Which lowering springs to go for?

theo289

theo289

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Hi All,

Have an Audi A3 sportback 2007 with 18's RS6 reps - at the moment when i hit any kind of bump/ little bit in the road, my rear wheels are rubbing really badly. So now i'm at the stage of thinking about replacing the springs as there has been a lot of discussions on here about this - but which is best - H&R or Eibach?

H&R Sport Lowered Spring Kits - Demon Tweeks - H&R

Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Spring Kit - Demon Tweeks - Eibach

If anyone has any pictures/ comments on the ride, the response of the car with corners etc would be great.

Appriciate all of your help as usual :)
 
Got the H&R's, they feel better than standard however as you'd expect with anything thats lowered it bounces slightly. Doesnt really go low enough on the front, but i like hardly any arch gaps. all in all, very good and i'd reccomend.

what offset are your wheels and have you removed the rear screws in the bumper?
 
Just bought myself some H&R. Reading the forums and a lot of searches they seem a better ride that the Eibachs.

Fitting this week so will try get some pics.
 
Sell you my H&R 55mm springs for £100 if i buy some coilovers soon if your interested in collecting frim derbyshire PM me
 
Only been on car for about 6 months
 
^^^Good deal, good springs
 
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smurfworth said:
Got the H&R's, they feel better than standard however as you'd expect with anything thats lowered it bounces slightly. Doesnt really go low enough on the front, but i like hardly any arch gaps. all in all, very good and i'd reccomend.

what offset are your wheels and have you removed the rear screws in the bumper?
Click to expand...

Got a feeling they are 8J 245 18. Just looking for a reasonable ride which doesn't cause rubbing (which is what I currently have - and lots of it!)
 
245's will rub like a ***** if lowered, you can just about get away with 225's on H&R's. any lower and you need to look at 205's or 215 to stretch them inside the arches. Also depends on your offset which will either be ET 45 or ET38
 
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smurfworth said:
245's will rub like a ***** if lowered, you can just about get away with 225's on H&R's. any lower and you need to look at 205's or 215 to stretch them inside the arches. Also depends on your offset which will either be ET 45 or ET38
Click to expand...

Okay so if I go for 225, does it cause much rubbing?

Thanks for the advise so far :)
 
Ive got bentleys ET41 9J running 225/35/19 only rubs with 5 people otherwise its fine recommend 215's to avoid any rubbing
 
TDI140 said:
Ive got bentleys ET41 9J running 225/35/19 only rubs with 5 people otherwise its fine recommend 215's to avoid any rubbing
Click to expand...

as the current suspension on my car is stupidly spongy, if I were to have four people in the car, that causes rubbing. Do you find if you have four it causes rubbing too?

thanks
 
Here are some before and after shots of mine on H&R 55's:

Before:
DSC03271_zps33328b19.jpg




After:
DSC08694_zps034c3c63.jpg



Ride is a bit harder, handles a hell of a lot better in the corners. Much more fun to drive now. Very happy with the drop.
 
MTRL said:
Here are some before and after shots of mine on H&R 55's:

Before:
DSC03271_zps33328b19.jpg




After:
DSC08694_zps034c3c63.jpg



Ride is a bit harder, handles a hell of a lot better in the corners. Much more fun to drive now. Very happy with the drop.
Click to expand...

They look very good! How is the ride? What size are your alloys?

Thanks
 
No rubbing with four and my wheels are wide as a mofo ! As most people know bentley rims stick outside the wheel arches on an a3 with 5 theres some rubbing not bad though four i havnt noticed any rubbing at all
 
smurfworth said:
245's will rub like a ***** if lowered, you can just about get away with 225's on H&R's. any lower and you need to look at 205's or 215 to stretch them inside the arches. Also depends on your offset which will either be ET 45 or ET38
Click to expand...

Absolutely....I have 245x40x18s on mine,and it required a suspension rebuild to fit the lot under the car.

Otherwise you need to resort to arch bending and silly amounts of camber.

This will give you an idea of what it looks like....

DSC09640Copy_zps7d848b52.jpg


And what it took to get them under the arches......

IMAG1512Copy_zps72276968.jpg
 
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theo289 said:
They look very good! How is the ride? What size are your alloys?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Alloys are 18" x 8J. ET 45.
Running 225/40/18

Ride is absolutely fine, its defiantly firmer.

No problems with speed humps, no rubbing. Not had more than 2 people in the car yet though so cant comment on what its like with a full car, but I try to avoid having more than 2 people in there anyway. Scuffing up my mats with their feet, get the bus.
I don't imagine there will be a problem.
 
MTRL said:
Alloys are 18" x 8J. ET 45.
Running 225/40/18

Ride is absolutely fine, its defiantly firmer.

