So fitted all this at the weekend :D

TDI_TIM · Jun 2, 2014

Nice day on Saturday as this all arrived in the post last week;

Whiteline Rear Anti Roll Bar
AP Coilovers (2nd hand, covered less than 10k miles and were in great condition)
10mm front spacers and bolts
15mm rear spacers and bolts

FYI I have a 2010 A3, Black Edition, 2.0TDI 140 - mods are in my signature

Then the time came to fitting it - pretty easy job to be honest, had access to my friends garage so ramp, air gun, tools and of course him (mechanic) so we got under way with the rears first and then the fronts. Pretty easy job to do, no real challenges, set the height and its good for now but I think I may need to lower the rears a bit more and remove the rear arch screw. Other than that the handling has really improved. All of these mods together has transformed the way the car corners, it was def worth it to minimise all the under steer and pretty much remove the body roll too.

Few pictures for you guys as I know you like them haha!

View attachment 34566 View attachment 34565 View attachment 34564 View attachment 34563 View attachment 34562

(oh and the last 2 pics are a before and after if you didn't already notice that!!)

smurfworth · Jun 2, 2014

You'll love the AP's, drop them all the way, you'll have nothing to worry about and it'll look miles better.

mechanic69 · Jun 2, 2014

Good job, How is it with just the rear ARB?

TDI_TIM · Jun 3, 2014

smurfworth said:
You'll love the AP's, drop them all the way, you'll have nothing to worry about and it'll look miles better.

You had AP's before didn't you? did you wind yours all the way down then with no problems? Mine are about an inch from being wound all the way down and the rear spring/cups are sitting flush in each other so about another 2cm from being wound all the way down - if that make sense. I assume it will drop it only by a few mm's so might do that later this week.

Got it booked in for an alignment today too.

TDI_TIM · Jun 3, 2014

mechanic69 said:
Good job, How is it with just the rear ARB?

Cheers, I havnt really pushed it hard or anything yet until I get an alignment done - but it feels a lot better. Tighter in the corners and I feel that there is less body roll too. With the coilovers and spacers added on it has really transformed the handling of the car. Very impressed.

smurfworth · Jun 3, 2014

TDI_TIM said:
You had AP's before didn't you? did you wind yours all the way down then with no problems? Mine are about an inch from being wound all the way down and the rear spring/cups are sitting flush in each other so about another 2cm from being wound all the way down - if that make sense. I assume it will drop it only by a few mm's so might do that later this week.

Got it booked in for an alignment today too.

Yeah all the way down with no issues, never had an undertray though but nothing ever rubbed.

Get it at the height you want before you have it aligned or when you goto adjust it next time the alignment will be way out again.

TDI_TIM · Jun 3, 2014

smurfworth said:
Yeah all the way down with no issues, never had an undertray though but nothing ever rubbed.

Get it at the height you want before you have it aligned or when you goto adjust it next time the alignment will be way out again.

Yeah I have an undertray on mine - so you think I should adjust the ride height before alignment.... I know what im doing tonight then as its booked in for tomorrow morning! Either that or I could ask the guys at the centre to lower it a bit more for me (easier when on a ramp etc..) and then get them to do the alignment? I'm sure they wouldn't mind??

smurfworth · Jun 3, 2014

Yeah get it sat how you want first, it won't settle any more than you set it because the springs have already been settled before on another car.

Any adjustments you make to the coilovers adjusts the camber the wheels sit at so it's best to get it how you want before it's aligned.

Sayam · Jun 3, 2014

as advised get the ride height and everything where you want it to be before you go for the alignment or it'll just throw it out again if you change anything.

also what do you think of the rear anti roll bar? i've considered this for my car but is it worth the investment in terms of handling?

TDI_TIM · Jun 3, 2014

Sayam said:
as advised get the ride height and everything where you want it to be before you go for the alignment or it'll just throw it out again if you change anything.

also what do you think of the rear anti roll bar? i've considered this for my car but is it worth the investment in terms of handling?

