Going from SS to SS+ [REVIEWED p5!]

[marc1]

Cheers buddy. They all seem to have different colour stripes, so trying to suss out what is designed for what. Am getting there so the more info the better. Will post up the findings when done so hopefully will help others too.

[stu]

Quick update from me. I've been talking with the workshop manager and we've identified the right springs for my SS avant to change over to SS+. This was done using reg/chasis details from two SS+ avants: one with sunroof and one with without sunroof. The spring part numbers are the same.

Interestingly, he currently has a saloon with SS+ in getting some work done. It has identical spring part numbers as the two SS+ avants. After all the chat one here I wasn't expecting that.

[marc1]

Good work Stu. Can he share the details for the saloon too as this would be useful for the thread. I did some digging too and apparently the main difference is model year as there was a change (they can not tell why this affects the springs). Now if you tell me that one of the two cars you used was a 2006 and the other was a 2008 I will be puzzled.

Did he mention different dampers? Apparently the there are three options on the rear. Two for standard and one for Super Sport. I think the suffix for the SS+ is 'F' but see if you can check with your parts man. No idea if there is actually a difference in them though.

[stu]

Regarding dampers: no, I didn't look into this as I'm sure they are the same throughout the model types. I have never seen mention of 'front' and 'rear' dampers in historic threads, just revised ones that were used later in the car production when so many early owners where getting failures. So there wont' be an version for each body type.

I didn't ask him to share the saloon details, sorry. I'm talking with an Audi employee and it's a customer car, so no reg/chassis numbers will be shared for obvious reasons. And I would have felt a bit cheeky asking him to give me the part numbers.

I'll be able to share the part numbers when I see the invoice in a couple of weeks.

p.s. I'm not sure what age the saloon was. But I know that one of the donor cars was a late model. Maybe they were all 2007+?

[marc1]

Cheers Stu. So you've gone for it then? How long will they take to arrive and is the dealer fitting them? Will be interesting to know if they have to change anything with the DRac in terms of pressures, etc.

[stu]

Yes, car booked in 7th July. The DRC will be bled and recharged, perhaps for completeness, perhaps for ease of installation. I don't think the DRC pressure is supposed to be different for the SS+. We shall see as they will give me a pressure recording afterwards.

Other stuff getting done at the same time:
- the clutch is getting replaced
- gearbox, diff fluids changed
- rear calipers off for a refurb + repaint
...and I'll probably refurbish the wheels.

[marc1]

You will miss it whilst it's gone but will be great on return. Liking forward to the updates.

[Surrey Sam]

Good info there Stuart and as we thought regarding spec/spring rates.

Are you thinking of changing the rear calliper colour to match in with the Ceramics?

[stu]

Good info there Stuart and as we thought regarding spec/spring rates.

Are you thinking of changing the rear calliper colour to match in with the Ceramics?

I'm not sure... they're weedy little things at the back. Might be best left unseen! I'm only doing them because half the paint flaked off at the last pad change.

What do you reckon?

[neilparf]

Love the SS+ setup on my car.... a healthy DRC system is better IMHO.

+1 on all that...

[Surrey Sam]

Good info there Stuart and as we thought regarding spec/spring rates.

Are you thinking of changing the rear calliper colour to match in with the Ceramics?

I'm not sure... they're weedy little things at the back. Might be best left unseen! I'm only doing them because half the paint flaked off at the last pad change.

What do you reckon?

If I ever get some ceramics, I'd be thinking of doing what Cuppa has done on his S5 but keep the OEM colour. Just need to see if blocking the off the piston winding tool access is an issue.

You can see what he did in this thread : http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 4&start=15

[stu]

[...]If I ever get some ceramics, I'd be thinking of doing what Cuppa has done on his S5 but keep the OEM colour. Just need to see if blocking the off the piston winding tool access is an issue.

You can see what he did in this thread : http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 4&start=15

What an amazing car. I want it!

I completely missed that thread firs time around as I had my RS blinkers on. Great idea if you know someone handy with a welder. I'll stick to boring satin though.

[Surrey Sam]

[...]If I ever get some ceramics, I'd be thinking of doing what Cuppa has done on his S5 but keep the OEM colour. Just need to see if blocking the off the piston winding tool access is an issue.

You can see what he did in this thread : http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 4&start=15

What an amazing car. I want it!

I completely missed that thread firs time around as I had my RS blinkers on. Great idea if you know someone handy with a welder. I'll stick to boring satin though.

I know, it's quite easy to forget that there are actually other sections with good interesting threads running within them. Looks like he has spent a fair amount of time and money on it too.

Can't go wrong with a refurb, I was just considering other options.

[sar]

i mentioned earlier in the thread about suffering from rotten pipes, just thought i would share this pic.
this was one of the better condition pipes on my car, this one hadn't split...yet.

[docurley]

Wow that looks like the car sat in salt water to do that.

What pipe is it, need to look at mine?