Fitting coilovers on s3 and general overhaul

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Goubo1

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I'm waiting on my coilovers getting deliverd and was want to make sure I have everything need to get them fitted.i have bought some powerflex top mount bushes and new bearings is there anything else I should be getting ?

Also getting ordered today is a r32 rear anti roll bar,engine mounts (to try cure the exhaust rubbing on the prop) any recommendations on engine mounts or is vibra technics the way to go ?

I'm still stuck on wither to get a poly bush kit or go oem bushes any advice would be great

Im trying to get all the parts together then get it all done in the one hit so I won't be without the car to long and as it can be mot'ed on the 24th of this month I've told my mate who's doing the work to replace anything that's a bit suspect so it should be coming back like a new car :)

Then a few months it should be time to get rods fitted and a custom map :)
 
If you can afford the vibra technics then get them mate!

I am probably going to buy some new engine mounts and add some quick drying poly stuff to stiffen them up- and works out a lot cheaper than the vibra technic ones!

In terms of the rest of the set up- I would recommend getting uprated poly bushes all round inc the dog bone mount and steering rack bush.

Could do with rear adjustable tie arms depending on how low you want to go as well.

Make sure you have a bit of dosh left over for track rod ends etc...not a lot of dosh when compared to the rest of the set up so I replaced mine when I had my suspension make over.

Oh - and make sure it's booked in for a full 4wd laser alignment afterwards....I also got my wheels re-balanced to make sure everything was as good as it could be :)
 
kwistof said:
If you can afford the vibra technics then get them mate!

I am probably going to buy some new engine mounts and add some quick drying poly stuff to stiffen them up- and works out a lot cheaper than the vibra technic ones!

In terms of the rest of the set up- I would recommend getting uprated poly bushes all round inc the dog bone mount and steering rack bush.

Could do with rear adjustable tie arms depending on how low you want to go as well.

Make sure you have a bit of dosh left over for track rod ends etc...not a lot of dosh when compared to the rest of the set up so I replaced mine when I had my suspension make over.

Oh - and make sure it's booked in for a full 4wd laser alignment afterwards....I also got my wheels re-balanced to make sure everything was as good as it could be :)
Click to expand...

it will be the vibra technics road mounts I will be going for,I already have a polybushed dogbone mount mate.
is it really needed to poly bush everything or are there a few essential ones that really need doing ?

im sure I already adjustable tie arms mate but will need to double check later,I've budgeted for the likes of track rod ends and such mate.i forgot about a 4wd laser alignment will get it booked in for one once everything is fitted
 
Goubo1 said:
it will be the vibra technics road mounts I will be going for,I already have a polybushed dogbone mount mate.
is it really needed to poly bush everything or are there a few essential ones that really need doing ?

im sure I already adjustable tie arms mate but will need to double check later,I've budgeted for the likes of track rod ends and such mate.i forgot about a 4wd laser alignment will get it booked in for one once everything is fitted
Click to expand...

Well it all depends on who you speak to and how much you have to budget really.

Personally - I have always gone with the principle that if you replace something with a new part- then the remaining old parts are more likely to give and that new part may not even be able to reach it's full potential. Suspension is a great example...

Chuck some nice coilovers on a car and watch all the old bushes and joints start to perish as they wouldn't be used to that sort of stress from a harder set up than OEM.

I replaced as much as I could when I got my coilovers fitted....the full poly bush kit wasn't one of them as I didn't have to cash at the time - 3 months later and I had a kit fully fitted - only then the coilovers made complete sense as it all felt so tight and together after the new bushes were fitted.
 
kwistof said:
Well it all depends on who you speak to and how much you have to budget really.

Personally - I have always gone with the principle that if you replace something with a new part- then the remaining old parts are more likely to give and that new part may not even be able to reach it's full potential. Suspension is a great example...

Chuck some nice coilovers on a car and watch all the old bushes and joints start to perish as they wouldn't be used to that sort of stress from a harder set up than OEM.