Yeah I will get the height how I want it first then! So ill be getting the jack out tonight!!

To be honest I havnt given it a real test yet as I am conscious about driving hard with the wheels not being aligned properly - but I can tell from daily driving, cornering and roundabouts this has really improved handling and the car feels more solid and planted. There is a couple of roundabouts where if going at speed I would understeer but now I am finding I can actually corner faster with the new set up. Its hard to pin point what is helping but the whole setup has really improved the handling.

Body roll is pretty much non existent too, which is the most noticeable aspect and is down to the ARB rather than coilovers and spacers.

Sayam · Jun 3, 2014

TDI_TIM said:
Body roll is pretty much non existent too, which is the most noticeable aspect and is down to the ARB rather than coilovers and spacers.

I have wheels that are 8J and ET42 or 43 so effectively I think this is the same as spacing factory wheels out?

I have Eibach Pro-Kit springs on factory dampers but one of my dampers is starting to weep and I'm considering changing all 4 at once for an aftermarket set rather than OEM replacements.

Does the car have a factory anti-roll bar in the rear that you remove and replace this this presumably stiffer one or does it not have one altogether than you've installed fresh?

TDI_TIM · Jun 3, 2014

Sayam said:
I have wheels that are 8J and ET42 or 43 so effectively I think this is the same as spacing factory wheels out?

I have Eibach Pro-Kit springs on factory dampers but one of my dampers is starting to weep and I'm considering changing all 4 at once for an aftermarket set rather than OEM replacements.

Does the car have a factory anti-roll bar in the rear that you remove and replace this this presumably stiffer one or does it not have one altogether than you've installed fresh?

Well if you are looking to replace them then I would say do your research etc.. first. Do not buy cheap as you will have to replace them again! I bought the AP Coilover Kit which new is circa £450 I was just lucky to get a second hand pair from an S3 with less than 10k miles when fitted.

The car has a standard ARB (black one) which is thinner and lighter than the whiteline ARB
View attachment 34649 View attachment 34650

Compkiler · Jun 3, 2014

I'm now having my AP coilovers fitted! I've been advised to only go 40mm. So that's what I'm doing? Apparently they will go lower but it's not recommended

leeds2592 · Jun 3, 2014

Compkiler said:
I'm now having my AP coilovers fitted! I've been advised to only go 40mm. So that's what I'm doing? Apparently they will go lower but it's not recommended

Who told you that load of rubbish? :scared2:

Had them wound as far down as they would go on my A3 and no problems what so ever, ride was comfortable and no scrubbing with 3 people in the back and 12mm spacers on!

The only time I scraped was when I had someone in the back and went over one of those speedbumps where your wheels go either side of them. Even then it only scraped the plastic undertray so didn't do any damage, just sounds a lot worse than what it does.

Sayam · Jun 3, 2014

TDI_TIM said:
Well if you are looking to replace them then I would say do your research etc.. first. Do not buy cheap as you will have to replace them again! I bought the AP Coilover Kit which new is circa £450 I was just lucky to get a second hand pair from an S3 with less than 10k miles when fitted.

The car has a standard ARB (black one) which is thinner and lighter than the whiteline ARB
View attachment 34649 View attachment 34650

What effect does it have depending on which attachment hole you use to fix it to the car?

TDI_TIM · Jun 3, 2014

Sayam said:
What effect does it have depending on which attachment hole you use to fix it to the car?

So the whiteline is an adjustable ARB with 3 holes - "soft" "medium" "hard" - this is basically as it states. How hard the ARB will be working, how much (or minimal) flex will be in the roll bar and how much or minimal tension on suspension etc..

I spoke to a few other guys on the forum running this and other ARB all of whom said to set it onto the "hard" setting if I am not running an upgraded front arb. Setting it to hard helps pull the rear in to minimise understeer and body roll. As mine is FWD and not Quattro it will always suffer with under steer and the back end loosing traction.

