New suspension stance pics?

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SteveSAS

Guest
Hi guys, I have literally got back from garage after getting my ST (KW) suspension shocks and spring kit fitted , along with new OEM top mounts and drop links front and back. Oh also R32 rear ARB.
Thought I 'd take some pics and get some opinions on what you see.
So far I'm not entirely happy with how low the rear has dropped compared with front as the kit states 20mm drop for front and ONLY 10mm for rear. I believe I am right in thinking the front should settle lower to even the look more with a few miles on them but I still don't like the way the rear arches sort of hang over the wheels a bit now & not evenly around them if you get my drift.
The rear springs look very squashed together, do they look correct? Sitting correct etc?
I have kept standard rear tie bars at the moment as didn't think it would drop enough to need them for now.
Have booked in for 4 wheel alignment tomorrow.

Any opinions, advice & observations welcomed guys.

Thanks

Steve
Suspension 1

Suspension 2

Rear spring 1

Rear spring 2
 
I think rears always look like this.
Steve are you saying the rear looks too low compared to the front?
I think the front will settle a touch however this kit is likely to be the same result as the ap as I believe they are all made either same place or by same design.
 
KW (or similar) spring spacers
spring-spacer.jpg


Audi-KWCoiloverAdjustment004.jpg
 
are those spring coils all meant to be touching or is it the photo? looks like just the bottom bit has any spring in it?
 
daz-20vt said:
I think rears always look like this.
Steve are you saying the rear looks too low compared to the front?
I think the front will settle a touch however this kit is likely to be the same result as the ap as I believe they are all made either same place or by same design.
Click to expand...
Is strange when ST state different lowering height to AP's. Looking at the pic again I think rears would look better with spacers maybe. Have seen those universal spacers that only just slot behind original studs and only 5mm out, any good if you don't want to come out too far?
 
New top mounts will need time to settle, your old one's were probably compressed about 10/15mm.
 
Most aftermarket rear springs coil together that closely.

When you talk about the way "the rear arch hangs over", are you just talking about how far the wheel sits in? Lowered S3's look ridiculous with standard width/offset rims, they need at least a 20mm spacer on the rear before they even start to look normal.
 
Those springs don't look right to me surely the coils shouldn't all be touching there's no room for any suspension travel/movement
 
give it a while and then decide mate. as Andy says things need to settle.
 
VAG-Slag said:
Most aftermarket rear springs coil together that closely.

When you talk about the way "the rear arch hangs over", are you just talking about how far the wheel sits in? Lowered S3's look ridiculous with standard width/offset rims, they need at least a 20mm spacer on the rear before they even start to look normal.
Click to expand...
Yes mate, I'm agreeing with your thinking on the wheel spacers. Quite expensive for the proper spacers with the studs so was maybe going to try the universal ones first that only bring the rears out by 5mm, better than nothing maybe and only £12 from halfords.
 
dusty said:
Those springs don't look right to me surely the coils shouldn't all be touching there's no room for any suspension travel/movement
Click to expand...
Had a internet browse and found similar queries on BMW forums about KW springs completely compressed in centre and seems to be normal for them to do this. Something about a progressive spring rate.
 
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SteveSAS said:
What do these spring spacers actually do?
Click to expand...

Sit between the spring the and spring seat to give extra height

Most manufacturers sell them for their springs, pretty standard bit of kit

Wait to see if front compresses enough, and then fit if you feel the need to raise the back


SteveSAS said:
Yes mate, I'm agreeing with your thinking on the wheel spacers. Quite expensive for the proper spacers with the studs so was maybe going to try the universal ones first that only bring the rears out by 5mm, better than nothing maybe and only £12 from halfords.
Click to expand...

Look at hub centric with extended bolts - worth not cutting corners on wheel spacers

A decent 20mm spacer can be bought for circa £40 with longer bolts - look on fleabay

Avoid those universal things - they collapse and you'll likely have wonky wheels
 
AP rears look nothing like that.
Less coils, less chance of coil binding, better ride/longer travel.
I have a pic somewhere.
I wouldn't be too happy with how that rear coil looks. Looks like it's not even made for the car

When i fitted them, under load:

Car jacked up:

And because they werent low enough, adjusters removed:
 
Last edited:
superkarl said:
AP rears look nothing like that.
Less coils, less chance of coil binding, better ride/longer travel.
I have a pic somewhere.
I wouldn't be too happy with how that rear coil looks. Looks like it's not even made for the car

When i fitted them, under load:

Car jacked up:

And because they werent low enough, adjusters removed:
Click to expand...
Hi mate, as I said above I was concerned how mine compress together in centre coils but after searching forums I found a BMW one that had same question and the answers were the KW springs sit like that and is normal and something to do with progressive spring rate.
 
