RS246.com Forum :: The World's #1 Audi R, S and RS Enthusiast Community

So I think I’m going to invest is a new set of coilovers as mine, along with the springs, are looking long past their best.

Are Bilstein still the coilover of choice? Im not after a harsh ride, the set up I have now seems comfortable enough. I’m not 100% sure if I have the 14s or 16s. Do the 16s have a dampening adjuster near the hub?

Are they simple enough to change?

The PSS16 have a circular adjust knob at the bottom of the strut. PSS don't have anything since they are not adjustable.

Very easy to replace. Get new top mounts, too, while you're at it.

Thanks Ben. I currently have PSS16 then. Such a shame that they can’t be cleaned up, seems like a waste to bin £1.5k worth of suspension because it’s rusty.

Has anyone tried the coilover covers to stop the new set becoming so grubby?

Why don’t you get a thread cutting die and recut the threads? Not sure where you’d find one that big but the must exist! Or get someone with a lathe to turn the thread in.

It’s an idea, I’ll look into it.

Is the nut seized then?

Yes. I’ve been plus gassing it all week and there’s no movement at all up or down.

You mean you can't rotate the nuts?

I would remove the struts and apply heat to one side of the nut using a blow torch, then use the candle method to introduce a bit of paraffin. Then I'd probably repeat on the other side. Maybe even do that several times all the way round.

Acutally, I'm far too lazy for that. I'd probably just buy some new PSS9.

Yes, the nuts are stuck tight.

I have no idea what the “candle method” is but I’ll get one off and take a look on the bench.

Heat it up and press a candle to it. The molten wax gets drawn into the gaps and lubes the thread. I’ve had success with extremely difficult nuts / studs.

What about using a thread file to remove most of the crap. Can be very successful and they are not too expensive to purchase.
Used them many times to get me out trouble.

You need to know the correct pitch of the thread. If unsure measure the pitch of the thread with a set of thread gauges. Then buy a thread file with the right pitch.

Similar to one of these. But you need to get the right pitch.
Used it to great effect on my old coil overs
Once the threads are clean. Use heat on the nuts (as Ben suggested) to get the initial movement.

Shoppinit wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:45 pm

Heat it up and press a candle to it. The molten wax gets drawn into the gaps and lubes the thread. I’ve had success with extremely difficult nuts / studs.

That’s amazing.

Thanks steve.

steve2003rs6 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 24, 2022 10:18 pm

69BC5413-DA99-4DA8-ADD3-DB019F7A7E6C.png

Similar to one of these. But you need to get the right pitch.
Used it to great effect on my old coil overs
Once the threads are clean. Use heat on the nuts (as Ben suggested) to get the initial movement.

A tool I didn’t know existed. Gonna have to buy one now yer bar steward.

Used them many many times. Very very useful in cleaning and repairing threads.
But you must get a thread file for the right pitch of the thread that you want to clean up.
Bloody hell ben have I actually taught you something lol
They come in all sorts of pitch configurations.
Essential to order the right file for the pitch you require.

Most good machine shops will have a full set that will cover most eventualities. Perhaps you can borrow one Chris.
But they are cheap so probably best to just buy one.