other 4.2 kilo's.

Bearing in mind, excess weight=lower fuel economy, has anyone any idea what they are for? I have removed them & the car seems to run fine, so they wouldnt appear to have any effect apart from ballast?

Any ideas anyone??

Regards

[Jörgen]

Hi,

I think it is a balance weight, don't know what happens if you remove them.
In the parts catalog ETKA you can find them.

[spike]

Hi get1962, welcome to the A2oc

I'm fairly sure the ballast should not be there. There is no logical reason why Audi would want to add weight to the rear of the car - as you say, it will only have a negative effect on performance. and economy. As a double check, do the weights have an Audi logo or part number on them

Hi Jorgen, after reading your post I had a look at the parts list. The only thing I could see in the boot area was Balance Weight 8ZO 864 655. but this is bolted down. Is this what you found


Cheers Spike

[Jörgen]

Yes, that's the part i have found in ETKA.

Reading the German A2 forum it says that, besides optimizing balance, it also has a function to avoid vibrations at certain speeds;

http://www.audi-a2club.de/thread.php?threadid=3623&hilight=gewicht+AND+kofferraum

I don't think those 6 kilos will make a big difference in performance and fuel consumption and there has to be a good explanation why Audi designed this since the very first A2.

[Mark Brigg]

Surprise, surprise! Yes balance weights do actually make sense. All the heavy components ie engine, gearbox, heat exchangers, electrics, brake servos, often batteries etc. are located at the front. And don't forget all the "crash" - the impact zones etc. are mainly located at the front. And the windscreen washer bottle (1 litre water = 1 kg). So it is a fact that many cars have extra weight placed at the rear to help with handling and performance. The best example here is the new BMW 5 series wich is completly aluminium from the A pillar forwards. The rear can be steel. BMW said that for every kilo it saves at the front means one can be saved at the rear. Helps handling and saves money too, for BMW at least, I suppose.

Best put them back, it is an intergral part of your car, unless you permanently carry shopping or golf clubs in the boot?

[get1962]

Ahhh - soooo the spare wheel has been removed to save weight - but in place of that, Audi think it best to carry round to lumps of steel weighing 5.5kg's.......

My car has carried them round for the 1st 100,000 miles of its life, I think I will let it have a rest from now on.

Reminds me of the school trips to the zoo, when we used to fill the fattest boys rucksack up with rocks as soon as we got off the bus - just to help him lose weight by carrying the rocks around you see, not for any other spiteful reason.....

Thanks for the advice everyone.

GET1962

[Mark Brigg]

Its to maintian as near as possible a weight ratio front to rear. But 5,5 kilo's is not much and seems a little silly. Sure, but I refer to the BMW 5 series and its alloy construction only at the front and how that company strive for a 50-50 weight balance for better handling.There must be a point when cars are undrivable if this ratio is too far apart. Don't know how much the A2 space saver wheel weighs, but add the weight of the wheel and tyre to give a total weight and the balast is lighter. Crazy but there you are... or is it just that the A2 is really the ultimate driving machine after all.