konis

[Ski]

U got their number?

[alg]

BTDT I would always say go with konis and standard springs unless you want a track car or have no nervous system.
Previous SAAB S2 coupe and RS2 all with koni standard spring setup. Bit more firm than standard. Experimented with lower springs on SAAB T16s and it put me off for life in a car used on the road every day.
It is the Lotus principle that control is in the damping rather than the spring and they do know a bit about setups.

Finally @ Angus I plan to upgrade bushes all round but only wishbone not subframe as it will be too harsh.

[Ski]

cool, so standard springs and konis.

Im clueless about suspension, here are a few questions flying around my head.

1. anyway to lower the ride hight without the disadvantage of too stiff suspension + scraping my engine on bumps?

2. do springs wear out? mine have done 190k, need new ones?

my current setup is stock + qr sport bushes and top mounts. I find this too harsh. Its either too stiff or I have something knocking under there that shoudnt be.

[alg]

I really do not know about springs 'wearing out' but there must be age related issues. They are not expensive. Talk to vagparts and try it out ! I would @ 190k

Dont lower it if things are too stiff oooooohhhh missus

[Jamo]

Springs become more compressed over time as the metal fatigues (i can't think of a better way to put it)

[AAH!]

When I replaced my shocks I also replaced the springs with stock RS2 ones. I also fitted solid top mounts. The car had done 127k miles. I was told that the springs where fine and didn't really need replacing, but I did anyway. From what I understand the only real issue is metal fatigue and the possability of a spring breaking with age, the compression is apparently not such an problem.

There is a guy on RS246 who strips down the front Koni's (not the front Koni's that are normally used on RS2's and the ones I have just had fitted) and revalves them to make them top adjustable whilst on the cars.

I will probably pay him a visit before too long once the new shocks and springs have settled down to change my bushes over to powerflex and for a some fine tuning of the suspension.

This is what he says, remember this is for a RS2:

The Konis you have are setup off the car when the ones i use you can strip completely down to revalve so you can adjust on the car from the topmount housing with no stripping down required...

The 8210 rear are correct......... Rear standard setup is good but if you need to change all the bushes then powerflex would be best but if not then just replace top wishbone bushes with OEM rubber ones.....

......You have to use top adjustable koni's to reset the footvalve but there would be little sense in doing this until your springs have softened, one of the benefits of high mileage springs is you can set the footvalve to a more forgiving setting but will always be on the firm side so as to match the springs but you have the benefit of top adjustment for this to get the best possible setup, the standard footvalve would not allow you to do this......

Powerflex on the front or all-round make a big difference, with front camber the most important adjustment.

Squeaks from the bushes is very rare now with the new design, you will not hear it from inside the car or when moving, if you do it is very slight only reminding you that you have a good suspension setup and not rubbish rubber.

Standard ARB or powerflex can both squeak if not lubricated when fitting new ones.

Final adjustment can make a big difference to suspension feel, the design of the suspension does give excellent feedback, but needs tweaking to get the best from it.

One thing you won't have a problem with powerflex bushes is aquaplaning out of control because the tracking just stays aligned, also no need to ware a nappy in the snow or ice.

For more info: http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=...wtopic&t=49695

Angus

[Ski]

can i fit standard rs2 springs onto a s2 coupe? (i would of thought avants have diff springs to coupe?)

so far im looking at konis, rs2 springs, and get rid of the pwoerflex bushes and return to stock.

[Ski]

question.

isi t possible to fit a 18" rim + the H&R lowered springs?? or will it scrape the wheels under load?

[s2avant95M]

can i fit standard rs2 springs onto a s2 coupe? (i would of thought avants have diff springs to coupe?)

so far im looking at konis, rs2 springs, and get rid of the pwoerflex bushes and return to stock.

As far as i can tell the part number for the front RS2 OEM springs and for the S2 Coupe and Avant are the same, 895 411 105. Rears are different of course.

I have gone for RS2 OEM shocks and H&R's. RS2 shocks are very cheap at the moment.

[Ski]

rs2 shocks stiffer than s2? how cheap are we talkin?

[Jamo]

The RS2 springs are very hard, i wouldn't recommend doing that.

And Ski no, the H&R springs with koni's has been doen to death, doug runs them with 19"s wheel so no problems

[s2avant95M]

rs2 shocks stiffer than s2? how cheap are we talkin?

I paid about £270. dunno if they are stiffer, havent fitted them yet.

[Ski]

cool...

i think i will go for the koni adjustables with hnr springs and remove the poly bushes that send every vibration straight to my chassis