B6 S4's with StartupRacing Votgland GT's

[ClayFighter]

I need your help. My car has been at the shop for 3 days. Anyone with this setup have issues with the front ride height? I have BBS LM's wrapped in 245/35/19 Michelins et 32. I can't get ANY wheel gap. Wheels are tucked to the point where fender rolling and maybe even camber adjustment will be required just to turn the wheel. The perches have been raised so far, that a spring compressor was necessary.

Please chime in with thoughts or setups with pics.

[RAudi Driver]

Hey Clay, what is going on? Can you provide any pics? I am not familiar with the Vogtlands but something doesn't sound right. You shouldn't need to roll anything to get these wheels and tires to fit. The worked perfectly on my B6.

My ride height was set at 25.75 in the front and there was no rubbing at all.

post some pics if possible.

[ClayFighter]

Yeah waiting for the shop to forward me the pics. I have no idea what's going on. My guess (without taking measurements) is that the highest setting I can achieve is going to be around 24-24.25 --> again that's a GUESS. This setting also means the springs are compressed ALOT with the car lifted, let alone when it's on the ground.

I've opened up communications with the shop and Startup Racing to try to get some answers. The shop is saying that there's something wrong with the setup, SUP is saying there's something wrong with the install. All part numbers match and with pics being sent back and forth, installation appears to be correct.

[cam]

pics of how they are installed and we can figure it out.

[ClayFighter]

Perch setting and resulting ride height.






Raising the perch as per SUP's instructions over the phone





^ see how high the perch is? that's the highest I can raise the car?

[Gondi Stylez]

That's strange! I haven't had that issue?!

Call Tomasz at Startup and see what he says...

Good luck!

[cam]

make sure the shop that installed them has the strut mounts fully tightened down, but from what i can see it looks close to spec

[ClayFighter]

any other thoughts or input?

[Gondi Stylez]

By the pics you posted they look normal?! There could be some defect which is why you should call Tomasz or Mike at SR.

1.425.996.7302

[ClayFighter]

Quoted from the Group Buy thread:
"Since ride height is totally adjustable, you get to select your drop level, from higher to stock, to riding on the ground (highly not recommended)."

- I cannot achieve anything close to OEM height... which looked like this:




We have spoken to both Mike and Tomasz and they say I'm the first one to have an issue like this. Mike says, "I can tell you 100% you have a working product, that is proper for your car."

I'd just like to get some confirmation from existing users (which is seemingly hard to find even though SUP has sold "thousands of these kits"). If anyone has pics of their install with the tire off showing their perch settings as well, PLEASE chime in! Thank you AZ!

[Gondi Stylez]

Quoted from the Group Buy thread:
"Since ride height is totally adjustable, you get to select your drop level, from higher to stock, to riding on the ground (highly not recommended)."

- I cannot achieve anything close to OEM height... which looked like this:




We have spoken to both Mike and Tomasz and they say I'm the first one to have an issue like this. Mike says, "I can tell you 100% you have a working product, that is proper for your car."

I'd just like to get some confirmation from existing users (which is seemingly hard to find even though SUP has sold "thousands of these kits"). If anyone has pics of their install with the tire off showing their perch settings as well, PLEASE chime in! Thank you AZ!

I'll try and get you some pics...

That sucks to hear. Actually PM Stevelev. He should have pics of the wheels off showing what your looking for.

[RAudi Driver]

That stock pic actually looks great.

[Stevelev]

Sorry to hear you're having issues. My mechanic didn't have any issues with getting the ride height dialed in to 25.5". If you send me an email, I'll respond with the pics my mechanic took when installing them on my car (too lazy to get them hosted up prior to then posting them up here). I hope you can get this sorted out ASAP.

Cheers !

[toneloc]

seems like u got the fronts as high as i was able to get mines using those cheap spring clamps from auto zone..i can't get them any higher without taking them off and using a machine spring compressor but that would defeat the purpose of coilovers and me adjusting my ride height to desire.. my fronts are around 38 rings..ride is not bad..but driver side rubs fender wall when i hit dips..i just need about 2 more rings clear and i'm happy..sometimes clay i think this setup was made for both a4/s4..and not specificly for s4..

[ClayFighter]

Thanks for the pics Steve. Your perch settings are set lower than mine yet you have much more wheel "gap" than I do. I had envisioned a setup quite similar to yours when I purchased these and am still confused why mine are so different.

Here are Steve's perch settings and the car's stance:






Steve's Volks are 19 x 8.5 (ET 35) with 235/35/19’s Hankook K104’s

[ClayFighter]

seems like u got the fronts as high as i was able to get mines using those cheap spring clamps from auto zone..i can't get them any higher without taking them off and using a machine spring compressor but that would defeat the purpose of coilovers and me adjusting my ride height to desire.. my fronts are around 38 rings..ride is not bad..but driver side rubs fender wall when i hit dips..i just need about 2 more rings clear and i'm happy..sometimes clay i think this setup was made for both a4/s4..and not specificly for s4..

