RyEnd

Anybody know anything about this setup? http://www.sparktecmotorsports.com/bg-06-1-047.html

Adjuster

I had B&G lowering springs on a Supra with Tokiko struts, and they worked well. Some bounce, but the lowering was fine, and they were not as low as some others out there, so ground clearance, and camber adjustment was maintained. (I set the camber adjustment in the rear at zero, to keep the tires flat as possible for traction, cornering was fine still, as the negative camber comes back in as the suspension is compressed more, as it would be in a corner.)

I have no desire to go any lower with my S8 however. It's fine as it is, the only upgrade or change I would suggest is urethane sway bar bushings, or thicker bars and urethane bushings. This car would benefit from more sway bar in the corners, especially a larger, or firmer setup for the rear suspension. (It would not push as easy, but it does raise the limit, and then when you do slide, it becomes harder to catch/control.)

Right now, just playing around on snow and ice, I found the limits to be lacking with the rear bar/bushings. Pushes way too easy. Also on loose dust/sand that's left over from the snow and Ice this winter, it will push very easy while the rear tires stay planted.

Safe, but not much fun to drive, and the ESP program is there to kick in rear brakes, and keep you in line anyway. (I noticed that saved my bacon a few times this past winter, it's very effective, but again, not much fun, so I'm glad you can turn it off pretty easy from the dash button when you want to play around, or drive the car without as much ESP babysitting.)

I think with the ESP doing it's thing, and a more neutral chassis setup, the S8 would handle much better than it does, while still being safe for most drivers. (And it does not suck now, so I'm talking just handling better than it does now, and it's no slouch.)

Last: Lowering springs often result in a bouncy ride, very little control in the real world, and that lower CG is worthless if your tires are not in contact with the road, or are at angles that compromise the contact patch. Sure, it looks cool, but in the real world, I'll take better handling over cool looks every day of the week.

RyEnd

Well, they're <$300, I'll probably buy a set and if they're too bouncy, I'll order some KW V2s.

silverd2

Well, in the real world, no spring makes a car more bouncy...Under-dampening does. ALL springs need a shock to match their rate & height.

For instance, when I put lowered "HOR" springs on a 16V Scirocco, I also put in Tokiko Illumina adjustable shocks. If I set the dampening at less than #3 (out of 5), the car would bounce....just under-dampened.

Improper shock rate causes bounce...not the springs.

Lowering a D2 will increase the negative camber, which is not adjustable with stock suspension...increase inner tire wear, BUT way improved cornering ability....at a price.

RyEnd

Are there any options for aftermarket shocks by themselves? I realize this is a fairly "outdated" platform. just asking I guess. I could always revalve some shocks, but then I might as well buy coilovers...

brad131a4

Not much out there for shocks for the S8-A8. Other than bilstien and factory it's custom other than coilovers.
As for springs they are all based on the A8 height so it would lower the car about another 5/8 of an inch over the S8 springs.
Plus I haven't been able to get spring rates from the factory or after market other than the coilovers.

nyrobbie77

does anyone know the difference between the pre-facelift and face lift bilstein shocks, why the change? the 97-99 bilsteins are 36mm and the 00+ are 46mm. is it just due to weight difference between the 32 valve and 40 valve engine?

my 97 a8 will be needing some shocks soon. i've got eibachs on it now and wondered if any advantage/disadvantage to going to the 46mm shock. ride is a little bouncy, but it was even before i put the eibachs on. the front shocks i can compress by hand but still expand (when dismounted from the car) so am thinking they are probably a bit tired.

Manick

Ripping up an ooooooooold thread here but i just found out that not all S8's came with sport suspenssion, i just learned that mine that i recently bought was ordered with standard suspenssion from factory.

glenbjackson

well ive been thinking about this issue as well so ill share my thoughts to solve. theres alot of room up front easy to figure a upgrade there but in back i was thinking keep the spring in the stock location and leave it or cut some coils to lower it but also add a adjustable coilover where the shock is. slick way to have dual rate

Manick

Im just about to do that, just need to order some longer springs and modify the lower control arm.