I replaced as much as I could when I got my coilovers fitted....the full poly bush kit wasn't one of them as I didn't have to cash at the time - 3 months later and I had a kit fully fitted - only then the coilovers made complete sense as it all felt so tight and together after the new bushes were fitted.
Click to expand...

thats a good way of putting it mate,is there away to find out what size of wish bone bushes I need with out takin it off the car? As I've read some are 40mm and some are 45mm
 
Goubo1 said:
thats a good way of putting it mate,is there away to find out what size of wish bone bushes I need with out takin it off the car? As I've read some are 40mm and some are 45mm
Click to expand...

I think the earlier models (pre-facelift) had the smaller wish bone arms on them as standard and the newer models (facelift) have the larger ones.

Be worth checking though as they could have been changed through the cars life.

My mechanic found out I had one of both sizes on mine! Which would explain the huge pull I always used to have to the left! lol

The smaller ones are the best ones to have on there though (what I ended up with) - they give a slightly better steering feel over the larger ones.
 
kwistof said:
I think the earlier models (pre-facelift) had the smaller wish bone arms on them as standard and the newer models (facelift) have the larger ones.

Be worth checking though as they could have been changed through the cars life.

My mechanic found out I had one of both sizes on mine! Which would explain the huge pull I always used to have to the left! lol

The smaller ones are the best ones to have on there though (what I ended up with) - they give a slightly better steering feel over the larger ones.
Click to expand...

mine is a pre facelift 2000 s3
 
Goubo1 said:
mine is a pre facelift 2000 s3
Click to expand...

Same as mine then....

Chances are you should have the smaller sized wishbones- but don't hold me to that as they could have been changed and Audi only replace them with the larger wishbones, which is how I ended up with two different sizes!

I think that if you jack her up you should be able to measure them to double check on the size
 
Well just ordered some vibra engine mounts,r32 rear roll bar with poly bushes,strut top bearings.the fella on the fone at awesome recommended I should poly bush the front wish bones and rear trailing arms.

VIB-VAG406M - Vibratechnics Golf Mk4 LHS Engine Mount VAG406M
VIB-VAG400M - Vibratechnics Golf Mk4 RHS Engine Mount VAG400M
OEMUP-ARBR32RE2 - OEM R32 Rear ARB, No Bushes - No not use this part, see note for actaul part numbers
PFLEX-PFR3-511-19 - Powerflex PFR3-511-19 Rear ARB Mount 19mm
PFLEX-PFR3-508 - Powerflex PFR3-508 Rear Trailing arm bush TT
PFLEX-PFF3-501 - Powerflex PFF3-501 Front Bush Audi TT
VAG-1J0412249 - Strut Bearing, Front GO2/3/4,A3>'03 ,TT Mk1,OCT, IB3,Leon
PFLEX-PFF3-610 - Powerflex PFF3-610 Front Wishbone Rear Bush A3 8L*

He also said that the wishbone bushes that he recommended will fit my s3 as he said the smaller wishbones were on the early tts
 
Goubo1 said:
sound mate I will have a look,how are you finding your car after the new suspension ?

I will be getting them and track rod ends from euro before the car goes in the garage mate,anything else spring to mind I should get ?
Click to expand...

Its frickin awesome now! :thumbsup:

I'd consider new trailing arm front bush bolts, just in case the bush has seized to the bolt (I ended up cutting mine in half).
 
[Dave B];1871471 said:
Its frickin awesome now! :thumbsup:

I'd consider new trailing arm front bush bolts, just in case the bush has seized to the bolt (I ended up cutting mine in half).
Click to expand...

can these be had from euro car parts or dealer only ?
 
Thought I would have these parts on the car by now but awesome haven't posted yet as there has been a hold up from vibra technics getting the mounts sent out,pretty gutted as I was told I would have them for Friday :(

I just hope the wishbone bushes are the correct size as the guy assured me they would be the right size for a 2000 s3
 
Got the car back this morning and the difference is night and day :) the ride is so much more comfortable but still firm.the car also got both front wheel bearings done to when it was in.

still waiting on the vibra technics engine mount been told Wednesday at the latest now so once they are in the mechanic reckons they will solve my down pipe rubbing problem (bill said about soft engine mounts in a previous thread ages ago).then 4wheel alignment then it's job done
 
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