RS2 - saggy rear!

[richardg]

Over the last few years it looks like the springs on the rear of my RS2 have given way; the car seems to be weighted considerably at the rear and the car seems to sit much lower at the rear than when I bought it.

Looking back at the history of the car I can see that Koni dampers & H&R springs were fitted; however, no specifics as to model or part numbers etc. The Koni rear dampers have been replaced also only a few years ago (suspension overhaul done about 7 years ago). I will look into whether any part numbers are visible on the non-OEM suspension components.

Having read through a few threads on the site, I think that it's possible that a set of springs from a S2 have been installed. As I understand the S2 front suspension configuration is similar to the RS2, but the rear suspension config is different. Is it possible that a S2 H&R spring kit had been installed on the car? If so would that account for the wallowy and much lower ride hight at the rear? And further to this, if the rear springs are replaced by springs designed for the RS2 would the gradual sagging be stopped?

The car has performed really well up until relatively recently when I've noticed that the rear has felt as I say wallowy. But the change has definitely been gradual.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. R

[Big Lee M]

Personally I'd say it's the shocks. If there not absorbing the bumps it give the wallowy felling as I had this on our lass's TT, it was that bad I felt sea sick after a gentle ride out. Fitted new Billies sports and the handling was better than ever.

[macspring]

It's my understanding that S2 Avant and RS2 Avants were fitted with the same springs front and rear, there were differences between the two in the case of the shocks and the anti roll bars.

[richardg]

It feels to me like the rear dampers are causing the rear wallowy-ness, so I suspect replacing them will improve that aspect. But replacing the dampers shouldn't affect the ride height... correct me if I'm wrong. So what I'm wondering is whether the ride height at the rear is sagging over time as the springs have compressed because the wrong ones are installed. Is that a possibility?

The other complication (which I've seen pointed out on other threads) is that H&R specify different spring kits in their Sport range between the S2 and RS2 (and wildly different pricing). I'm going to do some research but if anyone has any conclusive info on the difference between those packages that would be useful. I'd hope that I could get away with only replacing the rear springs. R

[Big Lee M]

H&R RS2 spring are 30% stiffer than the S2 springs. I'm running H&R's on my car and it sits a little lower on the rear.

[richardg]

Having had a look at the rear springs, the garage where the car is say that it looks like the top few coils have collapsed. So it looks like I need to get a new pair of rear springs... and they're not available in anything other than a complete front & rear set. Does anyone have any ideas where I be able to get a rear pair of H&R springs for an RS2?

[PaulJ]

I've had hr on my rs2 with Komi shocks, the top 3 to 4 coils are coil bound from new, changed to hr coilovers so I could raise it a bit both front and rear and with this setup it's the same with coil bound top 4 coils, in addition the front feels a bit too stiff on the bump and the back a bit too soft on the bump, can't change it as it's not adjustable, what state are the rear bushes as there are some sizeable rubber bushes in there. I believe some of these bushes have small arrows in them to show the installation direction as they have reinforcement in the bushes, I may be wrong.
Paul

[macspring]

So H & R springs for an S2 are soft than the H & R springs for an RS2 ?

Anybody got any part numbers for either of the two respective sets ?

Hopefully not considered a thread hijack.

Thanks.

[irishs2]

S2 Avant 29909 (HA+VA)
RS2 29969 (HA+VA)

[macspring]

Thanks Irishs2.

All, any links to a decent web site that describes the differences, (poundage rates), between the two, presumably the S2 ones are softer that the RS2 ones, but a fair bit harder than oem ones ?

Thanks.

[richardg]

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38409

[macspring]

R,

Thanks for the link.

Any Avant S2s owners got any comments, if they changed from oem to S2 H & Rs ?

[richardg]

i think you'll find lots of info using the search