Installing Bilstein B16 Coilovers

**Allen254** · 08-03-2021 10:49 PM

Anyone know of any good installation guides ? Either here, or on YouTube that is super detailed ? I've tried looking on YouTube but meh not much on B16 installation for A3s.

Also maybe a complete list of the tool and sockets, torque specs etc.

Also if you have this set up how do you like them. I'm currently on 100K+ worn suspension lol and gonna replace next week.

**MikTip** · 08-04-2021 04:08 AM

**MikTip** · 08-04-2021 04:10 AM

**Chaoscreature** · 08-04-2021 03:18 PM

If this is your first time installing suspension, I would recommend bringing the car into a good VAG shop afterwards for corner balancing and alignment. The install itself is pretty straight forward, but there are some caveats to adjustable suspension that most people tend to ignore.
If you start messing with the ride height a lot, it's easy to "jack" the car and get an uneven amount of weight/load on the tires, which will lead to crap handling. Once the suspension is installed you can get the alignment "close enough" by eye or with an angle gauge so that you can drive the car to the shop of your choice. If you measure the coil height on the front and rear and then make even adjustments to the left/right sides, corner balancing becomes optional but is still recommended IMO.

A shop with tire scales will be able to balance the load on all 4 tires, while keeping the car level and at the correct ride height. Once the car is corner balanced it can be aligned properly.
If the shop has the time/experience they can probably also talk you through the shock adjustment process and how to get the car dialed in for your driving style.

Good luck and have fun!!!

**Allen254** · 08-04-2021 08:10 PM

Hey thanks !! Yeah ill have to look into a shop that can do that. I'm essentially restoring the suspension at this point.

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by Chaoscreature

If this is your first time installing suspension, I would recommend bringing the car into a good VAG shop afterwards for corner balancing and alignment. The install itself is pretty straight forward, but there are some caveats to adjustable suspension that most people tend to ignore.
If you start messing with the ride height a lot, it's easy to "jack" the car and get an uneven amount of weight/load on the tires, which will lead to crap handling. Once the suspension is installed you can get the alignment "close enough" by eye or with an angle gauge so that you can drive the car to the shop of your choice. If you measure the coil height on the front and rear and then make even adjustments to the left/right sides, corner balancing becomes optional but is still recommended IMO.

A shop with tire scales will be able to balance the load on all 4 tires, while keeping the car level and at the correct ride height. Once the car is corner balanced it can be aligned properly.
If the shop has the time/experience they can probably also talk you through the shock adjustment process and how to get the car dialed in for your driving style.

Good luck and have fun!!!

Hey thanks !! Yeah ill have to look into a shop that can do that. I'm essentially restoring the suspension at this point.

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by Chaoscreature

If this is your first time installing suspension, I would recommend bringing the car into a good VAG shop afterwards for corner balancing and alignment. The install itself is pretty straight forward, but there are some caveats to adjustable suspension that most people tend to ignore.
If you start messing with the ride height a lot, it's easy to "jack" the car and get an uneven amount of weight/load on the tires, which will lead to crap handling. Once the suspension is installed you can get the alignment "close enough" by eye or with an angle gauge so that you can drive the car to the shop of your choice. If you measure the coil height on the front and rear and then make even adjustments to the left/right sides, corner balancing becomes optional but is still recommended IMO.

A shop with tire scales will be able to balance the load on all 4 tires, while keeping the car level and at the correct ride height. Once the car is corner balanced it can be aligned properly.
If the shop has the time/experience they can probably also talk you through the shock adjustment process and how to get the car dialed in for your driving style.

Good luck and have fun!!!

Hey thanks !! Yeah ill have to look into a shop that can do that. I'm essentially restoring the suspension at this point.

**Darktrooper79** · 08-05-2021 04:20 PM

I'm in the process of installing a set of Bilstein B8 shocks paired with Neuspeed springs. I got the front driver on but now have realized that I do not need to use the bumpstops. I had cut it down to size to clear the top hat of the suspension. I'm a follower of the 2x4 method for removing front struts. Beats removing the axle

I've followed both those video tutorials off youtube. Good DIY

**duffdbub** · 08-15-2021 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Chaoscreature

If this is your first time installing suspension, I would recommend bringing the car into a good VAG shop afterwards for corner balancing and alignment. The install itself is pretty straight forward, but there are some caveats to adjustable suspension that most people tend to ignore.
If you start messing with the ride height a lot, it's easy to "jack" the car and get an uneven amount of weight/load on the tires, which will lead to crap handling. Once the suspension is installed you can get the alignment "close enough" by eye or with an angle gauge so that you can drive the car to the shop of your choice. If you measure the coil height on the front and rear and then make even adjustments to the left/right sides, corner balancing becomes optional but is still recommended IMO.

A shop with tire scales will be able to balance the load on all 4 tires, while keeping the car level and at the correct ride height. Once the car is corner balanced it can be aligned properly.
If the shop has the time/experience they can probably also talk you through the shock adjustment process and how to get the car dialed in for your driving style.

Good luck and have fun!!!

Is any of this relevant if you are just installing lowering springs?