shortest front suspension option?

[Ryan80]

So i've got a bit of a dilema thats a little bit different to most suspension queries on here!

My dagdag is currently in the process of quite an extreme makeover, and included in this is the fitting of air ride! this obviously involves replacing the springs with a rubber bag which can raise the ride height of the car via a switch on the dash. I had wanted to go coilovers to get it running really low, but the speedbumps where i live dictate i need to be able to clear them, so adjustable height was called for! :mischeif:

So as the plan is to have the car as low as it will possibly go when the parked, i have taken out the springs, and adjusted the arches to fit the wheels accordingly. My problem now is that the front suspension wont sit as low as the rear, making the car sit about 1 inch higher at the front compared to the back. (see pic)




In order to keep up with the vw boys at the likes of edition38, the car needs to ideally have the same arch gap all round, or sight lower at the front (known as rake). So to achieve the perfect stance, what are my options for making the strut/strut housing shorter? in that pic, the top mount is touching the shortened bumpstop!

from reading on here, it would seem that the coupe quattro rear strut is approx 15mm lower than the fronts. Im wondering if it would be worth getting all the brackets and steering arm cut off my front struts and welded onto a pair of rear coupe quattro struts? Or has anyone any other thoughts?

(incase anyone was wondering, the wheels are BBS RS splits 7.5x16 front 8.5x16 rear et 35 with a 15mm spacer all round. wrapped in 195/45 16 toyo proxes)

[stiglet]

Sweet!

Yes, front to rear coupe struts are almost identical. Just the lack of a steering arm is the only difference. That seems like the best solution i would have thought.

[Error404]

why not just trim the front strut down and recut the thread and use a rear damper insert instead

[stiglet]

That's a feking big Die set you'll need

[Ryan80]

cheers for the replies folks!

from reading, that rear damper is about 15mm shorter? suppose that would be a start! i should be able to cut the threaded part off, trim the 15mm off the remaining strut and weld the threaded part back on. presumably there woudnt be a problem with the weight difference between a tdi engined avant at the front, and a coupe rear? (thats mostly down to spring rates???)

[Error404]

TBH I'm surprised you're considering damper performance on your car

[stiglet]

You'll be under-damped at the front but it's not a big issue. At the very worst you'll end up with a twitchy oversteering barge but with the amount you're lowering I doubt it!

It would be easier to trim the front down for sure but where the hell you'll find a big enough Die set to retap the thread I don't know! Unless you take it to a machine shop I suppose...

Wicked project anyway, reminds me of trying to slam my beetle until I snapped an exhaust on a speed bump Must see it when it's finished!

[Ryan80]

Its turning into quite the challenge i tell you! once i get the ride height were i want it, i then have to look into taking the strain off the cv joints, ball joints wishbones etc. Looking at the option of balljoint extenders, raising the strut tops, raising the engine via spacers on the mounts. Anything to help reduce wear on the parts, especially since its my 30k a year daily driver!

Anyone any reccommendations for reasonably priced inserts for the rear of a coupe quattro then? lol im currently running wietec's all round, which have given me no problems in the last 60k miles.

[Fat Audi 80]

Unless you are driving it around with it sitting on its ****, your CV's etc should be okay shouldn't they?

[andy10v]

Look at the 80 competition suspension tops mounts, the cars were utterly slamed and the mounts moved up and back I think (there is a thread somewhere with piks)

[stiglet]

Ball joint extenders give you some annoying problems. I'm running those on mine and although they are fine now, i'm not 100% happy with the setup. You'd be beter off looking at raising the subframe/engine. That way you'll solve the CV joint problem too.

And yes, CV joints... i can imagine if you go THAT low they could take some abuse. Only one way to find out

[Ryan80]

well the current cv joints have just about lasted 60,000 miles with it lowered 60mm, so im sure the new ones will cope with the new ride height fine lol

i think i'll drive it, then worry about things like cv joints once the actually break!

[stiglet]

True.

For extenders, look here if you haven't already.

[Fat Audi 80]

well the current cv joints have just about lasted 60,000 miles with it lowered 60mm, so im sure the new ones will cope with the new ride height fine lol

i think i'll drive it, then worry about things like cv joints once the actually break!

I lowered by B3 Audi 80 sport 60mm and never had ANY CV problems. I sold the car on 249,000 miles still going strong. IIRC when lowered 60mm the driveshaft angle is about the same as it was before it was lowered, only opposite (IYSWIM)

Cheers,

Steve.

[Error404]

I've got some coupe quattro rear inserts here you can have for free