Sport Springs: To compress or not to compress (pics - usp front and springs)

[ad03avant]

I just got some ABT springs in the mail...

I have read that if you have the sport suspension you dont need a spring compresser to remove the sport package springs when installing aftermarkets, is that true?

D

Edit: Here are some pictures post install-

[absolutegtr]

you will need spring compressor for the front struts.

The rears you can get out without a compressors

[ad03avant]

thanks for the info absolutegtr. Any Idea what kind of time Im looking at to do this job for the first time? Anybody got any good tips besides what Ive already read in forums here and a4 mods?

D

[B6Lovin]

1 - drop the subframe if you care about your sanity. (for the rear)

2 - bring beer.

3 - think before you start tearing things apart. (always a good idea)

4 - have an impact gun with you BEFORE you start so that you can take the nuts off the top of the front struts. If you don't you'll have to find a ride to go get one because you'll say

"no problem, i'll just drive my..... fuck... the front end of my car is disassembled"

5 - have fun, and be proud of DIY'ing. doing this now will make it easier for you to take everything apart again later when you have to replace your shocks lol

[ad03avant]

I knew that replacing the shocks was coming. F$ck man mods are expensive and exhaust and injectors are higher on priorities now than coils. 130 for abt's to drop me 0.5-0.75 inches over stock sport suspension isn't too bad and I would hope that those sport shocks (what koni's I read??) will last me for a few tens of thousands of miles being 0.5-0.75 inches out of standard operating range?

impact gun- not just a breaker bar?

D

[B6Lovin]

I knew that replacing the shocks was coming. F$ck man mods are expensive and exhaust and injectors are higher on priorities now than coils. 130 for abt's to drop me 0.5-0.75 inches over stock sport suspension isn't too bad and I would hope that those sport shocks (what koni's I read??) will last me for a few tens of thousands of miles being 0.5-0.75 inches out of standard operating range?

impact gun- not just a breaker bar?

D

yeah, you should be fine for awhile on the stock shocks. that's not much of a drop at all. (even guys with neuspeed race on stock non sport shocks get a decent bit of mileage out of em)

mods are expensive but it's like crack - you'll find the money to get your fix. hahaha

and yes, impact gun. unless you like the idea of trying to use vice-grips (or a pass-thru socket.. or a normal wrench) and an allen key... if you do it with hand tools you have to keep the rod still with the allen key and turn the nut off with the other wrench/socket/plyers... Idk how tight yours will be on there, but mine were NOT coming off with hand tools without WAYYYY too much effort... impact gun took less than 5 seconds for both nuts.

[ad03avant]

Can I rent an impact gun somewhere? Any idea exactly what sockets I need with that impact wrench?

[B6Lovin]

cant remember the socket sizes, but a crappy kobalt cordless electric gun from your local lowes will do you just fine.

just pull the classic chick move and "return the dress" when you're done with your suspension. free rentals ftw

[ad03avant]

thanks dudeski, will check it out

[greyturbo]

i did mine a few months ago, get ready to be pissed off and drop alot of F bombs!!

[B6Lovin]

^ hence the beer lol

maybe someone should mark suspension modification as a "not safe for children's ears" mod

[ad03avant]

Alright, I did it today. Totally right about the impact wrench, best 60 bucks I ever spent. Dropping the subframe was essential as was having lots of beer. I wouldn't have got it done without both those writeups by martini and capt. obvious and the input here. Ill post some pictures tommorow, looks so sweet on my avant with usp front and s4 blades!!

D

[Wanted]

Would really like to see some pics!

How long did it take you from begining to end to complete the drop?

[ad03avant]

Total it took nine hours -with a 2 hour lunch/beer break in between the backs and fronts

These ABT springs weren't a huge drop over the sport springs, but it did make it look outstanding for a grand total of $130 (springs) + $75 (impact wrench) = $205

Pics later

[ad03avant]

I wonder what I could sell these stock sport springs for?

[ad03avant]

I updated the pics

[AudiA4_20T]

Alright, I did it today. Totally right about the impact wrench, best 60 bucks I ever spent. Dropping the subframe was essential as was having lots of beer. I wouldn't have got it done without both those writeups by martini and capt. obvious and the input here. Ill post some pictures tommorow, looks so sweet on my avant with usp front and s4 blades!!

D

lol glad you got one thats a useful tool! I absolutely love mine

[diagnosticator]

I think you should consider adding 1/4" or 3/8" spring spacers to the rear suspenion.

[ad03avant]

What are spring spacers and what are they going to do? Raise the rear end up a bit - so it matches the front?

My sport springs were always lower in the back than in the front, I didn't really like that.

[ad03avant]

What do you think about my wheel offset, I was thinking I might benifit a bit from some wheel spacers.

[Elliott]

That is one sexy Avy. Looks perfect to me.

[diagnosticator]

What are spring spacers and what are they going to do? Raise the rear end up a bit - so it matches the front?

My sport springs were always lower in the back than in the front, I didn't really like that.