If you want more info then have a search online as I am in no way an expert!

Sayam · Jun 3, 2014

no worries mate appreciate your help so far.

is it just a swap job or old one out and new one in?

TDI_TIM · Jun 3, 2014

Yep! pretty easy when on a ramp but could be one on jack and stands. Spline bolts I believe so make sure you have the correct tools.

Also easier to get to once the springs and shocks are removed though!! But do able with them in place, will just be more fiddly!

Rhyso · Jun 3, 2014

Whats the ride comfort like?? Im looking at replacement options for my S Line TDI and whatever I choose has to be more comfortable yet not impead the handling

london jay · Jun 3, 2014

Nice one m8!!

smurfworth · Jun 3, 2014

leeds2592 said:
Who told you that load of rubbish?

Had them wound as far down as they would go on my A3 and no problems what so ever, ride was comfortable and no scrubbing with 3 people in the back and 12mm spacers on!

The only time I scraped was when I had someone in the back and went over one of those speedbumps where your wheels go either side of them. Even then it only scraped the plastic undertray so didn't do any damage, just sounds a lot worse than what it does.

+1

They were probably on about the old 8L chassis where if you go lower than 40mm the ARB rubs against the driveshaft.

considering people run 140mm coilovers from stillstatic without huge problems i don't think 40mm is a real issue.

TDI_TIM · Jun 4, 2014

Rhyso said:
Whats the ride comfort like?? Im looking at replacement options for my S Line TDI and whatever I choose has to be more comfortable yet not impead the handling

Its hard to say until you go in one really - as for me its fine, sturdy, solid but not back breaking, sporty and not spongy.

But you might ride in it and think geez this is too stiff or too soft. That's the problem - everyone has a different feel when they are in other cars. I'd suggest finding a member who lives near you who has coilies and having a ride in theirs

TDI_TIM · Jun 4, 2014

So went and got the 4 wheel alignment today and fitted my pressed plates too

as we all knew the wheels where out as was the camber.

I mentioned to him that I was thinking about maybe lowering it more / what if the springs settle and he said - bring it back and i'll realign it all free of charge

perfect! So I will be playing with the ride height and then take it back for another alignment!

TDI_TIM · Jun 5, 2014

I have removed the rear arch screw but I am still getting some rubbing on the tyres on the outer wall - Is this just rubbing on the arch itself? I cant seem to fine a definite reason when I actually look at the tyre and the arches. There is a good 15mm-20mm gap from tyre to the arch.

leeds2592 · Jun 5, 2014

Hard to say without seeing any pics but some people do have problems with tyres scraping on arch when they fit 15mm spacers. Do you know anyone with some 12mm's that you could try to see if that rectifies the problem?

Seems strange if there's a good gap between wheel and arch.

TDI_TIM · Jun 5, 2014

leeds2592 said:
Hard to say without seeing any pics but some people do have problems with tyres scraping on arch when they fit 15mm spacers. Do you know anyone with some 12mm's that you could try to see if that rectifies the problem?

Seems strange if there's a good gap between wheel and arch.

Maybe its the 15mm spacers then

Could be that I go over speed bumps like every day too, so I imagine it could be because of them? The marks aren't massive radial marks (as in constant rubbing for example) but they are there in places.

Sayam · Jun 5, 2014

TDI_TIM said:
Maybe its the 15mm spacers then Could be that I go over speed bumps like every day too, so I imagine it could be because of them? The marks aren't massive radial marks (as in constant rubbing for example) but they are there in places.

if i'm correct in thinking factory wheel offset is 54 then 15mm spacers take you to 39 which is too low and probably is causing rubbing.

with the 12mm spacers you get to 42 which is what my wheels are albeit mine are 8J and don't really rub at all

So fitted all this at the weekend :D

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