luke2152
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| posted on 9/2/16 at 09:26 PM |
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suspension upgrades for sensible car
Want to make the sensible car (audi a6) a bit more fun and less vague and squishy to drive. On a budget of course as its an old one.
I guess the options include:
*Bigger anti roll bars - either factory RS6 ones, aftermarket or sleeve the stock ones myself.
*Stiffer springs or lowering ones - wouldn't want too lower much though for practical reasons.
*Fancy dampers
*Poly bushes
Where do ya think the limited funds are best spent.
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Slimy38
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| posted on 9/2/16 at 09:40 PM |
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My SEAT Toledo (not quite A6 sized but still a decent sized saloon) benefited a great deal from Bilstein B4 dampers. They're considered
'standard' so aren't too aggressive, but they transformed the car.
The B6's are another step up, but you're bordering on needing lowering springs with those.
I did also replace the front wishbone bushes with polybushes, but that just turned up the harshness without really improving things.
If it's an old one you'll benefit the most from just new stuff, I wouldn't have thought you needed to go too 'fancy'.
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Sam_68
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| posted on 9/2/16 at 11:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
If it's an old one you'll benefit the most from just new stuff, I wouldn't have thought you needed to go too 'fancy'.
Yeah, this would be my first though, too.
'Vague and squishy' doesn't sound like any Audi I've ever driven - they usually drive me nuts by having rock-hard suspension
that thumps and jolts over every manhole cover and cats-eye, so maybe start by just replacing all the tired old bushes and dampers with standard Audi
stuff?
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loggyboy
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| posted on 10/2/16 at 12:14 AM |
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As has been said above renewing existing parts. And not just things like shocks & springs. Just as important if not even more so, wishbones,
bushes, ball joints. And no need for polys (they will make it to hard), just good quality standard or genuine parts.
Then once thats all fresh, if you want flexibility then coilovers will be best. You can choose spring rates close to standard to keep comfy, or just a
little firmer. If you get adjustable shocks then you can make easy changes to the feel of the car without changing components.
Mistral Motorsport
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nick205
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| posted on 10/2/16 at 09:00 AM |
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I'd agree, on an older car it's likely the existing bushes are worn and sloppy. Renewing with OEM parts would be a good start. I believe
it can be easier to buy complete suspension arms with bushes fitted and ball joints and change the whole thing. You may also need to consider
tracking and alignment afterwards to ensure all 4 wheels point the right way.
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02GF74
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| posted on 10/2/16 at 09:21 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
You may also need to consider tracking and alignment afterwards to ensure all 4 wheels point the right way.
It's a must. I replaced like for like and didn't do that - result was ruining two new front tyres.
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luke2152
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| posted on 10/2/16 at 09:56 AM |
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Interesting point regarding renewing wishbones - however I replaced all of them (10 I think depending on your definition of a wishbone) when one was
knocking because I got a deal on the whole lot. Pattern parts not original though and have perhaps 10K miles on them so I suspect they are probably
ok. And they certainly didn't make the handling awesome when I first put them on.
Dampers may well be tired though.
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cliftyhanger
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| posted on 10/2/16 at 11:03 AM |
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cars just get soggier with age. just like most of us.
If the bushes were just "white box" items rather than branded they could already have gone soft. They are nothing like OEM stuff.
Also look at subframe bushes, rack mountings and so on. Anything made of rubber.
If that lot are poor new shocks won't make the difference you hope for, as everything else will be moving about.
Worth having a decent think too (or google) as sometimes it can be just a few bushes make a huge difference. And complete sets can be £££££
Out of interest, how old and what mileage?
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luke2152
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| posted on 10/2/16 at 11:17 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cliftyhanger
Out of interest, how old and what mileage?
1999 with 150k
4.2 v8 mated to a manual box from a diesel a6
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nick205
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| posted on 10/2/16 at 01:08 PM |
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As suggested, worn bushes can really let a car down in terms of tightness. Some years ago I had a Seat Leon TDI 150 as a co. car from new. The
difference between it new and a colleagues 180 petrol Leon at 80k miles was drastic. The higher mileage car was somewhat sofa like in it's road
manners!
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gregs
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| posted on 10/2/16 at 07:07 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by luke2152
Want to make the sensible car (audi a6) a bit more fun and less vague and squishy to drive. On a budget of course as its an old one.
I guess the options include:
*Bigger anti roll bars - either factory RS6 ones, aftermarket or sleeve the stock ones myself.
*Stiffer springs or lowering ones - wouldn't want too lower much though for practical reasons.
*Fancy dampers
*Poly bushes
Where do ya think the limited funds are best spent.
Assuming all your rubbers are in good order, I'd get a set of BOGE turbogas dampers - I got a set ordered in from GSF for no more than std
dampers, from memory they're ~20% firmer than std and made a big difference on my A4.
Greg
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