Yes, exactly. The spacers fit in between the upper spring seat and the body. I have I/4" spacers installed now, with OE sport springs, but 3/8" thick replacements for the 1/4" spacers will be made to go in soon. . I had been planning adding them for a long time. As soon as I got them installed, I kicked myself for procrastinating for so long. I don't like the negative rake look, and lowered Avants are more susceptible to this compared to sedans. Some positive rake is much better. It helps a lot when there is a payload in back also.

[ad03avant]

Yeah I was just out looking, 25 in the back, 25 5/8 in the front. I hope they do settle some more, specially in the front. Im getting an alignment tomorrow so if I were to put in spacers, I would most likely have to do that again. Ill have to think about it. It amazes me that the stock sport suspension is lower in the back, I would think that it would be balanced.

[B6Lovin]

its not that the rear is really sitting any lower... its that the way the body lines are the rear fender arches aren't nearly as high. bmw does this too and I've never been able to figure out why. I'm a huge fan of positive rake myself, and it bugs the shit out of me to see cars where the front has a 4 finger wheel gap and the rear has maybe one or two (my friend's 328 is like this... makes me want to put a fat chick under his hood so that it sits "correctly")

spacers will help though.
coilovers will help more

glad you got it done, sick avant. i see that you've done the vincent mod as well with the front lip

[diagnosticator]

What do you think about my wheel offset, I was thinking I might benifit a bit from some wheel spacers.

It looks really good now, how much does the edge of the tire set in from the fender lip? I have 32 mm offset wheels, so the tire edges are almost flush with the fender edges. What is the offset of your wheels?

[diagnosticator]

Yeah I was just out looking, 25 in the back, 25 5/8 in the front. I hope they do settle some more, specially in the front. Im getting an alignment tomorrow so if I were to put in spacers, I would most likely have to do that again. Ill have to think about it. It amazes me that the stock sport suspension is lower in the back, I would think that it would be balanced.

Yeah, as "B6Lovin" said, fender arch profile is involved with the lower look, but there is some excess chassis squat too.

I did not realign anything after adding the spacers at the rear, the camber and toe will change a little bit, is less negative, but it's not much. With the 3/8" spacers, I will probably have it checked again. BTW, measuring from the wheel center to the fender lip, instead of from the ground to the fender lip, eliminates any variation caused by the tire inflation or tire sidewall profile. I am at ~ 14", +/- 1/8" at the front now.

[demea]

How is the ride with the new springs and sport shocks? Is it real bumpy?
I'm doing the exact same thing this Friday with the ABT springs and sport shocks (if Clint doesnt back out on me again )

PS - looks awesome as is, BTW.

[ad03avant]

You know, I cant really notice any more bumpiness - and I would almost say its less bumpy than those sport springs were. I can tell it is lower to the ground and goes through corners a better, really wants to stick that rubber down. I just had it aligned today and I was quite surprised that with the exception of front toe, I really wasn't out that much. I was a little worried since I dropped the subframe and pulled the camber bolts all the way out, but dropping it just one side at a time didn't let anything get out of place.

I aligned it today, and the shop told me to come back in 500 miles and they would see if it needed any tweaking. They also said to not put spring spacers in there because it wasn't an exact science and as long as it didn't bother me that way - it was better to leave alone.

after alignment from the rim center - Approximately

Front - 13.45

Rear 13.2

I guess now I wait and see how much life I can get out of the stock red struts, they got 57,000 miles on them now.

[diagnosticator]

They also said to not put spring spacers in there because it wasn't an exact science and as long as it didn't bother me that way - it was better to leave alone.
.

The spacers ARE an "exact science". As a practical matter, there is no difference between fixed spring seat spacers, and an adjustable coil over setup, the end result is the same. The method employed, hardware wise is different, however. In fact, the B6 adjustable "coil over" suspension setups use true coil-over-shocks on the front only, the rear suspension height adjustablitly is provided by adjustable spring spacers ( aka spring perch) So, it's clear that the alignment shop's advise, is without merit.

[ad03avant]

Interesting diagnosticator. Maybe they dont want to take the car back and realign for free because I put in the spacers. I dont know if the rear being lower really bothers me. I haven't had any issues with rubbing (but I havent loaded it down) and it keeps the tallest part of my car lower to the ground. I do agree that is would look a bit better even with the front but since it looked that way stock, I dont know for sure.

Will I see a performance/handling gain by bring that a$$ end up? I always like to see that a$$ up when I hit it from behind, but im just not sure if its the same thing here...

I can feel the effect of having just the sport rear sway more now, maybe its time to upgrade that to rs4!

D

[B6Lovin]

Will I see a performance/handling gain by bring that a$$ end up? I always like to see that a$$ up when I hit it from behind, but im just not sure if its the same thing here...

it is the same thing. trust me - I love both too!

god do i miss my ex....

[UnkleGatsby]

Snap! this avant is inspirational. The wheel setup, tint, roof rack, and splitter, are perfect