[200q20v] Suspension advice for a wagon

[Bernie Benz]

> From: dkpriebe at attbi.com
> Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2002 18:22:08 +0000
> To: 200q20v at audifans.com
> Subject: [200q20v] Suspension advice for a wagon

Dave Priebe wrote:

> My mechanic
> also suggested I take a look at the Koni, because they
> are adjustable. I could adjust them for the bad roads in
> winter, and stiffen them up for the summer. Any
> thoughts?


Konis have adjustable rebound damping only, as this is the critical shock
parameter.  It is to be adjusted to critically damp the specific
spring rate / unsprung weight resonant mechanical system.  Too little
rebound damping causes overshoot oscilations, the tire bounces,loosing road
contact.  An overdamped rebound condition unnecessarily slows the
time required for the suspension to return to normal ride height
and the next bump.  Thus, there is only one optimum rebound damping
setting for any given spring rate / unsprung weight combination, and
this is totally independant of road condition or season.

The second advantage of adjustable rebound damping is that it can be
increased over the shock's life to compensate for internal wear and
leakage, thus maintaining a critically damped system.

Find a new mechanic who is knowlegable of the real and only purpose
of a shock in a suspension system.  Even that highly overrated 2B
outfit does not understand this, so good luck!

Bernie