Suspension problem

[steve2003rs6]

Hi all. Have a 2003 c5 RS6.
When I bought it 7 years ago it was fitted with H&R coilovers.
Roads here are awful. Which leads to a very uncomfortable hard ride which transfers through to the steering wheel.
The top suspension mounts were not replaced when the coilovers were fitted.
Just replaced all suspension arms but still have the same problem.
Having read loads of useful information on this site I am looking for advice on what to change next.
Top mounts ?
Change coilovers? Bilstein b16 pss9 ?
This is the only problem on what is an amasing car ( my pride and joy )
Just retired so now have lots of time to address the problem. It is not raced or tracked. So looking for comfort first and foremost.
Any advice would be much appreciated
Regards Steve.

[srichards]

Most suspension options for the RS are hard and generally not comfortable over crap roads. 19 inch wheels with the low profile tyres isn't great either. Smaller wheels and taller tyres generally help. The H & R coilovers will be worn out and weren't that great to begin with by all accounts.

Bilsteins are probably the least awful of the options. I had some of the B14s on mine but they still rode like concrete. The KW v1s are slightly better but not much. They take the square edges off. V1s were much cheaper than the PSS9s which I think are around £2k or so. KW also do some fully adjustable coil overs that you can alter every which way. They may offer a softer setting than the V1s.

Any rubber bushes that haven't been replaced may also not be helping but fundamentally ride comfort isn't going to ever be great.

I did wonder about converting to air suspension as that seems to be the only way to deal with the appalling state of the roads everywhere.

[Shoppinit]

PSS9. Good ride. Good handling and still comfortable. Fit ‘em, set them to 4. Profit.

H&R are awful. No wonder you didn’t like them.

[steve2003rs6]

Thank you for your reply. Would you recommend changing the top mounts at the same time. If so standard or aftermarket
Are standard top mounts compatible with pss9.
Cheers.

[Shoppinit]

Yes. Standard. Yes.

[steve2003rs6]

Thank you for all the info. Just want to get this right “first time”
Did also think about reinstalling new DRC.
But the dreaded seal leaks everyone talks about has put me right off.

[coffey555]

I was considering returning to DRC system on my RS4 B7 and the total for all the parts and labour was £7k!

Although not exactly the same system, I would assume the parts would be roughly the same sort of prices, if still available. And that was a quote from a good independent specialist, who knows what Audi would have charged.

That was everything though, shocks, springs, hard pipe work, flexi-hoses and centre control valves as my car is on coilovers for the last 6 years.

Assumption was everything DRC related still on the car would be scrap after that amount of time.

I am going down the Ohlins TTX coilover route now as the handling/ride quality is better, as well as being cheaper.

[steve2003rs6]

Thank you Coffey555, shopinnit, and srichard for all the info.
At 7K the drc route is a non starter.
Think I am edging towards the b16 pss9 with new top mounts and bushes.
Will also check out air suspension. Was watching overhaulin chip foose on tv and they did this to a car.
Thank you guys.

[steve2003rs6]

Just been getting info on kw v3. Ogling txt and Bilstein pss9.
Now I am totally confused.
Any recommendation for Best Buy for a car which will not be raced or tracked.
Of course the cost matters. But only intend doing this once. So prepared to pay to hopefully get it right as this car is a keeper.

[V!per]

I am going down the Ohlins TTX coilover route now as the handling/ride quality is better, as well as being cheaper.

got more details ??

Just had the most dreadful ride home ever - a whole 900 miles. One of DRC Rubber pipes(Front Right) popped and all the oil left the system. first I saw a cloud of smoke I thought I killed another turbo. but it cleared in few seconds and straight away I felt how awful the ride became.
Was thinking of going KONI Shocks + Standard RS Springs way

[coffey555]

The Ohlins setup if for a B7 RS4 from PSi in the States. Not sure if there is a Ohlins kit available for the RS6 C5?

My car is on KW V3's with uprated H&R arb's and for me, this setup is too harsh for the roads near me, hence the return to DRC or the move to Ohlins.

Standard springs with Koni shocks will be a pretty good setup for road use I would have thought.

I had a drive home with a failed DRC system once, not nice as you can hear the DRC central valve knocking away.

Edit: Seems Stasis used to do an Ohlins kit so in theory somebody should be able to build you one up.

http://www.rs6.com/showthread.php/8617- ... on-options

[steve2003rs6]

Just a quick update. Read a thread on here. Top mounts changed which transformed a cars suspension problem.
I know my mounts were not changed 7 years ago when the H&R coilovers were fitted.
Seeing as I intend to change these anyway.
Will get these done and see how the car performs.
If still a problem will then fit V3,S or B16 pss9.

[steve2003rs6]

Have emailed unit 20 to see if they can fit me in for the two issues I have.
Suspension problem
Loss of brakes
Hope they are available.
300 mile round trip
But worth it if they can sort it.
Thank you members
Regards Steve.

[steve2003rs6]

Just came across rich-c amasing write up on Bilstein b16 pss9.
Convinced me this is the way to go.
Just hope unit 20 can fit me in.

[steve2003rs6]

Quick update. Spoke to unit 20 (grizz) this morning regarding suspension and loss of brakes problems.
New pss9,S and top mounts all round.
And hopefully sort out the brakes.
Just had upper and lower control arms fitted by a local garage but something isn’t right,so they are going to check this out as well.
So looking forward to getting my pride and joy sorted.