Shockers, drop links, RARB etc...

[Colesy]

I'm going to be fitting some Bilstein shock absorbers soon and will be addressing a couple of issues mentioned at the last service at the same time.

I'll be doing all of this myself (with help from my dad) over a weekend so I want to prepare for everything and get all the parts and tools needed.

The list of things to do is:
Shockers
Drop Links
RARB
Donuts?
Track rod ends

I found a guide on how to do the front shockers here: http://www.s2-audi.co.uk/tech_articles/front_shocks.htm

So I'll be following that pretty closely. Other than that I'm looking for tips and advice on what else I should do while I'm at it, part numbers and where to buy them and advice on how to do the rear.

A bit of extra info, The Bilsteins have been refurbished and came on their own - no fitting accessories etc. I'll be using standard springs and have a spring compressor.

[Jamo]

You need a stillson wrench if your changing the shocks to get the shocks in and out

[Azman]

Nothing too taxing there to be honest IIRC remember to soak all the nuts and bolts beforehand with WD40 or something alike to help loosen them off. MAke sure it is metal droplinks (I cant remeber if they are the only ones you can get) that you use and have a breaker bar / long extension for the ratchet or spanner for getting the big bolts off the hubs.
I recently got both track rod ends from GSF for a decent price.
Poss worth changing the threaded section at that point too if you can get your hands on them

Done it a few times just take your time.

And have fun

[GazzaG60]

what jamo said.

the setup i have i think is great. not too firm or rattly. very good turn in compared with stock.

koni shocks and springs. not sure if you can get the springs now.
solid subframe bushes. they work well not harsh.
poly bushes everywhere else.
standard front roll bar. new rubber bushes.
whiteline rear.
promount ms1 front and rear.
ball jopints and track rods audi
034 track density mounts.

[s2spike]

A bit of extra info, The Bilsteins have been refurbished and came on their own - no fitting accessories etc. I'll be using standard springs and have a spring compressor.

are they the sport ones? because mine came with alloy retaining caps that have a wiper seal on to replace the standard steel ones which I dont think go over the thicker piston on the sports

[Colesy]

I bought them from here:

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37803&highlight=bilstein

So it looks like they are the sport ones, do the part numbers tie up?

Also it looks like they have some sort of metal ring on them in the picture, are these the retaining caps? - I haven't looked in the box for a while!

Cheers

[bad8008]

would be great if you can post some pics on your project...

cheers,
Hali

[s2spike]

I bought them from here:

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37803&highlight=bilstein

So it looks like they are the sport ones, do the part numbers tie up?

Also it looks like they have some sort of metal ring on them in the picture, are these the retaining caps? - I haven't looked in the box for a while!

Cheers

yep they are the sport ones, not sure on part numbers as I dont have mine to hand.
That ring is the retaining cap its alloy and when I did mine I had the strut in a vice and schwung on it with some stillies, when on the car after a couple of days had a knocking it was the caps that needed another nip, this time I put a tube on the stillies for some extra poundage, they aint knocked since.

If you have not got the gaiters it may be worth trying to source them as the standard ones are no good with the sports

[Colesy]

Cheers for the advice.

Does anyone know exactly what exactly Donuts are?

[Colesy]

Anybody?

[Nuvo]

Top mounts?

[Colesy]

Pretty sure it's not the top mounts as it was noted on visual inspection but thanks for the suggestion.

After doing some googling I've found that propshaft rubber couplings/Rotoflex couplings can sometimes be called donuts, what would these be called on an S2?



It's not something to do with the cv joint is it?

[Nuvo]

Okay, in that case I would think the "donut" could be a reference to the prop shaft centre bearing.