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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 09:55 AM
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Default Question re: tire spin

I just bought a 2004 (Automatic) vert....from a dead stop, I floored it for the first time yesterday (with traction control OFF) and there was no tire spin (ie, burn out).

I was surprised...assumed there would be massive smoke. But instead nothing but a squeak...

I assume this was done deliberately to give a faster jump off the line...is this correct?
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 09:58 AM
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I have another friend with an A4 and he complains about the same thing. I think most A4's change out the rear end to get things happening but lowering top end. Or go for a tuner upgrade for stall and shift points. I am sure other A4 guys will chime in.
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 10:05 AM
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I can only assume that you have a 2.73 rear......

I've driven my buddy's 3.15 A4, and it will not only smoke the rear tires with TC off, it will chirp the tires on the upshift to 2nd gear.

You can tell if you look at the RPO tag that's on the glove box door. G92 is the RPO code for the 3.15 performance axle. If you don't have it - then you have the standard 2.73

The rear gear set can be changed out - and from what I understand - it is one of the more satisfying mods an A4 owner can do. I personally have a MN6 and that comes standard with the 3.42 rear end. I've heard of a lot of guys going to the 3.42 and the car really comes to life!

Oh and BTW - welcome to the best Forum on the 'Net! Miles and miles of smiles!

Last edited by blacksedan87; Nov 3, 2004 at 10:07 AM.
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 10:08 AM
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Originally Posted by blacksedan87
I can only assume that you have a 2.73 rear......
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 10:10 AM
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yes, you are correct I have the 2.73...I knew the performance axle makes the car quicker, however, I would have thought the RWHP was still sufficient to smoke tires...good to know though...thanks.
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 10:23 AM
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Do all mn6's come with the 3.42 ratio? If not, how can I tell what mine has? It's a 2000. Thanks!
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by bmanScott
Do all mn6's come with the 3.42 ratio? If not, how can I tell what mine has? It's a 2000. Thanks!
there were no options from the factory on MN6's

Autos were either 2.73 or 3.15
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 10:28 AM
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I've always appreciated less tire spin more traction. Especially with the cost of replacement rubber.

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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 10:39 AM
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If you really want it to spin tires then drop the shifter down to the lowest gear and it will soin. I use to have a '97 with the 2.73 gears and it was hard to get the tires to spin, but when you drop it down to the lowest gear it will spin the tires and you can also shift thorugh the gaers like a m,anual and it is much funner.

Just rememner the delay in the shifts!! So don't forget to shift early on the RPM's probably about 300-400 Rpms before your redline otherwise it's bad news
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Ta2C5
If you really want it to spin tires then drop the shifter down to the lowest gear and it will spin. :
Why is this? What is different groing from dead stop in D as opposed to being in 1st?
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by jimhallhdg
I've always appreciated less tire spin more traction. Especially with the cost of replacement rubber.

You can't be serious. It's a Vette for crying out loud not a Kia. Doing burnouts is part of the ritual.
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 11:22 AM
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so, can anyone definitively confirm that the 2.73 axle is the reason the A4 won't spin tires?...I just find it suprising that with 350 rwhp I can't smoke em...also, it my understanding that the 3.15 axle doesn't add horespower and improves 0-60 by less than 1/4 second...any other A4 owners with 2.73 in the same boat as me????
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by 2004vert1
so, can anyone definitively confirm that the 2.73 axle is the reason the A4 won't spin tires?...I just find it suprising that with 350 rwhp I can't smoke em...also, it my understanding that the 3.15 axle doesn't add horespower and improves 0-60 by less than 1/4 second...any other A4 owners with 2.73 in the same boat as me????

I have heard this from quite a few owners with A4's.

you dont have 350rwhp if you are stock... if you do have that, you should be able to spin the tires.


think of a 10 speed bike... you can accelerate better in a higher gear right? Acceleration (of the wheels, not the car itself) is what matters when you are spinning the tires.
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by 2004vert1
yes, you are correct I have the 2.73...I knew the performance axle makes the car quicker, however, I would have thought the RWHP was still sufficient to smoke tires...good to know though...thanks.
I have an A4 with the performance axle (3.15) and can boil the tires on launch as well as squeal the tires on 1st to 2nd shift (in OD). IMO, this would indicate that 2.73 vs 3.15 is the difference since I have no other "performance mods".
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 11:52 AM
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Power brake it. Then they will spin
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 11:57 AM
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A4 with 2.73's....only a chirp. The higher gear is definitely the reason. IMO I don't think burnouts make a car look fast, I could do that with my 4 cylinder honda for gods sake.
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by 2004vert1
yes, you are correct I have the 2.73...I knew the performance axle makes the car quicker, however, I would have thought the RWHP was still sufficient to smoke tires...good to know though...thanks.
I have a 3 month old 2004 coupe with the A4 and 2.73 gears. This may sound odd, but it will only squeal the tires a little off the line and no chirp with the 1-2 shift at wide open throttle.

HOWEVER, at half throttle, it will spin the tires off the line as well as chirp the tires on the 1-2 upshift. Go figure that one!

And by the way, it is not so much horsepower that spins the tires off the line as it is torque. Also, at the rear wheels, your stock vette is probably only putting around 285-290 ponies to the pavement. That 350 figure is figured at the crankshaft.

What the 3.15's and 3.42 gears do, is get the rpms up more into the "power range" quicker where that power really is. Same with a higher stall torque converter.

Welcome to the forum, also. Don't forget to wave
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by xilr8n
Power brake it. Then they will spin
For sure!
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 12:38 PM
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I think one way to put it in perspective is to think that switching from the 2.73 to 3.15/3.42 is something like down shifting another gear before you try your burnout.

Or you can sort of think of it like you're trying to do a burnout in second gear right now with your tall 2.73s. If you "downshift" to some lower rear gears, you will see tire smoke!

Your car may make an advertised 350 crankshaft horsepower near redline, but it doesn't make that power at the much lower stall speed of your stock converter. You will also see tire smoke if you raise the stall speed of your converter.

If you raise the stall speed of your converter and change to a steeper rear gear, you will probably start complaining of traction problems.

Last edited by Donovan 572; Nov 3, 2004 at 12:47 PM.
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Old Nov 3, 2004 | 12:43 PM
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Not too easy to get the car to smoke the tires with the 2.73. Make the switch to a 3.42 and watch it go.
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