Upgrading the springs on my coilovers. Need help

**Dannaye** · 05-20-2016 05:52 AM

I currently have solo werks and for the price I think they ride great tbh but the rear doesn't go as low as everyone advertises it to be. I was about to purchase swift springs but then it said in tiny letters "make sure your current coilovers are compatible" can anyone help me with this? Suspension is definitely not my expertise.

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**zcspec** · 05-20-2016 09:11 AM

You're going to run into a couple of issues here:

1- Solos are a progressive spring. If you take a look, the spring starts small and gets larger in the middle, then smaller toward the end again. Swift makes progressive and linear springs but you need to make sure, the spring base or "internal diameter or ID" is the same as the Solo's "ID" size. If not, changing springs will not work.
2- Most coils are valved for a specific spring rate and they work hand in hand. When you start changing the spring, unless the shock has a forgiving internal valving range, you'll be chanting the dynamics of the setup. In most cases, the ride become undesirable. Great example, running lowering springs on stock OEM shocks. You end up blowing the shocks out in no time at all.

Did you make sure you purchased the correct Solos? They actually make a firmer spring for the Avant since the end is heavier. Most setups I've seen with Solos, have plenty of drop in the back. Yours looks rather raked.

**Dannaye** · 05-20-2016 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by zcspec

You're going to run into a couple of issues here:

1- Solos are a progressive spring. If you take a look, the spring starts small and gets larger in the middle, then smaller toward the end again. Swift makes progressive and linear springs but you need to make sure, the spring base or "internal diameter or ID" is the same as the Solo's "ID" size. If not, changing springs will not work.
2- Most coils are valved for a specific spring rate and they work hand in hand. When you start changing the spring, unless the shock has a forgiving internal valving range, you'll be chanting the dynamics of the setup. In most cases, the ride become undesirable. Great example, running lowering springs on stock OEM shocks. You end up blowing the shocks out in no time at all.

Did you make sure you purchased the correct Solos? They actually make a firmer spring for the Avant since the end is heavier. Most setups I've seen with Solos, have plenty of drop in the back. Yours looks rather raked.

Yea I have a FWD model. I have the rear springs all the way down, I was assuming that it might be cause I'm running such a serious stretch on my tire that it looks like an 18 in the back instead of 19. I'm in the process of buying a more appropriate tire for the rears. You think so also?

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**zcspec** · 05-20-2016 11:34 AM

Changing the profile of your tires isn't going to impact the ride height per say like raising or lowing your coils. It will though, fill out the gap a bit better since you're running a tire with more "profile" instead of stretching it beyond its safety range. Try that and see how it looks..however, the photo you attached, it clearly looks like the front has tire tuck and the rear does not. You might want to level it out a bit.

**Dannaye** · 05-20-2016 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by zcspec

Changing the profile of your tires isn't going to impact the ride height per say like raising or lowing your coils. It will though, fill out the gap a bit better since you're running a tire with more "profile" instead of stretching it beyond its safety range. Try that and see how it looks..however, the photo you attached, it clearly looks like the front has tire tuck and the rear does not. You might want to level it out a bit.

Yea that's what I mean to say. I worded it weirdly. I'm gonna invest in spacers soon to poke the fronts out but I kinda like the tuck tbh idk yet

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**adamazing** · 05-20-2016 01:46 PM

The solo's wont go low enough for you?

I had mine at 24.75" Ground-to-fender with plently left to go even lower. Bakerrrr had his set where it looked like he was on bags (before he actually got bags).

**Dannaye** · 05-20-2016 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by adamazing

The solo's wont go low enough for you?

I had mine at 24.75" Ground-to-fender with plently left to go even lower. Bakerrrr had his set where it looked like he was on bags (before he actually got bags).

It's literally all the way down. I have no idea why mine are how it is. People keep telling me take out the perches but I don't want a bouncy ride so I'm not doing that. Mind showing me yours?

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**adamazing** · 05-20-2016 01:49 PM

Front:

Rear:

**Dannaye** · 05-20-2016 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by adamazing

Front:

Rear:

I assume yours is Quattro. I was under the assumption that fwd had less drop but I just googled it and the drop is the same. Probably something I didn't hook up correctly. I'm so confused by it

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**mwalt** · 05-21-2016 04:09 AM

Did you remove the top (not bottom) rubber mounts in the back? You are supposed to discard those, and from what I remember they are about 1" or 1.5" thick. Would make a substantial ride height difference if they were forgotten. Take a look.

**Dannaye** · 05-21-2016 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by mwalt

Did you remove the top (not bottom) rubber mounts in the back? You are supposed to discard those, and from what I remember they are about 1" or 1.5" thick. Would make a substantial ride height difference if they were forgotten. Take a look.

Could you link me a pic? It was turning dark when I put the rears on so it was a rush job

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**integroid** · 05-21-2016 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by Dannaye

Could you link me a pic? It was turning dark when I put the rears on so it was a rush job

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I think he is talking about this.

**b6Hate4** · 05-21-2016 07:20 AM

Remove bump stops, pull the insert on the adjustment perch...that'll buy 1/4" or so.

**Dannaye** · 05-21-2016 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by integroid

I think he is talking about this.

Would that make it a bouncy ride? Or is it about the same

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**integroid** · 05-21-2016 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by Dannaye

Would that make it a bouncy ride? Or is it about the same

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It is a mount for the oem spring. It wont make any difference on ride quality. Pretty sure every coil over install instruction I have seen for B8 cars say to remove it. It could actually be dangerous since the spring wont fit in the mount like an OEM spring.

Actually just looked on solowerks page for install instructions and they say remove the top and bottom spring pads in the rear.

http://solo-werks.com/docs/isheets/S1AU005_v1.2.pdf

**integroid** · 05-21-2016 07:59 AM

My Bad....I didnt read far enough down. It says to discard only the top pad and reuse the bottom pad.

Solo Werks Coilover Assembly and Installation – Rear con’t.
1. Remove both upper and lower factory spring pads from the vehicle, and ensure that both areas
are clean and free of any dirt or debris.
2. The Solo-Werks rear spring perch will be installed on top of the spring
i. Install new spring onto adjustable spring perch (Fig.2 #7) and place into vehicle
reusing lower OEM spring pad. (upper spring pad is discarded)

**Slimwonder** · 05-21-2016 10:14 AM

My solos if wound down make the car undrivable they are so low?

**Dannaye** · 05-21-2016 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Slimwonder

My solos if wound down make the car undrivable they are so low?

You took the bump stop off?

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**Slimwonder** · 05-21-2016 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Dannaye

You took the bump stop off?

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No. Everything is still installed. Currently set in the middle but loads of movement both up and down.

**Dannaye** · 05-21-2016 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Slimwonder

No. Everything is still installed. Currently set in the middle but loads of movement both up and down.

I'm so confused why my set doesn't allow me to lower more

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**zcspec** · 05-21-2016 12:20 PM

Why dont you jack up the rear and take a photo of the entire coilover/spring assembly and post it. We might be able to figure out if you installed something wrong.

**Dannaye** · 05-21-2016 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by zcspec

Why dont you jack up the rear and take a photo of the entire coilover/spring assembly and post it. We might be able to figure out if you installed something wrong.

Ok I'll do it later today or tomorrow

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**integroid** · 05-21-2016 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by Dannaye

You took the bump stop off?

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I think you are a little confused. The bump stop is actually on the shock/strut rod.

The spring pad is not the same thing. You need to make sure you did not install the rear top spring pad like in the pic above that I posted.