Koni shocks and H&R springs

[DuncS3]

My requirements for upgrading my suspension are these:

I would like to lower the cars ride height by about 20mm max(but must not make the car max power low rider style)
stop body roll
improve handling [img]images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
not to make the car any (or much more) harder than it is, as it crashes over potholes and drains already imo

AMD and QST suggest Koni adjustable shocks and either MTM or H&R springs.

Any one got any comments on this sort of setup. Both tuners said coliovers were too harsh for road use in their opinion...If my car ends up near the R32 handling I will be very pleased. Apparently the R32 uses Bilstein shocks and H&R springs?

Dunc

[sitas3]

If my car ends up near the R32 handling I will be very pleased. Apparently the R32 uses Bilstein shocks and H&R springs?

then why don't you use the standard R32 suspension set up then?? you can order this from your VW dealer and get someone like AMD to fit.

[Paul-RS]

very good point there Simon.

Have you also considered Quattro suspension?

you seen my ride height side by side with yours, and i think you been in it briefly.

[DuncS3]

Figure if R32 is Bilstein and H&R, so Konis hopefully might be similar, although there is more to the R32, such as different roll bars, sterring rack.

Decided against GmbH just because the Koni offers some adjustablility, whereas if I am not happy with GmbH I am stuffed...

Dunc

[Edward]

DuncS3, i think your best bet would be the Koni coilover suspension kit. The reason i took this kit was because firstly you can tailor the ride height to how you like it and also you can select the damping which best suits your driving style. Also i thought the kit was very well made too. Other things to consider are adjustable rear tie bars and maybe even a Haldex controller to really set things up. At the moment i'm about to try some springs with different rates in the front to see if this offers even greater controll.

Let us know how you get on and if you have anymore thoughts. [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

[DuncS3]

Hi Ed, bit late now (!) as I had mine fitted today, first impressions:

front is perfect
rear looks too low
got to avoid them potholes now

turn in is much better, but apart from that I have new brakes at the moment so I am taking it easy for now.

Does anyone know what the H&R springs are meant to 'officially' lower the ride height by?

Dunc

[Edward]

Think it's probably between -25mm and -35mm no more than that i don't think.

[DuncS3]

Next day and after driving to work on the poor quality roads around Windsor/Slough, 2nd impressions are:

The rear is just too low, and I will not be able to live with that, also the thought it could get lower...I thought it was a 20 to 25 mm drop but at the moment the rear appears lower than Sitas car which is dropped 30mm [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

The ride is very harsh, I think my S3 might fall apart now...

At the moment I am a bit gutted [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] - My biggest problem is the ride height on the rear - I hate it

Dunc

[DuncS3]

I spoke with AMD this morning and they have told me there are some Audi OEM spring spacers?

They can fit these, to the rear. They should raise the rear by 5/10 mm

I am going to get this done. Has anyone any experience of these things? Also does it matter if the car is not the same ride height all the way round?

Dunc [img]images/graemlins/bluegrab.gif[/img]

[JohnW]

Dunc,

no experience on an S3, but on a corrado the Koni shocks also come with spacer rings for the rear.

I could be wrong but I was under the impression these came wih the shockers, and could be left out if required. They definitely arent a Vload_config_from_db_filesart anyway, so not sure why AmD would say the S3 ones are an Audi part....

As for ride height, why should it make any difference ?
5 or 10mm will make next to no difference IMO. It might very slightly alter the suspension geometry, but not enough to notice on the road.

And lets face it, if it is so low you are worried about it you won't be pushing on at that ride height anyway, so the 5/10mm higher has to be better [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Cheers,
John.

[DuncS3]

John do you know what the spacer rings are exactly? Are they just a nut type thing? I remember looking in the Koni box with my old suspension in and there were some new looking nuts...

Dunc [img]images/graemlins/trooper.gif[/img]

[DuncS3]

Dunc,

Vload_config_from_db_filesart

que?

[sitas3]

Dunc the spacer ring fits either on top or under where the spring meets the mounting point on the chassis (similar size to the circumference of the spring!) - the standard springs on the Audi s3/TT/Golf 4 motion cars have some kind of flexible seating material where the spring fits onto at the bottom - i'm guessing that is what AMD are referring to.

[Edward]

So was that bit removed when you had the rear springs installed, perhaps that is what is missing? I'm surprised AmD and MTM told you not to go for the coilover kit as it is fully adjustable.

[DuncS3]

So was that bit removed when you had the rear springs installed, perhaps that is what is missing? I'm surprised AmD and MTM told you not to go for the coilover kit as it is fully adjustable.

AMD are charging me for the parts and labour to fit these spacers to my car, so I am assuming they were never there in the first place?

I am (very) happy with the improved handling. The car doesnt roll like before, giving more confidence in bends. It also seems to go where you point it more and turn in quickly. It also doesn't hit any speedbumps (and there are a lot on my way to work) or skip on bumpy roads which is good.

Just peed off about the ride height on the back, oh and the fact there is something not right with the camber and I have to buy adjustable tie bars, which to be honest I wasnt aware of until the day, but then maybe thats my fault for not researching fully.

SHOULD OF GOT COILOVERS

Dunc