1BE + C4 suspension questions

[philj]

Did the 1BE extra only consist of the sports springs and shocks with rear anti roll bar and nothing else?

Was the steering damper only fitted to the I5 and V8 C4s? And is the rack any quicker on the s models?


Cheers

[UrS4boy]

Did the 1BE extra only consist of the sports springs and shocks with rear anti roll bar and nothing else? Was the steering damper only fitted to the I5 and V8 C4s? And is the rack any quicker on the s models?

This is what *I think* I know:

The 1BE was the UrS4 suspension for the 1992 Model Year. Relative to plain V6 and 10V inline 5 C4 100s, the springs were shorter and stiffer and there was a 17 mm rear anti-sway bar with a front EDIT 28 mm anti-sway bar (which doubles as part of the front "A" arms along with the front lower control arms). Somewhere around April of 1992, the package also included a strut tower brace.

Very early 1993 Model year cars (at least in North America) continued to get the 1BE suspension. In the rest of the world, the 1BE suspension was available as an option. Otherwise, you got the 1BA standard UrS suspension with taller and less stiff springs, no rear anti-sway bar, EDIT 26 mm front anti-sway and the strut tower brace. Both the 1BE and the 1BA suspensions used Boge Turbogas shocks (IME).

To complicate matters, some 1BA suspension UrS avants got the rear anti-sway bar.

The steering damper is on both the 1BE and 1BA UrS4/S6 suspensions.

Off the top of my head.

[philj]

Cheers for the info. I'll have a look and see if my TDIQ has a steering damper.

Also do you mean the 1BE front bar is 28mm?

Lookin on ETKA there are 2 racks for each hand drive. The RHD being listed as "Servotronic" what are the differences?

[urS6Tom]

That's weird - i was just about to post the same question!

My S6 Avant has got the 1BE suspension, but I want to raise the ride height due to the type of roads and number of enormous speed bumps around here. Therefore, I think it might be best for me to go back to the 1BA springs/dampers.

So my question is, is it ok to fit 1BA springs and dampers to a car fitted with 1BE suspension?

Cheers,
Tom

[philj]

Yeah it'll be fine. I'd almost bet the shocks aren't much if at all shorter so you could get away with swapping just the lighter springs.

To be honest though, having driven both, I'd be more inclined to get some spacers made up for the springs and keep the 1BE kit.

[urS6Tom]

The thing I didn't mention is that I'm currently running the H&R 29800 springs with Blistein B8 dampers, so it's really low. Great for the track and fast A roads, useless around here (especially with a 3 inch exhaust).

I really want to be able to swap easily between this ride height and the 1BA height, but there just doesn't seem to be a way of doing it.

[philj]

Got any pictures from side on? I'm still deciding on what to put on mine.

I'm a dealer for a few brands on a couple of other forums, and whilst looking for something for the C4 I came across this kit by TA who I sell for. I can get them for about £350 all in if anyone is interested. If you look at the second picture, the perches are part of the damper cap.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-100-C...item35c97887d6

Now after talking to them, apparently the quattro doesn't lower very much on the rear with that kit, so might be of use to you? To be honest though it is a budget kit hence the price, but the ratings shouldn't be too bad. Decent rear coilovers are easy enough to get hold of, I'm considering Gaz for mine, someone else had spax make some. Either could do inserts, I've had and sold a fair few of Gaz kits with little problems.

If the front spring rating is good I'm tempted to get just the front springs and adjuster and use adjustable shocks from another brand, Gaz/Koni/Spax. The Bilstein B8s wouldn't fit.

Would solve the issue of high/low's at about half the £1k KW price tag with adjustable shocks.

[UrS4boy]

Also do you mean the 1BE front bar is 28mm?

D'oh!! You are correct.

Smaller front anti-sway bars = more body roll, less understeer, more oversteer.
Larger front-anti-sway bar = less body roll, more understeer, less oversteer.

Smaller rear anti-sway bars = more body roll, less over steer, more understeer.
Larger rear anti-sway bars = less body roll, more oversteer, less understeer.

I think after the 92 MY, Audi thought that the 1BE suspension might be getting too close towards the oversteer side of neutral. So when they went to the 1BA suspension, they dropped the rear anti-sway bar (it wasn't very big but it was more than zero) but went to the smaller (26 mm) front bar.

I had to go out to my car (originally 1BA) with my vernier caliper to confirm the 26 mm. Oops.