Coilovers ordered

Gavin_s3

Gavin_s3

Registered User
Joined
Oct 8, 2015
Messages
91
Reaction score
12
Points
8
Hello, just ordered some ap coilovers. Hoping they improve the ride on my s3 sportback as standard I think it's a bit poor. Going to fit them myself, anyone got any tips or advice for fitting?
Pictures fitted would be nice as well, can't wait to get them on
 
I recently fitted coilovers to my three door s3, videos I watched said I had to remove the drive shaft but I managed to do it with in place just remove the bottom arm so you have plenty of movement with the hub, that was probably the hardest job out of everything as the ball joint is always seized to the bottom arm. I had all the brakes off as I was changing them which probably made it a touch easier as I had more room.
I did buy this which I found made it a lot easier to remover the shock from the hub https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272181905020 . The rear is pretty straight forward.

this gave me a good idea in the right direction.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: S3Alex
Coilovers isn't the route for improving ride quality .
 
  • Like
Reactions: Donny_DJ
Gavin Ellis said:
Hello, just ordered some ap coilovers. Hoping they improve the ride on my s3 sportback as standard I think it's a bit poor. Going to fit them myself, anyone got any tips or advice for fitting?
Pictures fitted would be nice as well, can't wait to get them on
Click to expand...

If you can,change as many of the bushes as possible at the same time,as it's a real pain taking it all down again at another date.

I had mine fitted with Superpro bushes all round,but there are others to choose from.

Rear fitted here...

 
S3Alex said:
If you can,change as many of the bushes as possible at the same time,as it's a real pain taking it all down again at another date.

I had mine fitted with Superpro bushes all round,but there are others to choose from.
Click to expand...

Oh I almost forgot too which I over looked at the time is your probably going to need shorter drop links, I bought Mercedes vito ones as I was pretty stuck on a bank holiday but will be changing them for adjustable ones when I change the roll bars when I have the subframe off for the clutch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Gazwould said:
Coilovers isn't the route for improving ride quality .
Click to expand...

When I say improve I mean make it more planted on the road. As standard I think the ride isn't very sporty at all for the type of car it's supposed to be. A bit of a let down in my opinion.
 
audi upgrades
S3Alex said:
If you can,change as many of the bushes as possible at the same time,as it's a real pain taking it all down again at another date.

I had mine fitted with Superpro bushes all round,but there are others to choose from.

Rear fitted here...

Click to expand...

Thanks Alex I'll look into changing the bushes as well.
 
Ben2487 said:
Oh I almost forgot too which I over looked at the time is your probably going to need shorter drop links, I bought Mercedes vito ones as I was pretty stuck on a bank holiday but will be changing them for adjustable ones when I change the roll bars when I have the subframe off for the clutch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thanks mate. Any ideas of some suitable Audi drop links I could use?
 
Don't need shorter drop links. And invest in a strut spreader tool, will save you hours trying to remove the front struts from the hubs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gavin_s3
smurfworth said:
Don't need shorter drop links. And invest in a strut spreader tool, will save you hours trying to remove the front struts from the hubs.
Click to expand...

Going to invest in one of those will Deffo make the job easier.
 
Change of plan lol getting them fitted for £80
 
smurfworth said:
Don't need shorter drop links. And invest in a strut spreader tool, will save you hours trying to remove the front struts from the hubs.
Click to expand...

I did on mine the mount for the drop link is far lower than standard


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gavin_s3
How do you get around fitting the old drop links then?
 
Have you got pictures of them fitted to your car smurfworth?
What's your thread set up front and rear for the height?
 
smurfworth said:
Pull the ARB downwards and put the drop link in, simple as that.
Click to expand...

I don't know how yours worked ok? Did you leave the car the standard height? My standard links simply wouldn't fit as the roll bar would be sat on the bottom arm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Is the difference between AP and Bilstein B14 big or small? In a matter of which ones are more stiff and which more soft for everyday use
 
Gavin_s3 said:
Have you got pictures of them fitted to your car smurfworth?
What's your thread set up front and rear for the height?
Click to expand...

Ben2487 said:
I don't know how yours worked ok? Did you leave the car the standard height? My standard links simply wouldn't fit as the roll bar would be sat on the bottom arm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

It's as low as they will possibly go, not sure if the drop link tabs on your coilovers are a different place to mine so included a photo of the coilovers too

Image
Image
Image
Image
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mindak and Gavin_s3
  • Like
Reactions: smurfworth
  • Like
Reactions: smurfworth
smurfworth said:
It's as low as they will possibly go, not sure if the drop link tabs on your coilovers are a different place to mine so included a photo of the coilovers too


Yea looks like it seems it depends on what brand you go for. Your cars looking good.

69cb5e0554df833cecc25ba1fb322cab.jpg


0b9c4dda30e26c56f4f3d5621258eb15.jpg





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
Yeah looks to me like your coilover body is shorter than mine. Bet they go a lot lower than mine for sure. That Spring looks rather hard too, don't see many coilovers for the 8p with helper springs.
 
Delivery just arrived. These the same as yours smurfworth?

Cheers dpm, speedy delivery :sunglasses:

Ordered new oem top mounts and bearings today, Audi wanted £100ish so did Andrew Page, ended up ordering from euro car parts £55.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    1.9 MB · Views: 238
  • Like
Reactions: DPM
smurfworth said:
Yeah looks to me like your coilover body is shorter than mine. Bet they go a lot lower than mine for sure. That Spring looks rather hard too, don't see many coilovers for the 8p with helper springs.
Click to expand...

How about these....

 
Gavin_s3 said:
Delivery just arrived. These the same as yours smurfworth?

Cheers dpm, speedy delivery :sunglasses:

Ordered new oem top mounts and bearings today, Audi wanted £100ish so did Andrew Page, ended up ordering from euro car parts £55.
Click to expand...

Yeah bud, looks like mine, just a lot shinier. They won't look like that after the winter months :frown: Get some good quality copper grease on those threads and grease the grub screw that locks the adjustment collar too as mine corroded and was an absolute pain to undo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gavin_s3
AP's do drive real nice but I'm one of the 'not low enough guys' they seem to sit different on different cars!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gavin_s3
smurfworth said:
Yeah bud, looks like mine, just a lot shinier. They won't look like that after the winter months :frown: Get some good quality copper grease on those threads and grease the grub screw that locks the adjustment collar too as mine corroded and was an absolute pain to undo.
Click to expand...

Good idea, will definitely be doing that!

Hopefully I can use my current drop links then.
 
for what it is worth...I agree with Alex to change all your bushings. Do it right the first time as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I know you ordered the OEM strut mounts. I would highly recommend the thicker TT mounts front and back. I prefer 034 motorsports up front but to each their own. Protect those coils as winter is around the corner. Make sure the top mount bolt is torque to spec as well as the strut mount bolts. don't complain about noise until it all settles in
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gavin_s3 and S3Alex
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

NorthernSoul
Ordered !
Replies
8
Views
978
evapor8
evapor8
J
Ordered!
Replies
26
Views
2K
nicks3
N
luke1234
Car ordered!!
Replies
2
Views
772
luke1234
luke1234
marknjayne
ordered this
Replies
23
Views
2K
S.
S.
a3rick
Just Ordered....
Replies
2
Views
777
a3rick
a3rick
Top
Back