Hey Toan,
No way would I try to get the springs compressed enough using cheap units from auto zone! The shop has their compressor.

We've brought to SUP's attention our concerns regarding the cross compatibility of this set up and they insist they haven't had any problems with S4's. (Steve's car being a prime example) But something isn't right. BTW thanks for sending me pics and offering your feedback. Your emails are helpful!

[Rau]

Hey Toan,
No way would I try to get the springs compressed enough using cheap units from auto zone! The shop has their compressor.

We've brought to SUP's attention our concerns regarding the cross compatibility of this set up and they insist they haven't had any problems with S4's. (Steve's car being a prime example) But something isn't right. BTW thanks for sending me pics and offering your feedback. Your emails are helpful!

I still don't understand the cross compatability: B6 A4 w/ 1.8T or 2.8 versus S4 w/ V8, S4 would be heavier, needing different ( stiffer ) spring rates to prevent something like this.

[hackers4]

It definitely sounds like spring rates are the problem. I don't even think riding with the perches that high is safe. There is a maximum height the perch should be at. I would ask for written instructions, most manufacturers can provide, and that illustrates maxumum and minimum measurements ON the coilover. i.e. from the bottom of the coilover unit to where the perch sits. Where it is sitting now does not look safe at all.

[toneloc]

dunno any1 else having problems as "clayfighter" and i have had with these C/O..set up..there is no way i will be able to drive on a track with the rubbing on tight turns with the height i am able to get at the moment..steve S4 avant looks perfect to the height i was looking for..i'm running 245/35/19 et41R et44F wheels..

[toneloc]

It definitely sounds like spring rates are the problem. I don't even think riding with the perches that high is safe. There is a maximum height the perch should be at. I would ask for written instructions, most manufacturers can provide, and that illustrates maxumum and minimum measurements ON the coilover. i.e. from the bottom of the coilover unit to where the perch sits. Where it is sitting now does not look safe at all.

thats what my boys n i was also thinking.. spring rates might be off a4/s4 same setup but diff spring rates due to s4 being alot heavier.. any imput would be appreciated thank..

[hackers4]

To begin with, spring kits for the A4 and S4 are totally different, let alone coilover kits. If part numbers are the same, that's not a great thing at all. The cars are completely different weights and, because of that, different weight distribution. Really not sure what to tell you and why you are getting an answer saying that A4 and S4 suspension components are interchangeable; they aren't.

[Stevelev]

To begin with, spring kits for the A4 and S4 are totally different, let alone coilover kits. If part numbers are the same, that's not a great thing at all. The cars are completely different weights and, because of that, different weight distribution. Really not sure what to tell you and why you are getting an answer saying that A4 and S4 suspension components are interchangeable; they aren't.

Actually, The Startup GT coils aren't the only setup that use the same setup for both A4's and S4's. The Vogtlands that Puremotorsport sells are the same for both cars (makes sense since they are also made by Vogtland and BTW the regular Vogts use spring rates that are softer in front by 25-50 lbs compared to Startup's version). I'm pretty sure that there is another manufacturer or two that does this as well.

Mine are working great and here's shot or two to prove it:

[toneloc]

i wish i could get that ride height on my car.. it be a dream..actually i was in with a g/b for koni c/o..and the guy told me it will fit on my car but i would have to adjust springs n dampers since s4 are heavier than a4 so i cancel the order..n got votgland gt..

[hackers4]

Honestly, I don't have any experience with Vogtland's suspension products. However, I do know that H&R and Bilstein do thorough testing of their products and do not have the same part numbers for A4 and S4 suspension offerings.

[toneloc]

wells i have raised my car the highest i can with out taking to a shop.. have to take it there soon since i need about another 1/2 inch f/r.. any updates CLAY?

[Gondi Stylez]

Update?

[ClayFighter]

Moved the perch to the very top. Took car out for a test drive and still experiencing rubbing even while driving straight. Going to call Tomasz and see if he'll honor me a refund as we cannot get this application to work for us. I understand both Mike and Tomasz are great guys with an excellent reputation so I'm hoping they'll do me a solid and allow me to return these.

[RAudi Driver]

Clay, watch the rubbing as you're gonna ruin those beautiful tires. They cost a fortune to replace. How are the wheels and tires doing anyways?

[ClayFighter]

Clay, watch the rubbing as you're gonna ruin those beautiful tires. They cost a fortune to replace. How are the wheels and tires doing anyways?

Still loving them, thanks for asking We only drove around the block before pulling back into the shop.

I'm getting the OEM suspension put back on. There's just no way this setup is going to work out.

[toneloc]

hey clay any update ??

[dsq]

i have the GT's for the b6 a4 sedan and the b6 s4 avant, both cars have no issues with height adjustment.

[oatzel]

I have the vogtlads on my s4 avant. no problem with ride height. and i have a lot of thread left in both directions. sitting about 25 1/8 in the front