GMBH shock absorbers replacement - RS4 B5

[snbS4]

Hi
has anyone managed to replace their GMBH shock absorbers with a new equivalent replacement without 'upgrading'?
I'm told by various suppliers that the original Sachs GMBH shocks are no longer available so what have other people done here as many cars are approaching 100k miles and they will be past their best.?
I do not want to change this one to H&R, KW etc as I've done on my other cars as I want to keep it as it was when it was new from the factory.
Maybe Bilstein sport dampers?
Any help would be appreciated on this
Many thanks
Simon

[rsmonkey918]

Why would you want to do that Simon? No doubt Quattro GmBh did their best to source the best compromise performance/cost items at build, but as you say, that was 10 years ago- I'm sure if Audi had looked back now they would have re-designed quite a few things- the alloy triangles and boot trim for starters- original isn't always the best- wheels anyone??
See the recent mods thread and I'm sure you'll see a common thread running through the recommendations- mine included. There are better components about and they'll cost the same to fit as a standard item whick is usually where the cost comes in. Do yourself a favour and enhance your driving experience. Of all the mods I've done PSS9's, properly set up at MRC were the best and most revolutionary change to the overall feel of the car- and still are.

Regards

[snbS4]

I think I must be getting old!

I have KWv3 on my other car which is a weekend toy and is great fun on the road and track however my route to work is 20 miles each way of slow B roads with huge ruts and pot holes at 35 - 50mph behind a string of Micras

One of the H&R rear coils has broken and I'm just thinking that as the rest of the suspension is far from new having done 60k miles, maybe it's time to run this daily driver with a more compliant setup?

It's proving a struggle I must say!
I'm heading towards Bilstein sport dampers and lowered H&R black sport coils at the moment....

[rsmonkey918]

Nice one, you won't regret it. I had EXACTLY the same issue- wasn't planning on doing the suspension as had just had the brakes replaced, but when the car was off the ground I noticed the offside rear spring had fractured on the last coil expediting early replacement all round - a big hole in the wallet but there you go.....There are 9 settings on the PSS9's anyway, one of them must suit- mines on 7 (at the harder end I think). I had mine lowered 15mm at the same time, with H&R's and subframe re-inforcements. also on the hardest of two settings- fantastic!

[ollys]

9 is soft - 1 is full 'ard....

[rsmonkey918]

I stand corrected then! Thanks Olly, I WAS listening to Doug and heard '7' mentioned- just didn't know whether it was 7 away from full hard or just '7'. No worries, the combination is still sublime.... Rutted and potholed road surfaces upset things a bit but that may have as much to do with bigger wheels/lower profile tyres etc... All I know is, on an average or good road it feels very compliant and well damped and corners very well, long sweepers are the best, think the physics are probably to blame for the real twisties, ie mass and configuration....

Steve