Wanted:- H&R Springs

[re2500]

Ive always tried to go for variable rate springs when improving suspension on my cars. As it gives very good ride comfort on Motorways etc. But then stiffens up when compressed slightly. (i.e cornering) I have Eibachs springs on my MK2 golf for this reason.
The Koni kit springs i am removing from my coupe to fit H&Rs are constant rate, i found the ride with these to be fairly stiff but still with quite a bit of body roll.
Am i wrong to prefer the variable springs? I was lead to believe this was a good thing?
All four of my 29939 HA VA H&R springs are variable/progressive.

[Rusty]

Not Chinese whispers but my observations after borrowing 4wheeldrifter's rear springs to test their stiffness.

I've yet to see the fronts but the rears are very variable on the rate, especially compared to the OE springs, so much so that my body weight can easily compress a H&R rear spring from rest by about 1". Compare this to the single rate OE springs that deflet musch less than 10mm. When installed the operating rate of the H&Rs will be suited to the S2 otehrwise H&R would have done a bad job and I think the many people running their springs would have complained.

Variable rate springs give improved comfort and stiffer effective cornering but the thing I don't get is whether they've matched them to some variable rate fronts, I've yet to see some H&R coupe fronts. Variable rate means that the more you load the spring, the less it deflects, i.e. in F=kx, k is related to x! If it's just the rears then this seems a little strange as it means that the initial turn-in does not represent the in-corner balance, as the spring becomes loaded it becomes stiffer and so the grip balance of the car would shift forwards. My thoughts are that it was H&Rs response to the Audiness or understeer that was built into the chassis. If bothe VA and HA springs are variable rate (as with other kits such as an M3 kit I was reading about) then this would not be so valid and the reasoning would be taht you can have a very stiff spring for high load work with the comfort of a softer spring on the road.

You'll not that I coilovers don't use variable rate, neither do the OE springs, that H&R offer VA/VA kits and that at this stage it's just an observation rather than anything else

When they're all fitted I'll report back and make sure I have pics too.

[Rusty]

Took a bit long there... D'oh. If all are variable then it's for comfort reasons as RE2500 and I have both commented separately... seems to have cleared things up somewhat

[s2driveruk]

maried up to a set of bilsteins on a b road comfort isnt the first word i'd be thinking of

From memory the fronts are standard rather than variable and it did seem to be very very easy to balance the car on the throttle mid corner around the ring so the notion of removing the word of the day....'Audiness' might well be true in that sense.

[Rusty]

I'll have a butchers at mine when I get them, it's not a bad thing just something to make the already poor chassis control of the S2 a little more unpredictable. Remember the first drive with the Recaro in and thinking "Wow! I can feel the chassis... and it's bloomin' awful!"

[re2500]

I think that this photo shows that the 29939 VA HA setup i recieved yesterday has variable fronts and rears.

[re2500]

But these are brand new maybe if s2driveruk's fronts are not, then Andy yours may not be either.

I think i will also have to report back on the ride and handling when the setup is fitted over the next week. Ill also post a few pictures of them fitted.

[Rusty]

They certainly are variable rate... have to wait and see!!!

This might also indicate why the coupe springs are more expensive than the avant ones or maybe it's just that the avant ones are a fair bit smaller at the rear due to the aforementioned loading area requirement...

[re2500]

Heaven forbid that larger diameter springs should compromise slipper storage space.
Audi were just anticipating that the type of driver of the avant may need fit theyre shop mobility scooter in the boot of their car later in life, the 2 inch reduction in the width of the loading area would not allow such a thing.

On a serious note, quite right, the progressive springs may be a small contibution the extortionate extra cost of coupe springs over avant ones.

[Rusty]

If you read my 17 years ahead of its time thread you'll understand Audi's reasons explicitly!

[Rusty]

Cheers for the tip-off Peter, Sal's jsut delivered them to my door too!

[re2500]

How do they look?? Progressive? Post a pic

[Rusty]

Exactly as per yours but with some dirt, rust and a little bare metal that needs attention before they go on. I think I'll paint them for now and then get then powder coated in the future when I'm feeling flush.

Got an ABY prop on exchange too so I can sort the centre bearing out as mine is shagged!

[europeanme]

Avant Spring kits are £165inc VAT from http://www.dcdezign.co.uk

Just tried this website and it looks like a search type site not a specific company..
Am I missing something??...

[Rusty]

try searching for the company name?