Raceland Coils coming to Audi? Apparently So.

[Galactus]

Apparently so.

I've been long in the coilover market. I want something I can get low, but won't cause catastophic failure and kill me. I've read HUNDREDS of threads on all other websites on what to buy. I don't want to break $1k. I don't think I really would need to, to be honest. I live in PA, where the roads and winters are ehhhhh, but I have ZERO desire to track the car. It is a daily driver, gets some aggressive driving, but not very much.

I had noticed Racelands have had generally very strong reviews across the boards, esp the VW community. The E46fanatics board was an absolute flame war, but the 3-5 people actually using them said nothing but good things about them.

This is the email I had received when I inquired about future sales for Audi, specifically A4, B7 drivers:


Hello Mark,

You are looking for suspension at the right time because we just got our new Audi kits in today. They will be available to purchase next week. If you have any other questions please let us know.

Thank you,

Raceland USA


In later emails they said they've just been testing, and they'll be available soon.

I've learned no matter how much you read on the internet, you'll learn that any product is utter shit, and completely brilliant at the same time. I can't help but feel that people would complain LESS about these coilovers if they were $1200+. The logic of "they're too cheap, they'll fail" is only valid to a point, was wondering if anyone has rode on these, or has any experience with them.

Does anyone has interest in these, and alas, if they'd still reccommend them for someone in my position? I'm currently Certified Pre-Owned, and don't believe this would mess with any of my warranties, but I'll be making a call just to be safe.

Thanks!

Mark.

[EBG 18T]

I have seen the RaceLand VW MK4 coil overs in person and ridden in a MK4 Jetta with them. I assume you are talking about the $300 race land usa coilovers, not the $3000 raceland track coilovers, right?

The build quality looks OK, aluminum lock ring on a steel body, coated spring. The ride quality was choppy and easily unsettled. The dampening was not matched very well to the springs. The Jetta in question was riding on OEM 17" with stock Conti 225-45-17 tires. They can go pretty low though. This car was setup lower than OEM sport but still daily drivable. His tires were not tucked. The owner of the car actually sold the racelands and purchased a set of H&R sports w/ Bilstein sport dampers and is at a similar ride height and much, much better ride quality.

If you are looking to go LOW on the cheap, the racelands will be the ticket (the V-MAxx too), i just wouldn't expect anything in the form of ride quality. If you aren't concerned about ride quality give them a try and let us know how they work out. If ride quality is a concern i would look towards the Koni Coilover kit or a regular spring & damper setup.

[Galactus]

Yeah, ride quality is of concern to me for a bit, just I have zero plans to track the car and run it extremley hard. I do plan on some distance driving with them. I just don't want anything "spine breaking" stiff. Low is good, adjustable to crank them up for the winters is a big thing as well. To justify $1200 coils for street use only seems hard for me to do.

Thanks for your honest, yet polite insight. It's much appreciated!

Mark.

[EBG 18T]

Yeah, ride quality is of concern to me for a bit, just I have zero plans to track the car and run it extremley hard. I do plan on some distance driving with them. I just don't want anything "spine breaking" stiff. Low is good, adjustable to crank them up for the winters is a big thing as well. To justify $1200 coils for street use only seems hard for me to do.

Thanks for your honest, yet polite insight. It's much appreciated!

Mark.

Mark - i wouldn't say they were stiff. But the spring rate didn't match too well with the rebound settings on the damper. Maybe they are better now as this was a last spring. It felt like on hard hits it would blow thru the travel and bottom out (feel the hard hit inside the car). Adjusting any of these bodies 2x a year will be difficult. Once the salt interacts with the bodies you will have some corrosion. It is just the nature of the beast. Keep in mind if you do plan on lowering and then raising the car you will need another alignment every time you adjust the ride height like that.

Have you considered any of the spring/damper packages from MJM Autohaus? For ~$600 you can get Neuspeed race or sport springs and Bilstein or koni dampers. It's a pretty good deal for a top quality product.

If your heart is truly set on coilovers and the Koni's are too much $$ check out the ST Coilovers from AMI Motorsports. These are the steel galvanized version of KW's. KW purchased ST a couple years ago and integrated the KW goods with ST to offer a more cost effective product. In many cases you can find the ST's on special from AMI for $650-800.

IMHO cheaping out on suspension is one of the worst things you can do, especially since it sounds like your car is fairly new since it is still under the CPO program and you are intending on keeping it for a while. Think longer term. It is cheaper to buy what you really want the first time, even if it takes longer to put the $$ away for it.

