Death by Suspension

[Stairs]

I heard a rattle and knocking sound coming from the pride and joy, called out the RAC and he found a heat shield had come use over the left pipe.... Phew, took it to a little Audi indy but on the noise I was hearing was no way just that.... Up on the ramp, 2 shocks gone and fluid everywhere.

I was thinking about chopping it in in the next few months for something else anyway but no way im going to do that if im about to spend a few quid on it, I even thought about taking it to the Merc dealer down the road who has a nice C63 and seeing what I could get and just hoping they didn't take mine for a test drive!

In the end I am getting it picked up on a flat bed and taken to Cam Spec in Crawley, hopefully wont have to cancel Christmas but will let everyone know what went wrong and how much it cost to replace.


Bad times.

[bam_bam]

Put Billies or KWs on it, fire and forget.

[rob-s]

Well, I had my DRC repaired a few weeks ago and am very happy with it but it ain't cheap.

I would recommend to fit KW Variant 3 so you will not have any DRC problems/challenges ever again.

[Surrey Sam]

My previous blue car was absolutely fine once fitted with the later variant of DRC, its now covered over 45k miles since and still going strong with the new owner. DRC is a great product when working correctly and I would choose it over any aftermarket coilover kit without hesitation.

Think of a freshly renewed DRC system, as good selling point come resale time

[MikeFish]

If its just 2 shocks gone it won't cost the earth either.

[coffey555]

Much as I like my KW V3 with H&R arb's setup in the corners, if I had to replace it all again tomorrow I would fix the DRC with the later spec shocks and fit SS+ springs.

My current setup is too harsh at low speeds if I am honest but I live with it because thats what people do when they have just made a £2k mistake.

You might need to factor in having the DRC pipework replaced as well. My pipes are still on the car and have a fair bit of corrosion on them.

[MikeFish]

I'd be surprised of they didn't recommend changing the pipes at the same time given the age.

[Audi Pardner]

My previous blue car was absolutely fine once fitted with the later variant of DRC, its now covered over 45k miles since and still going strong with the new owner. DRC is a great product when working correctly and I would choose it over any aftermarket coilover kit without hesitation.

Think of a freshly renewed DRC system, as good selling point come resale time

Presumably the dampers the stealers fit now are all the later variant, or is it a bit pot luck depending on what's in the parts bin?

[sar]

ohlins ttx ftw!, they are amazing.
i have done 13,000 miles on mine and they surpass my old ss+ drc system in every way, comfort/ride quality included.

[sar]

My previous blue car was absolutely fine once fitted with the later variant of DRC, its now covered over 45k miles since and still going strong with the new owner. DRC is a great product when working correctly and I would choose it over any aftermarket coilover kit without hesitation.

Think of a freshly renewed DRC system, as good selling point come resale time

Presumably the dampers the stealers fit now are all the later variant, or is it a bit pot luck depending on what's in the parts bin?

the revised shocks are a few years old now, all stock will be the new part number now.

[John Johnson]

Drc when it's behaving is great and I like it in SS+ but they don't seem to have got a handle on the long term issues with it as the b8 lads are having a few gremlins too

[coffey555]

How much for the Ohlins fitted Sar?

And did you have to change the arb's at all?

[psglas]

I wanted to keep mine standard and paid for 3 shock replacements in my first 2 years of ownership. I spoke to the last dealer and they confirmed all four have now been replaced. I thought they would last as first pair were replace in 2012 but last autumn the knocking started. Now replaced with Bistein B14s. Slightly stiffer ride but now I've had them for a while I'm sold on them.

[sar]

How much for the Ohlins fitted Sar?

And did you have to change the arb's at all?

an obscene amount of money i gave approx 3.5k for the kit from the states but fitted them myself. still probs cheaper than a full drc refresh though?.

i am still on the standard ss+ arb's, rides sublime.

[coffey555]

Thats not too bad and with Ohlins you really do get what you pay for. Cheaper than a certain pair of front seats I know of.......

I am guessing the Ohlins must use some fancy low speed compression circuit witchcraft to avoid high speed body roll once the DRC effect is lost.

My one rode almost as good as stock before I uprated the ARB's.

Yes, probably cheaper than a full DRC refresh.

Think I will look into this, if only to keep the wife happy