Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone can help because I'm completely stuck at this point.

I have a 2002 Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.8T with the AVJ engine and an FPS gearbox, and I'm currently replacing the oil pan myself. Unfortunately, the job requires the front subframe to be lowered or removed, and according to Audi the front subframe stretch bolt N90956803 must be replaced.

The problem is that I cannot find this bolt anywhere. I understand that N90956803 superseded the older part number N90956801, but neither part seems to be available.

Over the last few days, I have contacted TPS, local Audi dealerships, Flying Spares and suppliers in both Europe and the United States, but nobody appears to have any stock. I even placed an order with ECS Tuning in America, but they would not accept my payment method and the order had to be cancelled.

As this is a torque-to-yield stretch bolt, I understand that Audi recommends replacing it rather than reusing the old one, which is why I am reluctant to continue the job without finding the correct part.

Has anybody here replaced the oil pan on an AVJ powered A4 B6 without completely removing the subframe? Is there another method to complete the job? Alternatively, does anybody know where genuine N90956803 bolts can still be purchased, whether in the UK, Europe or elsewhere?

At this point, I genuinely don't know what to do next. The car is currently off the road, I can't complete the repair and the whole situation has become extremely stressful.

Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you.

So the key information for this part is its M12 x 1.5 pitch x 120mm. Tough times call for tough measures. Could N90924103 be used instead?

As far as I can see the only difference is it’s 130mm. It’s a subframe bolt, so will be torque to yield and have the strength characterises of the original bolt. Remove 10mm off end, clean thread, etc.

Great and helpful find Richard.

Buy an M12 x 1.5 nut and screw that on and leave it on, before cutting the bolt to size. Dress the cut end and remove the nut - that will aid thread cleaning.

Regards,

Gareth.

50 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Buy an M12 x 1.5 nut and screw that on and leave it on, before cutting the bolt to size. Dress the cut end and remove the nut - that will aid thread cleaning.

Is that torque to yield though Gareth? TTY fasteners are designed to stretch once torqued to final specification, whereas high tensile bolts can theoretically be reused.

I know the frustration of searching for a part number and going down every route to source, but if the same characteristics of the bolt was used, I don’t foresee an issue. Your idea to add a nut is good, simply to clean the thread on removing once cut, then dispose.

3 hours ago, spartacus 68 said:

So the key information for this part is its M12 x 1.5 pitch x 120mm. Tough times call for tough measures. Could N90924103 be used instead?

As far as I can see the only difference is it’s 130mm. It’s a subframe bolt, so will be torque to yield and have the strength characterises of the original bolt. Remove 10mm off end, clean thread, etc.

Hi Richard, thanks for the suggestion. I do have ETKA and ElsaWin, but I can't work out which vehicle N90924103 originally belongs to or find the illustration for it.

I found N90924103 on PartSouq, but it appears to be used elsewhere in the suspension rather than on the subframe.

Have you personally used N90924103 as a replacement for N90956803 on a B6 A4 subframe, or are you suggesting it because the dimensions and thread match?

My original N90956803 bolts are torqued to 110 Nm + 90° in ElsaWin, so I just want to make sure the replacement bolt has the same torque to yield characteristics before I cut 10 mm off it and use it.

Thanks.

No, not used it personally. According to LLL parts, it is a subframe bolt (item 4) in this diagram). However I see its used on suspension bolt too across VAG range.

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/n90924103/bolt-hex-hd-with-pin-combi-n90924103

Anyway back to your dilemma. Have you tried https://spareto.com/products/volkswagen-ag-bolt/n90956803

Based in Estonia I think. Doesn't say they are out of stock so ypu might be in luck. Be aware you'll probably pay tax at post office, thanks to Brexit. Dealt with the same ordering BMW parts via Hubauer Shop (Germany).

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by spartacus 68

32 minutes ago, spartacus 68 said:

No, not used it personally. According to LLL parts, it is a subframe bolt (item 4) in this diagram). However I see its used on suspension bolt too across VAG range.

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/n90924103/bolt-hex-hd-with-pin-combi-n90924103

Anyway back to your dilemma. Have you tried https://spareto.com/products/volkswagen-ag-bolt/n90956803

Based in Netherlands. Doesn't say they are out of stock so ypu might be in luck. Be aware you'll probably pay tax at post office, thanks to Brexit. Dealt with the same ordering BMW parts via Hubauer Shop (Germany).

Thanks Richard, I had already found Spareto, but their listing doesn't seem to say whether the N90956803 bolts are genuine VAG/Audi parts, whether they're brand new, or confirm the exact dimensions, so I've contacted them to ask for more details.

I'm still trying to establish whether N90924103 really is a suitable substitute for N90956803, particularly as the original bolt is torque to yield and specified at M12 × 1.5 × 120 mm.

Thanks again for taking the time to look into it and for posting the links.

In the end John beggars can't be choosers. If the Spareto part is all that is available I would take a chance on it or go with Gareth's suggestion of a longer bolt with a nut. As long as you get the right clamping force between the two components you will meet the designed strength requirements.

14 minutes ago, cliffcoggin said:

In the end John beggars can't be choosers. If the Spareto part is all that is available I would take a chance on it or go with Gareth's suggestion of a longer bolt with a nut. As long as you get the right clamping force between the two components you will meet the designed strength requirements.

Thanks, Cliff. I've contacted Spareto about the original N90956803 bolt to confirm whether it's genuine VW/Audi stock and to check the exact dimensions and specification. I also noticed that they sell the N90924103 bolt that Richard suggested as a replacement, so I'm waiting to hear back from them before deciding which route to take.

Thanks again for the advice.