Dreaded drc

[brian5362]

Just walk out of the house and found a puddle under the front wheel checked it out and the front right shock has blown its seal. Guess it's time for coilovers

[jaysrs4]

Just walk out of the house and found a puddle under the front wheel checked it out and the front right shock has blown its seal. Guess it's time for coilovers

Why not get another shock and some adjustable springs? IMO a far better set up - DRC is unrivaled in terms of normal road use. And it'd be cheaper for you.

[brian5362]

Not if the accumulator valve has gone aswel it will work out just as much plus the drc system is jus to unreliable. Well that's how I see it

[RS4_Ollie]

can the valve be tested or is it just assumed it needs replacing once a shock has gone?

[brian5362]

You can only tell once the system is filled and pressurise which mean you could get the shock changed then then when it comes to resetting the system the valve could fail then it's another £600 bills

[Surrey Sam]

Reading your previous posts you've had two failures before and you have also been enquiring about the accumulator valve.

Who fixed it the first time around and is this failure a new DRC unit that has gone? Audi parts have a two year warranty in case you were not aware. I'm pro DRC and have run KW coilovers on a BMW M3, custom ride height aside DRC is better.

[brian5362]

It the other side that has gone this time but after hearing all failings of the system I dnt trust it

[RossDagley]

The shocks you've had fitted in the last two years will be V3 DRC shocks. And these simply don't fail - Hitchin Audi told me they've never had a single V3 shock fail since fitting. So the moral here is once on V3 shocks, stay with them - they're plenty reliable.

And in case you can't tell, I'm pro-DRC too

[brian5362]

Thanks for the heads up Ross it's booked in at the stealers on Tuesday to get 2 new shocks fitted hopping cus I haven't moved it the accumulator valve will be ok. Dnt get me wrong when the drc is working it great I just had the bad feeling it was gona be a constant problem

[PetrolDave]

So the moral here is once on V3 shocks, stay with them - they're plenty reliable.

+1

[neilparf]

...never had a single V3 shock fail since fitting... I'm pro-DRC too

+1. Camberley mentioned the same when I had mine done. V3 has incredible low failure rate...

[MikeFish]

But its not just the shocks that fail is it? There's the accumulator then there's a valve isn't there? And the pipes. I seem to recall the pipes almost cost as much as the shocks when I had mine done.

[RossDagley]

The accumulator generally fails when a shock fails and isn't replaced promptly - the knocking accumulator is a sign it's taking a beating. Generally (according to hitchin) it's fine if gotten to in time.

Sure the pipes corrode - like a brake pipe. Isn't that standard servicing?

The bottom line is people can and will swap out for coilovers. But I don't believe for a moment that on a road orientated car you will improve on a well cares for drc setup for the perfect blend of handling and ride quality

[marc1]

The shocks you've had fitted in the last two years will be V3 DRC shocks. And these simply don't fail - Hitchin Audi told me they've never had a single V3 shock fail since fitting. So the moral here is once on V3 shocks, stay with them - they're plenty reliable.

And in case you can't tell, I'm pro-DRC too

Good info Ross. Do the V3's carry a new part number (likely same part number and different suffix)? Mine have been replaced 3 times by a former owner so I want to check I have the latest ones. I assume I do and it certainly rides with no complaints (touch wood).

[R1RS4]

DRC or Coilovers?

If your happy with your setup then your probably going to defend it

Before purchasing my car I checked out near on 20 cars over a 10 month period, several cars with modified shocks and various DRC's for me when I drove a car with SS+ that's when I knew when I found the car I was looking for it had to have SS+ When I purchased my car I thought that the handled was the best I had driven no I was wrong it got better, I fitted New and different tyres recommended by members on here Good year Eagle F1 A2's, then I spent 2 months fitting different spacers the max I could get on the rears were 8mm and the best set up for the fronts were 10mm yes 10mm it looks good on the fit and handles the biz

I intend to stay with DRC and gather the spares as I go, I purchased a brand new Audi accumulator valve in the box for £65 off flee bay from an Audi dealer, as I have read the issues with this valve