Novice requires suspension advice

[orsum]

Guys I have an S2 Coupe ABY and I am trying to improve the performance of the suspension. Plug and play option if possible.

Basically the car in my opinion has much more roll than I would like. My S4 B7 is much better and I would like to get the S2 to perform the same as the S4 B7.

Is there a simple bolt on option that I can get, I would prefer only original Audi parts to be used.

Suspension mods are the one thing I have never come to terms with so simplicity is the key.

The car will never go on a track its just my toy to drive through Africa in my later years.

[nip]

Kw coilovers v1 there about £900

[Error404]

Forget making the car handle like the S4 - the S4 chassis is light years ahead and it has multi-link front & rear Vs your coupe's humble mcstruts.

A stiffer rear ARB makes a big difference, as Nip suggests KWs are probably the best bang-for-buck compromise for spring and shocks on a road car, but if you have rough roads they might be a bit stiff.
Poly bushes with sharpen up the feel a lot. All of the above will improve but ultimately you're driving a car with suspension designed in the 1970s.... to make big improvements you need to get quite radical with the geometry

[Greg_S]

Like others have said, the suspension shows its age now.

To improve it consider:

• Subframe bushes
• Wishbone bushes (poly)
• RS2 Front anti roll bar
• Whiteline rear anti rollbar
• KW coilovers
• Uprated front top mounts
• More agressive suspension geometry

There is plenty of detail on options here, however it is never going to be modern and at somepoint you will hit the limits of the chassis too

[orsum]

I had new suspension bushed and standard shocks fitted by Audi SA and the car has less than 1000KM on it since it was done. Seems mad to change them.

The ride feels good it’s just the roll when cornering that concerns me.

I have just fitted 17"Avus rims and new tyres 225-45-17 not driven it since fitting.

Are you guys saying Kw coil overs v1 first? Or anti roll bars.

Would it improve if I fitted Koni sports shocks only? Bearing in mind I have new standard Audi S2 shocks on the car.

Alternatively for now just the anti-roll bars and see how it feels.

[hunker7]

I've fitted Bilstein B6 to my UrS4 Avant (which is considerably bigger) with 1BE sport suspension and car is very stable, can chuck it in corners easily and I know I'll come out of it in one piece. There is some body roll but unless you go for coilovers I don't think you can eliminate it completely.

To further improve handling I'll be upgrading to solid subframe bushes and poly bushes where possible.

[le mans]

If you're happy with the ride/damping and just want to reduce body roll then stiffer anti-roll/sway bars is the way to go. You could just do the rear but it's advisable to get something with subframe brackets if going after-market. If you want something OE, the rear sway bar from the B5 Audi range should fit. Not sure how they compare to the S2 sway bar in stiffness. Quattro GmbH did a sports rear bar for the B5 RS4. Probably hard to find I suspect.

[Error404]

This is a coupe we're talking about, B5 parts don't fit if you want to reduce roll, easiest way is to increase the roll stiffness - either with stiffer spring rates or stiffer ARBs or both.
Stiffer springs aren't readily available for the stock struts, which is why KWs were suggested. Shocks alone aren't going to help you, unless you want a placebo.
Whiteline rear ARB is a good upgrade, if you can find one. Or for something a bit stiffer you can use a front bar on the rear. Search the forum there is reams of information about this

[orsum]

(Whiteline rear ARB is a good upgrade, if you can find one. Or for something a bit stiffer you can use a front bar on the rear.)

So just the rear for now.

Find one. Not a clue what to get or any mods or how stiff is stiffer.

Started to read the front to rear post but got lost in brackets and this and that, totally confused.

Sorry in advance for my lack of knowledge.

[Greg_S]

Demon tweets use to sell the white line kit, not sure if they still do

[newsh]

Novice requires suspension advice

This is my coupe setup which is great on the roads and only ever feels a bit soft on the track.
Stock springs, ok it sits a bit high but that's just vanity.
Koni sport adjustables. Set one turn from full soft on the front and half a turn on the rear.
RS2 front ARB
Whiteline RARB set on middle or stiff setting.

( I think those Koni settings are correct, a search will confirm)

After years of this setup and being totally happy on the road with it I finally gave in to vanity and bought some KW V3s
I've installed the rear and driven it a bit, already thinking about changing back..

[newsh]

Novice requires suspension advice

Orsum, in your position I would do the front and rear ARBs first and see how you like it on your roads. If you only stiffen the rear ARB the car will oversteer more readily in a very un-quattro like way.

[orsum]

All great comments thanks.

Let me see if I understand everything first with respect to the roll bar.

Lets say its the RS2 up front. It seems like all agree. (Must now find one for sale)

As for the rear there appears to be two recommendations coming out.

1 S2 front to rear. Not sure how much work is involved at this stage or how stiff its going to be. COMMENTS ON HOW STIFF WOULD BE HELPFUL

2 Whiteline seems to be plug and play using middle to high setting. not sure how the high setting stiffness is compared to the stiffer S2 front bar.

FOR
If I remover the S2 front roll bar I have the bar for the rear (with mods?) Possible less cost.

AGAINST
Whiteline means getting one and importing it. Cost I would think will be much more.

Any idea how much work is involved with the front to back mod and can a novice do it? No bad with my hand, or so I am told.

Seems to be that RS2 front and S2 front to rear is the first step.

Then if I am still not happy mover to the Whiteline rear and then the final step would be going to Koni sports shocks to get me closer to the S4 B7 handling but not quite as good.

Bushings etc will be replaced as the fail with poly type.

So now let me see whats needed for the front to rear upgrade.

[Rusty]

Is this for road use?

The offset subframe and top mounts improve steering and grip a lot and a decent increase in camber at the front helps too.

I use mine on the road mainly but it's set for track. Sure it's a bit stiff but it's great to drive.

Front

• 2.5 camber
• 4+ castor
• min factory toe in

Rear

• 1.25 camber
• min factory toe in

That's with:

• Bilstein B6
• HnR springs
• 25mm front ARB on the rear
• ally subframe bushes
• poly wishbone and arb bushes
• my own design of top mount.

It'll never handle like a modern car but who wants it to? The quirks of an older car are what make it interesting.

Anyone who's been around a track in this or driven it can comment on what the result is. I'm pleased with it

With KWs in stead of the HnRs and some stiffer rear springs instead of the silly bit RARB, you're on to a winner.

[QuattroFever]

A good rear shock tower brace combined with rear roll bar.