SteveSAS said:
Hi mate, as I said above I was concerned how mine compress together in centre coils but after searching forums I found a BMW one that had same question and the answers were the KW springs sit like that and is normal and something to do with progressive spring rate.
Click to expand...
The spring rate will be zero if the coils bind together
 
SteveSAS said:
Hi mate, as I said above I was concerned how mine compress together in centre coils but after searching forums I found a BMW one that had same question and the answers were the KW springs sit like that and is normal and something to do with progressive spring rate.
Click to expand...
superkarl said:
The spring rate will be zero if the coils bind together
Click to expand...
Hi Karl, just this minute phoned KW UK and was asked to give the code on side of my springs & the suspension prod no. He confirmed that they are the correct springs for car and are indeed a progressive rate spring and is normal to sit as they do. I asked about the AP as they make those as well and was told that the AP ones aren't progressive and also come with an added centre seat piece (can't remember what he called it lol) and the ST ones are designed to fit as they are. He said the quality of the ST kit is higher than the AP kit and has been designed differently. So, can';t do anymore but see how they go. I was originally going for the AP kit like yourself but saw this ST one on ebay direct from Tuner Shop in Germany for only £330 delivered. As I know it's a more expensive kit from the UK at £450 I thought it was a good deal.
Would love to see some pics of yours on the AP's and if you have added wheel spacers etc?
Both our kits are made by KW so should be cool.
superkarl said:
The spring rate will be zero if the coils bind together
Click to expand...
 
i cannot see how coils sat upon each other like that can provide any spring at all... the only movement (and stresses) will all be in the last portion of the coil. if that how its designed then fair enough, but i would question the validity of the design.

i'm happy to be educated otherwise...
 
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my springs look like Steve. compressed. there's still plenty of movement plus without being rude my set up is considerably better then both ap and the St kit
 
daz-20vt said:
my springs look like Steve. compressed. there's still plenty of movement plus without being rude my set up is considerably better then both ap and the St kit
Click to expand...
Cool, I've just read more about progressive spring rates v specific spring rates. Basically the progressive ones are compressed in the centre coils so that the pressure exerted on them is more gradual therefore delivering a firmer ride over stock but also a more forgiving ride over bumps etc. Specific rate springs where the coils are evenly gapped again give the firmer ride over stock but don't soak up uneven roads as well. As I said didn't know all this when I bought the kit, just thought it seemed a good deal :welcoming:
 
no one called me on my "considerably better kit joke" :(

karl your car looks epic on the 18s

Steve leave it a bit see what pans out the add spacers to the rear or put smaller top mounts up front.
 
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superkarl said:
How it used to look:
148c913389b2161d46dcdb3b7be89d57.jpg

How it looks now:
e9a2822f8ce621cfcafbe5f7953932b7.jpg
Click to expand...
Love the way it sits Karl and especially like the first pic on those wheels. So what is the exact suspension on this including top mounts, spacers etc?
 
daz-20vt said:
no one called me on my "considerably better kit joke" :(

karl your car looks epic on the 18s

Steve leave it a bit see what pans out the add spacers to the rear or put smaller top mounts up front.
Click to expand...
Just had my 4 wheel alignment done & now drives much better. The guy said I was on the limit with my rear camber (standard tie arms) especially on the right side with it flickering in and out of spec. Always been around 1cm lower on right side than left even before with original suspension. Checked some other forums and seems many other make cars have the same uneven height from left to right at rear. Even cars not that old seem to have these differences.
 
SteveSAS said:
Love the way it sits Karl and especially like the first pic on those wheels. So what is the exact suspension on this including top mounts, spacers etc?
Click to expand...
Top pic is AP coilovers, LCR top mounts. Adjustable arms. 18 x 8 rims. 225/40 tyres. Spacers front and rear for a ET25 rear, ET30 front.
Bottom is AP coilovers, LCR top mounts. Adjustable arms. 17 x 8rims. 235/45 tyres. Spacers front and rear for ET30 all round.
 
superkarl said:
Top pic is AP coilovers, LCR top mounts. Adjustable arms. 18 x 8 rims. 225/40 tyres. Spacers front and rear for a ET25 rear, ET30 front.
Bottom is AP coilovers, LCR top mounts. Adjustable arms. 17 x 8rims. 235/45 tyres. Spacers front and rear for ET30 all round.
Click to expand...
Any makes of spacers to recommend or avoid?
Thought my ST drop of only (supposedly) drop of 10mm at rear would allow me to keep my standard tie arms. After getting alignment the guy said the standard arms are now on their limit with a neg camber of nearly -3 deg and the the left rear toe is just within tolerance but right rear toe is flickering between in and out. If he lifted right rear by just millimetres it went back in tolerance.
 
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