Coilover recommendations

[rasA4]

Right the time has come to change the OEM shocks and the H&R springs, i have fitted to my 2000 2.4 V6 Tip. After driving the latest A3 last week i was amazed how bad my car was on small potholes and speed humps.

I have to literally slow right down on some ramps, not good.

The way to go is coilovers i would think

I want to be able to adjust the height to avoid going dead slow on humps and improve ride quality on potholes as i can feel everyone of them.

I believe spax RSX are quite good as you can adjust them while on the car, my cars done 60k would i also need to change any bushes as well?

Has anyone got any recommendations, links please?

cheers guys!

 

[aragorn]

i dont really thing fitting coilovers will do what you want...

The ride height doesnt affect how fast you can drive over bumps, the spring rate does.

Coilovers tend to have pretty high rate springs in them, which will just make the ride even harsher than it already is.

The A3 you were driving probably had factory springs which will be a lot softer than your H&R's and it'll have had new shock absorbers, not some that have been on there 10 years.

I find the Bilstein B6/Eibach Pro kit on craigs S4 is pretty decent, and certainly no harsher that oe, but i suspect a new OE setup might be the way to go for you, or perhaps OE springs and some better shocks like the aforementioned bilsteins.

 

[jcb]

actually its the compression damping that effects the ability to soak up bumps.
Spring rate and rebound settings have much more effect on the cornering load, general "planted" feeling and the struts ability to respond after the bump.


you won't be able to take speed bumps at speed with most coilover kits out there.
the majority have single resevoir/valve setups for pressure release under compression, meaning they are good for one thing, either high speed compression (nothing to do with speed, think kerb or harsh strip type speed bumps rather than 120mph) or low speed compression (things like undulations and camber changes).

I have KwV3's. they are built for handling at speed and not driving round potholed cities.
harsh as hell under 30mph.
over 35/40 they will soak up anything (including speed bumps) and I have yet to be in a car that gives so much confidence in grip.

still you get what you pay for

 

[aragorn]

high compression damping doesnt explain why the half dead shocks that he currently has on the car are giving a harsh ride though?

Wouldnt old tired shocks become more soggy at compression damping, making it soak up bumps more readily?

 

[jcb]

the valves in cheap shocks especially coilovers can go either way. full open and sloppy or seize up and have no compression damping at all.
not usual on OEM shocks though, normally just becoem really slack right enough

 

[rasA4]

I have only had the H&R springs for about 2 years shortly after upgrading the alloys from 16 to 17 inch.
Im not after going over speed humps at speed just normal speed like everyone else.

not going to be doing excessive cornering either, just want a better ride and lower than OEM SE suspension as it looked like a tractor with 17" rims

 

[aragorn]

MOST people ram their cars over speedbumps at speeds i would be hitting them at in my landrover...

Simple fact is you either hammer the car over them and have increased wear in all your suspension balljoints etc, or drive slower...

I think your H&R springs are partly to blame here, the fact you have 17's on 45 profile tyres will also make the car feel much more harsh than a "normal" A3 on its 55 profiles.

Eibachs Prokit might do what you want, but i suggest you try to get a ride in someones car whos got them fitted first, as generally most "lowering" kits will provide a ride that stiffer than stock, and the standard Sport setup is pretty stiff already...

 

[rasA4]

i have taken on board what you have said has anyone has Eibachs Prokit?
whats it like?

also the A3 is a 2009 with 225/45/17 same profile as mine must be cos its a new car.