How long for springs to settle before alignment???

[jaycurn]

So i finally have all of the parts assembled to do my suspension install on the S6 Avant and was wondering how long i should wait for things (springs etc) to settle before i do an alignment. Is it even necessary? I don't really want to pay to get it aligned twice(immediately after, then later after settling??), but just wasn't sure what the rule of thumb was on this. Putting Bilstein Sports and H&R sports on a 2002 C5 S6 Avant. Any pointers or words of wisdom would be much appreciated! Thanks guys!!

[Johann2.7t]

my alignment shop told me height doesn't affect alignment which didnt make any sense to me but most springs seems to settle with 2 weeks.

pictures!!

[jaycurn]

Well, here is a BEFORE pic. The only thing different now than how it looks in this pic is that i have legit center caps and the bike racks and fairing are finally on. The best is yet to come!

[Hambone101]

To a degree your mechanic is correct johann. Small changes in height, i.e. springs setting in, shouldn't throw off your alignment. However, larger height differences, such as installing lowering springs, may more than likely give your suspension new geometry. Whenever I do something suspension related I get an alignment asap. A good example of this was when I lowered my old mustang on eibach pro kit springs, dropping the car caused a pretty big change in camber.

When you put in the new suspension, either that day or the next is when I would recommend getting an alignment done.

[Capt. Obvious]

If the suspension you're installing is brand new, I'd wait a week or so before getting it aligned since new springs will settle a little bit. If you bought used suspension, you can get it aligned right away.

[brabusw209amg]

If the suspension you're installing is brand new, I'd wait a week or so before getting it aligned since new springs will settle a little bit. If you bought used suspension, you can get it aligned right away.

I would wait 3 weeks. And even if it's used suspension, if the springs needed to be compressed then put back, u still need to wait for it to settle. If it came one piece used, no need to wait.

[jaycurn]

Yeah, the struts and springs are all brand new and they will need to be complressed, so it's sounding like i should wait a few hundred miles before i do the alignment? Is that pretty much the concensus??

[Stone825]

You have to get it aligned asap. If you wait few hundred miles you're going to have some bad wear on your tires (I waited 3 weeks and had to get a new tire).