Lowering my B7 - options

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dakhu1

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Hi Guys - we have recently sold our BMW's and moved into the world of Audi

I have a beautiful 2007 A4 (saloon) 2.0T Quattro S Line SE in phantom black (only 42k!!) - pics to follow. My VAG mastertech buddy combed through it on Saturday and couldn't find a single thing wrong - original paint all round and looked after like a baby. Gave it a major service for piece of mind though - wow what a difference that made!!

We removed the ugly mudflaps but the car sits too high and the wheels (esp the rears) are too tucked-in for my liking. I want to lower her and put some spacers on - but, I want to be able to use the car LOL i.e. be able to cart the family around without the wheels rubbing etc. I don't want to look like a rude boy or pretend I am 18 again (those were the days!!) so nothing too crazy. I am an accountant (boring I know) and work for a large bluechip so need to be empathetic towards that!! HAHAHA

The car is 100% standard, being an SE it has the 18" RS4 alloys all round with recent brand new Michelin PS4's on all four corners

What are the recommendations in terms of lowering amount? (any links would be appreciated)
Also, what size spacers given the lowering?

If you have any pics of what it can look like that would be great also

Thanks
VJ
 
With regards to the lowering, are you just wanting to change the springs or the full kit for springs and shocks or coilovers?

For wheel spacers I'd say 10mm front and 15mm rear.

Damian @ DPM Performance
 
Thanks Damian - wow regarding the spacers - i was expecting a smaller size (8mm front / 10mm rear) so that sounds great

Regarding lowering, would like to see options/prices for all three - don't wish to break the bank but would rather make the right choice - I am happy with the ride quality at present but not sure what effect the lowering will have on this...
 
Springs start at around £130 and go up to around £200, coilovers start at around £200 and go up to £1500 plus and springs and shocks are around £300 to £600.

Damian @ DPM Performance
 
Here's my 2.0tfsi Quattro s-line when I got it



Here it is wi H&r 45mm lowering springs.


Standard s-line 18" wheels on it.
 
Looks good mate - presume you're not running any spacers?

Do you have any rubbing issues even with a full car?

Cheers
VJ
 
DPM said:
Springs start at around £130 and go up to around £200, coilovers start at around £200 and go up to £1500 plus and springs and shocks are around £300 to £600.

Damian @ DPM Performance
Click to expand...

What do folks usually go for? Never lowered a car myself hence the question..

Cheers
VJ
 
dakhu1 said:
Looks good mate - presume you're not running any spacers?

Do you have any rubbing issues even with a full car?

Cheers
VJ
Click to expand...


No spacers mate and doesn't rub at all. 235/40/18 tyres.
 
audi upgrades
What spacers do people recommend? Any prices or links?
 
depends on what offset you're running at the moment chap, too thick a spacer and it will be body contact time.
 
Just standard 18" on standard ride height

Image
 
you need to be sure what offset they are , they may be one of several different offsets maybe wise to just take of one rim and check the et stamp on the inside face just to be 100% on what they are, is your a Quattro aswell, if so not all spacer thicknesses will fit the rear properly so hence my suggestion to check what your running at the moment.
they look like an ET43 , which, is what they should be an oem rim on an avant B7 but maywell be different if they are not oem
The rs4 style rims I have fitted at present are an ET35 which effectivly give me an 8mm increase in width per side, so an 8mm spacer.
my new rims due this week are an ET40 so not as wide but i'll need to get some 5mm spacers to get back to that figure, so not to bad cost wise either for 4 new spacers.
 
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Im also in the same boat at the OP
I like the look of lowerd cars,but know nothing about the whats and whys when lowering

So ill just keep my eyes on this post like a hawk

I have a 2.0 140 sline sitting on 18s (sline are slightly lower anyways i think?

If i were to lower i would want to keep the comfortable ride etc
 

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well i'm tackling a spring change all round this weekend, hav'nt decided 100% on which method to use to be honest, part of me says go with the youtube vid method as all the joints in question that need removing or loosening are in pretty good condition, it's been slated by a few as being long winded , and it maybe but I cant see it taking that long, and i'm not really sure on the "recommended ratchet strap " method as I've not really seen any pics on the procedure to make the descision on it, I hate going into a job blind, at least I've seen whats involved with the youtube vid.
i'll see how things go.
 
CraigRE said:
Im also in the same boat at the OP
I like the look of lowerd cars,but know nothing about the whats and whys when lowering

So ill just keep my eyes on this post like a hawk

I have a 2.0 140 sline sitting on 18s (sline are slightly lower anyways i think?

If i were to lower i would want to keep the comfortable ride etc
Click to expand...

I spoke with Damian at DPM yesterday (very helpful chap) and he suggested 40mm drop on H&R springs with 10mm spacers on the fronts and 15mm on the rears is a good way to go - trouble is, I can't seem to find any pics of this set-up anywhere so unsure of how it would look...
 
