EssFour Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 As we all know the S4 is a bit on the heavy side. This got me thinking how much weight could be sensibly shed without too much of a compromise. I have managed to generate a list, including weights, of items that could reduce the cars weight this improving consumption and handling. Spare wheel = approx. 24kg (replace with a space saver or inflation kit) Lightweight battery = approx. 15kg Brake discs = approx. approx. 10 kg Those 3 items are the easiest to address and alone have shaved 45kg, 100lbs in old money, of the car. If the Recaros were removed, cardinal sin, that would take approx. 75kg, 165lbs, off the car. Add the two together and that’s potentially 120kg, 265lbs, or two adults. Any thoughts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Replace the alloys too with lightweight ones (IIRC Sportecs with tyres are only 18-20kgs?). Combined with the RS4 disks, calipers and pads the turn in is so much better and lighter. S4 calipers must be made of pig iron. I wondered about custom fabricated bonnet and / or wings in aluminium / carbon fibre. That would save some weight and give better handling? Also I take my spare wheel out of the car for trackdays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Do you really do the driving to warrant this??? Will you actually notice any difference - apart from a small gain in MPG?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Do you really do the driving to warrant this??? Will you actually notice any difference - apart from a small gain in MPG?? [/ QUOTE ] I was thinking more for a weight distribution and handling perspective than outright performance considering the main issue people may have wit an S4 is the V8 lump upfront. As said, lighter alloys, calipers and disks have for me improved steering response and turn in on my car which you can notice on a day to day basis, not just on a track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Why bother - just buy a soot chucker... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssFour Posted March 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Do you really do the driving to warrant this??? Will you actually notice any difference - apart from a small gain in MPG?? [/ QUOTE ] As P_G has pointed out the handling apsects speak for themsleves. WRT to mileage from personal experience, driving betwen Germany and Blighty, the increase in consumption is recognisable over 960km with and without passengers. Extrapolate that over a year and the savings are enough to warrant the few changes aforementioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tizzy Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Brakes worth changing if you A: Drive very fast a lot and / or B: Do track days, as the standard ones are a bit feeble under heavy use. As for the sootchucker (tounge well in cheek!) the 3.0V6 lump is probably at least as heavy as the 4.2 V8!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Why bother - just buy a soot chucker... [/ QUOTE ] I think people might complain of me reducing track visibility if I went round in one of those.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Do you really do the driving to warrant this??? Will you actually notice any difference - apart from a small gain in MPG?? [/ QUOTE ] As P_G has pointed out the handling apsects speak for themsleves. WRT to mileage from personal experience, driving betwen Germany and Blighty, the increase in consumption is recognisable over 960km with and without passengers. Extrapolate that over a year and the savings are enough to warrant the few changes aforementioned. [/ QUOTE ] Fair enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenjaminTDI Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Other than what you've mentioned, recaros etc: Dump the spare and look at moving the battery to the boot to compensate for a bit of the weight loss over the rear axle. Dump the heavy bonnet and replace with carbon fibre If you want to go a bit further, look at dumping your air con, it weights a tonne. But in all honesty, I think you're driving the wrong car if you want something light and agile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssFour Posted March 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Definitely not driving the wrong car . Just got thinking how much weight could be saved via a few simple tweaks. The ones listed are quick and simple and cheap, apart from the rotors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Reducing unsprung weight will have the most dramatic effect. And, while you probably don't want to hear this, smaller, alloys would make a lot of difference. Same size ones, but lighter, would help, but maybe not as much. Brakes have already been mentioned, but they'd help too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssFour Posted March 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Reducing unsprung weight will have the most dramatic effect. And, while you probably don't want to hear this, smaller, alloys would make a lot of difference. Same size ones, but lighter, would help, but maybe not as much. Brakes have already been mentioned, but they'd help too. [/ QUOTE ] Smaller alloys have never come into the equation. Same size but lighter ones have been mentioned previously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgough Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 [ QUOTE ] As we all know the S4 is a bit on the heavy side. This got me thinking how much weight could be sensibly shed without too much of a compromise. I have managed to generate a list, including weights, of items that could reduce the cars weight this improving consumption and handling. Spare wheel = approx. 24kg (replace with a space saver or inflation kit) Lightweight battery = approx. 15kg Brake discs = approx. approx. 10 kg Those 3 items are the easiest to address and alone have shaved 45kg, 100lbs in old money, of the car. If the Recaros were removed, cardinal sin, that would take approx. 75kg, 165lbs, off the car. Add the two together and that’s potentially 120kg, 265lbs, or two adults. Any thoughts [/ QUOTE ] i decide to up performance and reduce weight and im having a great time, my kit car is now 205BHP but only 470kg.. ...let us know how you get on, by the way i use a oddessy 680 light wight battery, its really small and really powerful. kris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 I know from experiance the Sportecs are actually very heavy alloys. Heavier than the stock R32 wheels. I doubt ther is any think you can do to the cab to make a noticable diffrence. Isthe rigidity that fecks up the balance on these cars with no roofs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssFour Posted March 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 [ QUOTE ] ...let us know how you get on, by the way i use a oddessy 680 light wight battery, its really small and really powerful. [/ QUOTE ] Cheers Krismc. Been searching for a good battery but with no success. I will look into the Oddessy. Wopps: Its a saloon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I know from experiance the Sportecs are actually very heavy alloys. [/ QUOTE ] Still lighter then stock S4 alloys though Woppum so some benefit there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD1MAN Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 if you really want to loose weight try removing all the sound proofing, there is a huge amount in these cars. another thing is to only half fill fuel and washer tanks, that's why the A2 originally had a 35 litre fuel tank and a 1.5 litre washer bottle, same with the tyre sealing foam, in fact the whole options list all had weights next to them. It's surprising what some things weigh, I could post if anyone is interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I know from experiance the Sportecs are actually very heavy alloys. [/ QUOTE ] Still lighter then stock S4 alloys though Woppum so some benefit there. [/ QUOTE ] Still there is much lighter out there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted March 24, 2007 Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 There is but nothing as classy for me except perhaps MTM Bimotos but the again I got a bargain on the Sportecs so I'm happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now