Front Suspension - "They all clonk"

[simon44]

Hi,

Sorry, I'm a bit late into this thread but regarding top mounts I think there are two types available from Audi, the 'blue' versions being the better type to go for. I bought mine from VAG for @ £30 + VAT and the part number on my invoice was 857412323B. These were recommended and fitted by Andover Car Service.

Hope this helps.

Simon

[DickyC]

No apologies required, Simon.

Quattronics, so far the only respondents to my enquiries, talk of just over £3,000 for their "Fantasy Rebuild" which they describe as being not only "not too far off original" spec. but also a revelation when it comes back. Mmmmm. Tempting.

If I go with them the choice is between having:
1 A day-to-day RS2 that could be better and an underfunded RS2-esque track day car
OR
2 A nigh on perfect RS2.

Decisions, decisions.

[scillyisles]

As probably the only owner of an RS2 since new on this forum - my comments would be that over time I found that the car became less confidence inspiring in corners. I eventually took the decision to have the suspension rebuilt using new parts from my Audi dealer, this was combined with changes to the shocks by using Koni fronts. After this was done then the car felt and handled once again like a new car. I used blue mounts but in my experience they do not seem to last any longer than green ones. The suspension parts from an Audi dealer are not too expensive but the labour obviously is. I did a post on it some time back I think under the post title "RS2 transformed"

[DickyC]

Thanks, scillyisles, I was wondering if you'd come in with your wise counsel. And it was just at the point I needed a steady hand on the tiller!

I'll go and have a look at your car's transformation.

[DickyC]

scillyisles' post "RS2 transformed" is incredibly informative and detailed and well worth a read.

Look at Feb 01, 2005 - page 9 at the time I wrote this.

[alastairg]

No apologies required, Simon.

Quattronics, so far the only respondents to my enquiries, talk of just over £3,000 for their "Fantasy Rebuild" which they describe as being not only "not too far off original" spec. but also a revelation when it comes back. Mmmmm. Tempting.

If I go with them the choice is between having:
1 A day-to-day RS2 that could be better and an underfunded RS2-esque track day car
OR
2 A nigh on perfect RS2.

Decisions, decisions.

'Fantasy rebuild'

[alastairg]

My advice would be to replace shocks with new OEM ones or koni, new front suspension wishbones (hence bushes, cheaper on labour), ARB bushes, lower balljoints & topmounts. Finally a good four wheel alignment. Mine has no clonks & handles like a dream now.

[DickyC]

Thanks, Alastair.

Remembering one of your threads, part of the fantasy rebuild is the subframe bushes.

I didn't even ask about them, they're just on the fantasy rebuild list. Old ones? Don't even check, just aaaaht 'em!

The local Audi garage are not my favourite people at present, but I submitted the fantasy rebuild parts list for them to provide an estimate we could all laugh about and they came back cheaper!

[DickyC]

My advice would be to replace shocks with new OEM ones or koni, new front suspension wishbones (hence bushes, cheaper on labour), ARB bushes, lower balljoints & topmounts. Finally a good four wheel alignment. Mine has no clonks & handles like a dream now.

Wandering off the subject slightly (You, Dicky? Surely not!) Alastair's reply about using OEM parts reminded me of an article I read some years ago about hotted up Minis; the original Mini, that is.

Included in the line up were ERA's turbocharged Mini and a breathed on Cooper 'S'. ERA had spent a lot of time and money on the car, particularly the engine and suspension of their car and the 'S' had been built at home by a capable bloke on his own.

The journos preferred the handling of the home spun car and asked what he had done to it. Hilariously, all he'd done was to fit Konis. ERA were not amused.

[DickyC]

Well, you live and learn.

My enquiry was: Complete Suspension Rebuild for an RS2 - How Much?

Numerous places were contacted - thanks for all the tips - but few came back. Some didn't reply even after a reminder.

The three who did were Quattronics, Newbury Audi and ACS in Andover. Quattronics sent a detailed estimate for £3,100, Newbury Audi phoned through an estimate of £2,700 and ACS said, "You won't want that. Bring it down and we'll have a look."

Took it down, put it on the hoist and had a little inspection that went like this, "That's okay, these are fairly new, this is fine, those need replacing."

Booked it in for the following week and £310 later, there are no clonks and it feels like a new car. That's parts, labour and wheel alignment.

Thanks to Simon44 for recommending them. The guvnor's name is Roger Parfitt, he drives an RS4 and his garage in Andover had three RS2s that week. He's a nice guy, he's good at what he does and he deals straight.

The only problems I had - which could have been me, of course - was with their website and email, his phone number is 01264 366565.

[DickyC]

there is a possibility that the clonk is coming from the struts rather than anywhere else.Supposedly the rs2 front struts have some kind of rubber stop at the bottom which gradually decays with years.So the movement of the shock within the strut may be the cause.

Vas was right. In amongst it all, the bushes at the bottom inside the struts were shot to ribbons. You can't see them with it all assembled; you have to take the struts to pieces to check. If the top mounts are being replaced, that's the time to check.