No problems with speed humps, no rubbing. Not had more than 2 people in the car yet though so cant comment on what its like with a full car, but I try to avoid having more than 2 people in there anyway. Scuffing up my mats with their feet, get the bus.
I don't imagine there will be a problem.
Click to expand...

I hate passengers as they are just messy and also ruin my mats!

I have 18 RS4 reps, 225 40 18's and I think Et45 and it scrubs like a B***h on the back, screws removed too!!! Is pretty low though:/ ImageUploadedByTapatalk1375031352036068
Can kinda see how low it is in this. I'm on coilovers though!
 
I've just spoken to a company called Performance 3000 in Yeovil and they are saying that if the car rubs a bit here or there, the ride would rub even more with 35mm H&R springs - so confused now :(
 
YOU CANNOT RUN 245 TYRES WITHOUT RUBBING

Clearer now?

maximum of 225 width, with a maximum offset (ET) of 45. so, you cant run et38 offset alloys without rubbing.

Lowering your current setup will make it rub like nuts.

change your tyres before lows.

/thread
 
smurfworth said:
YOU CANNOT RUN 245 TYRES WITHOUT RUBBING

Clearer now?

maximum of 225 width, with a maximum offset (ET) of 45. so, you cant run et38 offset alloys without rubbing.

Lowering your current setup will make it rub like nuts.

change your tyres before lows.

/thread
Click to expand...

sorry for any confusion but im on 225/40/18
 
audi upgrades
then its gotta be a real low offset, my guess is et38.

see mines on 225/40/18 8J, offset of 45 and on 50mm H&R springs, can have a full car and not one bit of rubbing occurs. The wheel can be so far up in the arch that the arches are inline with the top of the alloy and still absolutely nothing rubs.
 
smurfworth said:
then its gotta be a real low offset, my guess is et38.

see mines on 225/40/18 8J, offset of 45 and on 50mm H&R springs, can have a full car and not one bit of rubbing occurs. The wheel can be so far up in the arch that the arches are inline with the top of the alloy and still absolutely nothing rubs.
Click to expand...

will need to try and measure it but in essence the car just touches the inner wheel arch lining - i want the 35mm drop
 
everythings all done - spoke to Damian and ordered the H&R Springs :)

Pics to follow!
 
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Looking forward to seeing the result :icon_thumright:
 
Just fitted my H&R's tonight, quick drive round the block tonight to check them over and seem good quality.

Smooth ride at speed, slightly harsher on bumpy surface at slow speeds, no worse than S Line springs, saying that I did have a broken rear so clunk has also gone.


Looking forward to testing them on way to work in morning.
 
Dan_Mol said:
Just fitted my H&R's tonight, quick drive round the block tonight to check them over and seem good quality.

Smooth ride at speed, slightly harsher on bumpy surface at slow speeds, no worse than S Line springs, saying that I did have a broken rear so clunk has also gone.


Looking forward to testing them on way to work in morning.
Click to expand...

Sounds positive so far :) do you have any images?
 
theo289 said:
Sounds positive so far :) do you have any images?
Click to expand...

No pics yet, was dark and wet outside when got finished, will snap one at dinner today. Sits better just need to choose the right wheels to fill the arch.

Don't think you will be dissapointed with the H&R. Ride was fine coming to work this morning, haven't had chance to push it but overall impressions are good.
 
Dan_Mol said:
No pics yet, was dark and wet outside when got finished, will snap one at dinner today. Sits better just need to choose the right wheels to fill the arch.

Don't think you will be dissapointed with the H&R. Ride was fine coming to work this morning, haven't had chance to push it but overall impressions are good.
Click to expand...

Did you go for the 35 or 45/55mm drop?
 
Okay so the springs are now on! first of all you can notice the difference on the rear and front of the car where it has dropped slightly - pretty nice stance and rather subtle!

Ride:
Well i'm quite a difficult to please guy however motorway driving - perfect, couldn't ask for more!
City Driving: i am quite lucky to have been able to have driven the car immediately after collecting it from Bristol straight to Beckenham in London and London city driving; its not too bad, a little harsh and a few rubbs here or there but overall its not too bad!

I will have to wait till next weekend when i am camping and have a car full of crap.

Will put pictures up tomorrow once i have given the beauty a little clean :)

Thanks all!
 
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audi upgrades
Jesus, removing the arch linings is quite drastic. You shouldn't be getting any rubbing, you can remove the arch lining screw to see if that helps first.

Also, looking at the before ride height I don't see how that would rub unless you are carting around a grand piano. Perhaps its a different issue.

You have a side on shot of the new stance?
 
Have you fitted spacers as they look fairly flush with the arches?
 
Forget that last question. I guess they're a different offset being RS6 replicas.
 
You sure it is the wheel rubbing and not the belly tray on the square speed bumps? You shouldn't be rubbing unless you haven't removed the arch screw.
 
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