821 dtw (Greg)

Ever since I lowered my car - first with H&R Sport springs, which were then replaced with Neuspeeds Sports - my rear has sat too low(negative 1 finger gap). Thus, my rear wheels are just slightly covered by the fender. I've compared my car to others with aftermarket springs (included neuspeeds) and mine is considerably lower in the rear (~ 1 inch lower).

After checking out Bronze's newly lower (neuspeed/bilstein) setup tonight (thanks again!), I discovered only one difference. For whatever reason, my installer didn't replace the dust-covers over the shocks.
mine:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/49459/without.jpg">
Bronze's:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/49459/with.jpg">

Does the orange spacer create more of a gap?

Is there any other way of lowering a car too much? Since both the H&amp;Rs and Neuspeed springs caused the rear to be too low, I'd assume it wasn't a fault of the springs.

Thanks in advance if anyone can help...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/49459/s4flares_rear.jpg">

ersh

i dunno why but i heard that u must have that orange stopper or else like something will scratch when going on a big dip or something. Without it, it makes the car more bouncy too i think

Boston1.8T

COngrat! You figure out what's going on there

821 dtw (Greg)

Thanks... I guess I'll make a phone call tomorrow

821 dtw (Greg)

I hope so... what about yours?

Eddie Man

Those missing pieces, the black dust cover is somewhat important in that it helps deter grime and crud from the shock tower. The orange jounce bumper is however critical in providing the ultimate stop absorbing cushion during "bottom-out" compression. If a severe bottom-out occurance were to happen, you whould have metal to metal contact that may cause damage to the shock/strut tower and worse yet the shock/strut tie point to your frame.

Your ride height is governed ONLY by the spring rating. Our cars sit static on the springs at rest. The shock/struts retard movement upward and downward and that's it.

If I were you, I would have your shop correct the missing pieces issue. Then double check the exact spring rates for all your springs. A number or ID may be imbossed on the springs themselves. That's probably where your height issue resides.

Hope this helps...Us M-ganders gotta look out for one other.

821 dtw (Greg)

Is it possible to improperly compress the springs?

since it occured with both sets of springs - i figured it might be something else - or perhaps a bad install twice?

Eddie Man

on my '86 GTI, Boge' springs and Tociko's to be specific, and the install was pretty smooth. Not really much to foul up there.

Question though; Did your car sit at it current height after the coilover install? I know settling does occur, but I would not suspect no more than a 10mm drop. However, if there was a dramatic change, then install may be more suspect. ???

If no change since new coilover install, then I'm thinkin' that the spring rates that you have installed in the back are made to sit that low. Maybe your supplier of springs shipped the wrong ones? Who knows, unless you confirm it.

Jet Jockey/A4 Pilot

protection against bottoming out. Who ever installed your suspension screwed up, get it fixed. Audis don't like negative rake, meaning they don't like being lower in the rear. You should have a car that is equal front and rear or for a competition type setting you should have a positive rake. In this case, the front should be lower by 1/8 to 1/4 inch when compared to the rear.

Boston1.8T

it's still sitting high at the rear..