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I think 15mm on the back will be too much chap, if you have ET43 or ET45 then you'll stand a very high chance of tyre rub especially when you start getting anything in the back.
either go for a lower ET offset if using 15MM spacers or go with a thinner spacer may 10 or 12mm on the back ,just a thought.
 
but that wont change much chap as the overall wheel diameter will be almost the same with the lower profile rubber, either change it to a different ET or thinner spacers.I have Et35 18" 8J on my avant and the max spacer I could add to the rear now is probably less than 5mm , or it will be really rubbing on the inner arch.
 
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I used too aswell but once you get your head around how it works all becomes a lot clearer....well hopefully it does ..lol
 
there was a page/topic on here telling you everything you need to know about spacers and distances etc...ill have to dig it out
 
yep, theres more than one mate, I put one up myself, they all use the same data/formulas etc to calculate the end result but they do make it quicker , easier and more accurate aswell.
 
care to share straight onto this page ... dont mean to hijack this thread or anything lol
 
audi upgrades
let's just say , I have added a "data enhancement tool " to this thread ....
 
audi upgrades
CraigRE said:
So dakhu1 what did you go with in the end
Click to expand...

i haven't yet - she is still sitting far too high - been too busy to get it sorted but watch this space!!
 
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from past experience I would recommend ET range from 48 to 35
anything more that 48 can maker contact with shock/springs/inner wheel arch,
anything less than 35 will be poking out of the arches.
as for wheel size 19 inch seem to the optimal choice.
18 look kinda small on the B7 letting it down in terms of aestethics
20 on the other hand will nicely fill the arches but may come across fitting problems due to both size,width of these rims.
I'm running on H&R lowering springs 45mm (quattro version) with 19 inch wheels 8.5J front , 9,5J rear ET40
I had to fit 5mm spacer to front as even the ETis 40 due to the wheel design it was catching the calipers.
So the current outcome is ET35 on front - sitting flush with the wing/arches
ET40 rear - slightly poking out due to the width of 9,5J about 2,3 mill out of the body/arches
DSC_8187.jpg
 

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yes, have to agree with the Et35 , i'm on et 35 at present and they sit just nice, I have new rims that are 40's but given I need to fit a 10mm spacer to clear the caliper that's going to put mine out to a et30 and at that point the tyres rims edges do stick out from the wheel arch, not a massive amount but it does look a bit odd sticking out like it does, i'm trying to loose 8mm from the fronts somehow to get the rims on and clear the caliper by 2mm , I have a plan but not sure its really ideal.
 
Quattro GmbH 63 said:
yes, have to agree with the Et35 , i'm on et 35 at present and they sit just nice, I have new rims that are 40's but given I need to fit a 10mm spacer to clear the caliper that's going to put mine out to a et30 and at that point the tyres rims edges do stick out from the wheel arch, not a massive amount but it does look a bit odd sticking out like it does, i'm trying to loose 8mm from the fronts somehow to get the rims on and clear the caliper by 2mm , I have a plan but not sure its really ideal.
Click to expand...

how about go for 5mm spacers only instead of 10mm? don't have a link as it been ages since a acquired them, but managed to get a pair hubcentric/vag specific ones back in the day from ebay. its enough to clear the caliper but doesn't poke out like beach buggy :D
 
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5mm wont work , I need to fit either 8mm absolute min spacer on fronts which then put the tyre/rim just a bit too far out for my liking and there is going to be rubbing at that point, or, and its a big or, I loose 5-8mm from something else, that would be just right as the new rims would be on, 2mm clearance from the calipers and just right for wheel arche/body gap.

I do have the answer but it is not really ideal and involves an old but reliable milling machine I have in the garage.

rears are not such a problem , I can sort that with some 8 mm spacers or what ever It works out at, its just the darn fronts are driving me mental .
 
nope cant do that, but may be milling it off something else very close by....
 
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Tom.s...the height you have you car is what im after
Any problems ? With the ride ...is it comfy
No problems with rubbing etc
 
CraigRE said:
Tom.s...the height you have you car is what im after
Any problems ? With the ride ...is it comfy
No problems with rubbing etc
Click to expand...

well have to be careful/ slow over bumps and potholes other wise no issues no rubbing or anything.
ride is as comfy as it gets with aftermarket springs.. not bad imo. good set of tyres can increase or decrease it significantly
 
TOM.S
Only one question about tyre sizes. Because i find 225/35/19 8,5j (et42) front 235/35/19 9,5j (et40) rear. What dimension you run?
 
Stifler said:
TOM.S
Only one question about tyre sizes. Because i find 225/35/19 8,5j (et42) front 235/35/19 9,5j (et40) rear. What dimension you run?
Click to expand...

I Have 235 35 19 on a 8,5j front which is about right, and the same size on 9,5J rear with a light stretch.
so with ur specs I assume you will have a stretch on both front and rears not an excessive one but the will some.
so expect something like this:
DSC 8232

DSC 8164
 
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