Draining DRC prior to Removal?

[Mike_Bike]

Not looking to start a discussion about DRC Pros/Cons etc. just wondering if anyone has 1st hand experience of draining the DRC prior to removal?

I was planning on just cracking open one of the unions and letting it weep out until the pressure is low enough to fully undo the joint and let it drain into a container (with the usual gloves/glasses overalls etc. PPE precautions)

Oh and before anyone says it probably has no pressure in it ... it was checked and confirmed to have 15.6Bar of pressure in it last week.

[Stevieb03]

There is a valve or something that is located in the centre towards the back of the car that needs to be closed off before removing / draining the system apparently it's so you don't get any air bubbles trapped when recharging the system... also I thought it was only Audi that could recharge DRC???

Just a suggestion but if your taking it apart I would fit KW Coilovers V3 and get away from DRC all together

[Mike_Bike]

I am not really concerned with the recharging part I want to remove it so I can fit a Bilstein PSS9 B16 suspension kit.

[ArthurPE]

Not looking to start a discussion about DRC Pros/Cons etc. just wondering if anyone has 1st hand experience of draining the DRC prior to removal?

I was planning on just cracking open one of the unions and letting it weep out until the pressure is low enough to fully undo the joint and let it drain into a container (with the usual gloves/glasses overalls etc. PPE precautions)

Oh and before anyone says it probably has no pressure in it ... it was checked and confirmed to have 15.6Bar of pressure in it last week.

15.6...how many miles?
has it ever been replaced/serviced?
if so when?

make sure you wrap some rags around the fitting and wear gloves/glasses

[Sims]

15.6...how many miles?
has it ever been replaced/serviced?
if so when?

make sure you wrap some rags around the fitting and wear gloves/glasses

143 Mike_Bike - Saloon - 40'000 - Lincoln - April 10 - 2 Front Shocks. - 46'000 handling deteriorated - Audi unable to fix fault - Given up and fitting coilovers

[ArthurPE]

143 Mike_Bike - Saloon - 40'000 - Lincoln - April 10 - 2 Front Shocks. - 46'000 handling deteriorated - Audi unable to fix fault - Given up and fitting coilovers

'failed' at 40k...pretty much the usual operating life of front shocks on a heavy car with 60% of its wt on the front
not to mention with front driven wheels
so, after 6k miles, pressure well above spec of 12 and very close to the initial charge of 16...

and Audi could find no fault to 'fix'

so they are on the failure list and have not failed?

[Mike_Bike]

Thanks for the info.

As I said I don't want to run off on a tangent and discuss the DRC (it's been done to death) can we return to the original subject please.

I have some info (it's an Audi service action for the A6) and it mentions using the dry break couplings to first disconnect the accumulators (central valves) which makes sense as then there will be no pressure behind the fluid as long as the wheels are off the deck. Do the RS4's have the same dry break couplings on the central valves (I am guessing they do)

[PetrolDave]

I have some info (it's an Audi service action for the A6)

Excuse my ignorance, but I wasn't aware that the A6 had DRC?

I thought it was only fitted to the C5 RS6 and B7 RS4.

[Mike_Bike]

Sorry that's a typo it's for the RS6

*edit* well not a typo ... I was thinking one thing and typed another ... it is still technically "just an A6" with a bigger engine