Description

Audi A5 Training Manual

As a tech who has seen more stripped bolts than I care to count, I’ll tell you straight: if you’re working on an Audi A5 and you don’t understand the suspension architecture, you’re wasting time. This Audi A5 Training Manual is the factory self-study programme (SSP 394) that Audi gives its own technicians. 56 pages of system breakdowns, not generic aftermarket garbage. It’s not a repair manual—read the note on page 2—but it teaches you the design and function so you don’t screw up the repairs later.

Rear Suspension: What You Need to Know Before Touching It

Rear suspension coverage starts on page 10 with an overview of the multilink setup. Page 11 dives into system components—upper and lower control arms, wheel carriers, and subframe. Four suspension versions are used on the Audi A5: standard 1BA, sports 1BE, electronic damping control 1BL, and the S-Line 1BV from quattro GmbH. Ride height differences matter when you’re replacing springs or shocks. The S-Line sits 10 mm lower than the others. If you swap in the wrong parts, your alignment will be off, and you’ll be chasing a pull that wasn’t there before.

Wheel Alignment and Adjustment – Front and Rear Axle Details

Page 15 covers front axle alignment specs—camber, toe, and caster adjustments. Page 16 gets into the rear axle. These pages show the exact adjustment points and the sequence Audi recommends. Skip this section and you’ll be guessing on shim placement and eccentric bolt orientation. That’s how you burn through tires in 5,000 miles.

Brake System – From Wheel Brakes to EPB

Brake system runs from page 17 to page 23. Overview on page 17, then wheel brakes front (page 19) and rear (page 21). The electromechanical parking brake (EPB) is detailed on page 23. If you’ve ever had a caliper that wouldn’t retract after a pad job, you know the EPB needs to be put into service mode. This manual walks through the EPB control logic and the ESP interaction on page 32. Without that knowledge, you risk damaging the actuator or the module.

Steering System and Front Axle Components

Steering overview starts on page 4, with system components on page 5. Front axle gets its own section starting page 40, with component breakdown on page 41. You’ll see the rack-and-pinion layout, tie rod ends, and steering column details. This is the kind of factory reference that makes chasing a clunk or a wander a lot faster.

Who Needs This Training Manual?

This manual is for the DIYer who wants to understand the why before they wrench, or the pro who needs the OEM system logic. If you’re planning to replace control arms on your A5, reading the component relationships here will save you from ordering the wrong part. For the full repair sequence, you’ll want a factory workshop manual—but this is the prerequisite. Pair it with the Audi A5 Networking Self-Study Programme”>Audi A5 Networking Self-Study Programme to see how the modules talk, or grab the Audi A5 Convenience Electronics and Driver Assist Systems Training”>Audi A5 Convenience Electronics and Driver Assist Systems Training for the electrical side. The Audi A5 Networking Training Manual SSP 395″>Audi A5 Networking Training Manual SSP 395 covers the CAN bus architecture.

Source Authenticity: OEM vs Aftermarket

Aftermarket manuals skip the theory. They give you a torque value but not the reason behind it. This is the real deal from Audi—printed by the same engineers who designed the car. The self-study programme is not a repair manual, as they state on page 3, but it’s the foundation. For broader context on the Automotive Industry Overview”>Automotive Industry Overview or specific drivetrain details like Manual Transmission”>Manual Transmission systems, those are separate resources. For the A5 suspension, you need this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a repair manual with torque specs?

No. This is a self-study programme—it teaches design and function, not step-by-step repair. Torque values are not listed.

What years does this Audi A5 Training Manual cover?

The manual does not specify model years. It covers the first-generation A5 platform used during the time SSP 394 was produced. Check the component descriptions against your VIN.

Can I use this manual to replace the rear control arms on my A5?

You can use it to understand the suspension layout and component locations, but for actual removal and installation steps you need the factory workshop manual. This training manual gives you the system overview so you don’t break anything during the job. It shows you that the upper control arms and lower control arms attach in a specific sequence that affects alignment. Without that knowledge, you might torque the bolts with the suspension unloaded and ruin the bushings.

Does this cover the brake fluid flush procedure?

Not explicitly. It covers the brake system components and the EPB service mode, but not fluid bleeding steps.

Access the Factory Manual and get the real Audi education on your A5 suspension and brakes. Stop guessing, start knowing.