Here is a link to the AMI Pricing: AMI ST Suspension deals (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?269890-ST-Suspension-Super-Sale-from-KW-amp-AMI-Motorsports!-LOWEST-PRICES-EVER!&highlight=ST+Coilover)

Here is the link to the MJM Nuespeed/Koni deal, $624 shipped: MJM Autohaus Nuespeed Koni Deals (http://www.mjmautohaus.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=6169_6170_6192_6193_6827_76 31&info=Neuspeed_55.02.48.BS_Sport_Springs_with_Bilst ein_Sport_Shocks&products_id=2206)

[SLeal]

Twice cheap isn't cheap anymore!

[Galactus]

EBG,

Thanks so much for this advice.

I don't think the Raceland coilovers are particularly a bad product, but I think saving, just maybe 2-300 more is a much smarter idea. My real fear is some sort of failure while traveling on the highway at 80+ mph. The ST's look VERY nice, I'll need to do some more research. The only thing I did see, was that the ST's are not made of Stainless Steel, which is recommended for areas that see more snow/salt as to prevent rust, so the KW is a bit more desirable, but in turn, more expensive.

Someone said this to me, and I have to agree to an extent "Mark, you essentially bought a $30,000 car, why put on $300 coilovers?"

We can buy a crap exhaust, sure it'll look like crap, sound like crap, and perform like crap, but it's not a core, safety affecting modification. If I'd have any sort of failure at a highspeed, we'd be talking about hospital bills, not repair bills. This is something that I should most likely save for, and buy something a bit more "battle tested" so to say.

Your insight with this has made my experience here at AZ much better and truly is appreciated.

Mark.

[black99.5a4]

ST was bought by KW, at least their coilovers were. When you buy them now, they are KW springs/valving/etc.. except with a galvanized coated body instead of stainless steel.

I have ST's and I live in PA.. they ride awesome and I can still turn them by hand, even after last years winter.

[EBG 18T]

mark - i don't think you will have any trouble with galvanized steel. If it was just mild steel i would advise against it, but the galvanization process actually protects the steel from the salt and magnesium chloride that is applied to our great roads when the white stuff flies.

[Galactus]

You guys have both been very helpful! This helps me out greatly, as the price of the stainless steel is rather expensive. I hope to find another great deal on those, since it seems like the real steal deals are sold out! :D

I honestly don't do a TON of driving, my commute to work is honestly about 2mi each way, with trips to see the girlfriend, it still isn't much more.

black, last winter for us was rather terrible, but they just put that liquid salt spray down nowadays, which I've noticed is nowhere near as bad as the actual rock salt.

Now, as far as installation....I'm planning on going with an 18in rim for spring/summer/fall. Switching back to the stock 17's for the winter, are we looking at a realignment everytime I switch wheels or is one initial realignment for the install of these bad boys enough?

Mark.

[jmw241]

I guess they are for sale now?

http://www.racelandus.com/p-116-raceland-full-coilover-audi-audi-a4-8e-qb6-b6-b7.aspx

[EBG 18T]

Now, as far as installation....I'm planning on going with an 18in rim for spring/summer/fall. Switching back to the stock 17's for the winter, are we looking at a realignment everytime I switch wheels or is one initial realignment for the install of these bad boys enough?

Mark.

Just align the car 2-3 weeks after install. everything has to settle first. No need to align when swapping wheels. Only align when you change the ride height

[Mike@PureMS]

Have installed a couple kits, and have problems with all the MkV kits. They require modifications due to their horrible/bad welding jobs on the bracketry. On the mkV they are not a low kit at all. Fully lowered it drops the car about 1.7" from Rabbit stock ride height. It isn't nearly the low look most vw guys go for.

Ride on all the kits is just as EBG described, bouncy, choppy, and unsettled. Definitely a poorly matched spring/shock setup. Personally I'd look elsewhere. made in China, low quality components, results in poor performance.

[Galactus]

Have installed a couple kits, and have problems with all the MkV kits. They require modifications due to their horrible/bad welding jobs on the bracketry. On the mkV they are not a low kit at all. Fully lowered it drops the car about 1.7" from Rabbit stock ride height. It isn't nearly the low look most vw guys go for.

Ride on all the kits is just as EBG described, bouncy, choppy, and unsettled. Definitely a poorly matched spring/shock setup. Personally I'd look elsewhere. made in China, low quality components, results in poor performance.


And this is in relation to the Raceland right? Our thread has drifted into the ST realm as well now too, haha.

Mark.

[keeganhartman]

The STs really are a great set-up. With the specials that are being run again bringing the price back down around $700 you can't go wrong. I've ridden in vmaxx cars as well as STs(i owned these) and the ST coils are a far better set-up. Like said above, they really do hold up to the weather too.