jdas03
Registered User
Hi,
Yesterday spent a good 6 or so hours attempting to sort out the handling on my very boatlike s3!
Thought I'd do a quick write up about my experiences with this!*
Got myself some FK AK street coilovers back in february, mainly due to their price but also because I felt like trying something different.*but until now they have sat in their box!
I also got myself some powerflex arb bushes and powerflex yellow dog bone mount.
Started on the back, fitting the coilovers, this was reasonably straight forward, though had a few problems fitting the adjusters for the rear springs but after some google searching I think I figured it out
Finished both sides in under an hour and moved onto the dog bone mount and front arb bushes. No problems with the dog bone mount, very easy to do! And the front arb bushes were surprisingly easy, simply taking the struts out and pulling the old
Perished rubber ones out and pushing the new ones into the bracket with the supplied grease so far so good!
Now the fun starts... The front suspension fitting was a PITA! Must have spent a good 4 hours getting *them fitted!
First problem was the thread, maybe it's down to the cheap ness of the coilovers but the adjuster thread was terrible, they managed to get very ceased, however after some grease and persuasion on they seem to be fine! The second problem was with the kit itself, when I got to fitting I realised one of the collers separating the main and supporting springs was missing. At the point I had spent near 4 and a half hours in total and was not happy!*
I looked around and found a soft plastic lid, cut it down fitted it and it looked fine, seemed to do the same purpose as the other collar so I'm going to leave it there for now.
After hours I finally had everything fitted, tinkered to get an even ride height and tested!
I have to report back the difference was night and day! I cannot believe the handling now, didn't think the s3 had it in it!
Corners increbily flat regardless what you chuck at it and seems to grip and grip! I had read a bit about the FKs many people saying they are cheap so they will be rock hard or just for looks and no performance, but this is a load of rubbish in my opinion! They feel firm but on most roads they dont feel any harder than standard suspension (mine had done 90k too!) they are smooth and comfortable on a roads and motorways and lively and fun on country lanes.
All in all I cannot tell you how impressed I am with them! Yes they are budget, and I noticed this by having pieces missing (collars) and thread on the adjusters a bit dodgy. But once they were on my car that was all forgiven!*
I'll be honest and say I have never been in an s3 with the favoured billstien h and r set up but I cannot see how it can be worth paying treble the price!
All in all great bit of kit, worth every penny and more!*
Yesterday spent a good 6 or so hours attempting to sort out the handling on my very boatlike s3!
Thought I'd do a quick write up about my experiences with this!*
Got myself some FK AK street coilovers back in february, mainly due to their price but also because I felt like trying something different.*but until now they have sat in their box!
I also got myself some powerflex arb bushes and powerflex yellow dog bone mount.
Started on the back, fitting the coilovers, this was reasonably straight forward, though had a few problems fitting the adjusters for the rear springs but after some google searching I think I figured it out
Finished both sides in under an hour and moved onto the dog bone mount and front arb bushes. No problems with the dog bone mount, very easy to do! And the front arb bushes were surprisingly easy, simply taking the struts out and pulling the old
Perished rubber ones out and pushing the new ones into the bracket with the supplied grease so far so good!
Now the fun starts... The front suspension fitting was a PITA! Must have spent a good 4 hours getting *them fitted!
First problem was the thread, maybe it's down to the cheap ness of the coilovers but the adjuster thread was terrible, they managed to get very ceased, however after some grease and persuasion on they seem to be fine! The second problem was with the kit itself, when I got to fitting I realised one of the collers separating the main and supporting springs was missing. At the point I had spent near 4 and a half hours in total and was not happy!*
I looked around and found a soft plastic lid, cut it down fitted it and it looked fine, seemed to do the same purpose as the other collar so I'm going to leave it there for now.
After hours I finally had everything fitted, tinkered to get an even ride height and tested!
I have to report back the difference was night and day! I cannot believe the handling now, didn't think the s3 had it in it!
Corners increbily flat regardless what you chuck at it and seems to grip and grip! I had read a bit about the FKs many people saying they are cheap so they will be rock hard or just for looks and no performance, but this is a load of rubbish in my opinion! They feel firm but on most roads they dont feel any harder than standard suspension (mine had done 90k too!) they are smooth and comfortable on a roads and motorways and lively and fun on country lanes.
All in all I cannot tell you how impressed I am with them! Yes they are budget, and I noticed this by having pieces missing (collars) and thread on the adjusters a bit dodgy. But once they were on my car that was all forgiven!*
I'll be honest and say I have never been in an s3 with the favoured billstien h and r set up but I cannot see how it can be worth paying treble the price!
All in all great bit of kit, worth every penny and more!*
