RS2 Stock Suspension

[LGK6D]

Hi everyone. I need some opinions please. I inherited what I believe to be H&R (Green) springs and what look like Koni dampers (yellow) when I bought my RS2. The suspension looks like it's been changed early on in the cars life and is well and truly tired out. It sits too low, certainly at the rear which may be a bit of spring sag.

It's going to need fully re-bushing anyway and going through which is not a surprise. I could put it on KW V3's and have it fully corner weighted etc, but I keep wondering how it'd be in standard form in as new condition. I'm so curious to know how good it was brand new. I know a couple of members have had RS2's from new. I'd love to have your thoughts.

Many thanks
David

[macspring]

New stock would be my choice for comfort and handling, but a bit high, for me, while KW3 can be set to the right 'stance', but may be a bit stiff, but if you found the H&Rs ok, the KW3 could be fine ?

Just my tuppence, looking forward to others thoughts.

[rynaqui]

KWs are pretty good, they feel stiff but only because of the rubbish maltese roads so they would be fine in the UK

[Rusty]

It'll be softer and higher but as a road car, that's no bad thing. You can always mix and match springs and dampers...

[LGK6D]

New stock would be my choice for comfort and handling, but a bit high, for me, while KW3 can be set to the right 'stance', but may be a bit stiff, but if you found the H&Rs ok, the KW3 could be fine ?

Just my tuppence, looking forward to others thoughts.

A few months ago I went to see Chris at the Centre of Gravity in Nuneaton, they have a very good reputation and I made an appointment to pick his brain. He suggested the KW V3's because it was the only thing that he could tune to get what he wanted. He suggested it would perform best on the road set up more like an Mitsu Evo, with lots of travel and compliance.

Problem for me is that although my car is low milage and been very well looked after throughout its life, it was already ready for a refresh when I bought it, I've not been in another RS2, so I don't really have a viable staring point.

[Monkeymagic]

I havekw1's on my coupe and am very pleased.

[Ross]

Personally - whilst I love the increased comfort and practicality of stock springs on my RS2, the ride height does do my head in a bit. I'm on Koni's with fairly new stock springs. I don't want to go too low - H&Rs are too much and a bit harsh.

I'm either looking to go custom coil over (something like Vasillis' setup) or KW's myself, whilst they are certainly going to be firmer than stock the spring/damper match should give a good handling vs ride trade-off.

I'd say for example, that the coil overs on my RS6 are a bit firmer than my RS2 suspension but certainly less crashy and overall I prefer the ride.

[Monkeymagic]

I found my car sat too low and crashed about on h&r when i went to the kws its been great.
Okay its firm and in daily use it gets tiresome but im lucky its a second car. But for me i really like them.

[LGK6D]

Personally - whilst I love the increased comfort and practicality of stock springs on my RS2, the ride height does do my head in a bit. I'm on Koni's with fairly new stock springs. I don't want to go too low - H&Rs are too much and a bit harsh.

Ross, does the ride height do your head in from an aesthetics point of view or for another reason?

Mine being so low is doing my head in, I hate having to crab over speed bumps

[Ross]

Ross, does the ride height do your head in from an aesthetics point of view or for another reason?

Mine being so low is doing my head in, I hate having to crab over speed bumps

Aestetics. I'm happy with a 2-3cm gap to the arch but is 5-6cm. I wouldnt find a bit less pitch on it either - full launch it's a bit speedboat like.

I had H&Rs on my old S2 Avant with stock rs2 dampers and that wasn't too bad - a bit firm but i could live with it daily. It looked great but it was too low with the front (RS2) bumper taking a battering over speed bumps. I think they dropped 40/50mm; I think 25/30 would be ideal.

[scillyisles]

I might have some perspective to add here.
I guess I am one of the few (possibly the only) owner on here who ordered their RS2 and has had it since new.
From my perspective, I would say that the RS2 is quite hard on its suspension and needs to be refreshed every so often.
Even though my car is low mileage (68Kmiles), the suspension was refreshed (i.e. new front and rear shocks, new front and rear suspension parts (bushes proved very difficult to remove) about 6 years ago (there is a post on here or RS246.com detailing the work I had done) I ordered the Koni Yellow Sport shocks - fronts fitted fine but rears would not fit so I went with standard rear shocks.
Car is standard ride height - the Konis give a slightly softer ride than the OEM but seem to give good body control.
If I was to do it again (and no doubt I will) then I would stick with OEM. Refreshing the suspension has a drastic effect on the car - it feels like a new car once you do this.
The other point I would make is that tyres have a big impact on this too - some tyres work much better with the RS2 than others (due no doubt to the odd OEM tyres the car was supplied with) IMy car is currently on Michelin Pilot Sport 3 225/45ZR17 94Y tyres and this setup is probably the best I have tried.

[macspring]

I guess I am one of the few (possibly the only) owner on here who ordered their RS2 and has had it since new. My car is low mileage (68 K miles).

Hi, sounds lovely, any photos?

Thanks.



excuse partial thread hijack, but they will show tyre to arch clearance.

[LGK6D]

I might have some perspective to add here.
I guess I am one of the few (possibly the only) owner on here who ordered their RS2 and has had it since new.
From my perspective, I would say that the RS2 is quite hard on its suspension and needs to be refreshed every so often.
Even though my car is low mileage (68Kmiles), the suspension was refreshed (i.e. new front and rear shocks, new front and rear suspension parts (bushes proved very difficult to remove) about 6 years ago (there is a post on here or RS246.com detailing the work I had done) I ordered the Koni Yellow Sport shocks - fronts fitted fine but rears would not fit so I went with standard rear shocks.
Car is standard ride height - the Konis give a slightly softer ride than the OEM but seem to give good body control.
If I was to do it again (and no doubt I will) then I would stick with OEM. Refreshing the suspension has a drastic effect on the car - it feels like a new car once you do this.
The other point I would make is that tyres have a big impact on this too - some tyres work much better with the RS2 than others (due no doubt to the odd OEM tyres the car was supplied with) IMy car is currently on Michelin Pilot Sport 3 225/45ZR17 94Y tyres and this setup is probably the best I have tried.

Thanks for that Scillyisles, I was hoping you'd chime in. I'd already taken some of your advice and had those tyres fitted a couple of years ago.

One unfortunate bit of news is that the rear springs are obsolete from Audi, thankfully Tradition will be stocking them, so it may be a waiting game for those. I'm really leaning towards putting the car back to how it should be. It's a really nice car and does deserve it.

If everything else is standard do you think it should be on factory bushes, or would poly bushes be considered the right choice?