cheap, good, used stock 5kcstq spring(s)?

[Larry C Leung]

Not sure you want to know this if you are trying to save $$, but I just
put a set of H&R's and Bilsteins on my 200Q (with much trepidation about
the potential loss of ride quality) and it turns out that the ride is
ALMOST unaffected. A little jiggle or "head toss" on non-potholed, but
less than billiard table smooth streets (i.e. undulating concrete or
blacktop, no seams, patches, etc, but stretches with no seams, potholes,
patches, etc are rarer than RS2's around upstate NY) is about the only
noticable bad effect, MUCH less lean, pitch and squat, greater stability
in rapid transitions, (just had to avoid a Neon, okay, not the car's
fault, a driver who just decided to pull right into the highway while I
was doing about 65 or so, absolutely no drama at all where as similar
manovers pre-springs/shocks would have set up a BIG wallow) over the
stock set-up. Overall, very happy with the conversion.

LL - NY

On Wed, 15 Aug 2001 08:27:33 -0700 "Ken Keith" <auditude at neta.com>
writes:
>Hi Wallace,
>
>For the longest time, I've gone through cycles of thinking it's 
>sagging, and then dismissing it when I check the finger space 
>between the tires and wheelwells.  (I realize a more proper 
>measurement would be from the centerline of the wheel to the 
>fender.)  I've noticed it feels like it leans to the right while 
>driving 
>down the road, but couldn't rule out the crown in the surface.
>
>The handling seems fine, but it's been aligned.  That probably 
>means all the wheels are rolling down the road straight, but the 
>body is driving a bit crooked.  The front end is rather noisy upon 
>cornering, but I think that's blown struts.
>
>The other day I was looking at the car's rear from a distance, and 
>decided it was indeed lower on that side.  I wonder why that corner, 
>it's the opposite side than the one the driver is always sitting in.
>
>I'm really torn on the suspension for this car ('88 5kcstq).  For most 
>
>of my driving life, I've liked my cars/trucks lowered.  However, the 
>ride in the 5kcstq is so sweet, even with the bad struts, that it 
>really seems a shame to degrade the comfortable ride.
>
>I guess purpose of this car in my stable would be for longer trips, or 
>
>carrying a carload of passengers, so a stock suspension is 
>probably preferred.  (but) on the other hand, long trips often include 
>
>higher cruising speeds, and firmer suspension is a good thing in 
>those instances.
>
>So, my "decision" is to replace the struts and experience the stock 
>Audi intent, and then maybe go from there at a later date.  It's hard 
>
>to resist the "while you're in there" mentality, especially when it 
>involves an alignment every time.
>
>But to do the suspension right, I think I will have to do some other 
>maintenance items at the same time.  I'm thinking wheel bearings, 
>control arm bushings, strut bearings (no Type 44 experience here 
>yet), and those rear tie rods, or ends if I can find them.  I think 
>that's it, except for maybe replacing the bump stops and dust 
>boots.  For the struts, I like Bilstein.  I think their firmness will 
>
>complement the stock springs.  If Eibachs were on the market, I 
>would not hesitate to put them on my car, despite my ride quality 
>concerns.
>
>While I'm rambling, I think my 5kcstq might look good with the rear 
>emblems all shaved off, leaving the rings in the center, and a 4kq 
>stock rear spoiler with the center lock hole filled.  The paint isn't 
>
>perfect there anyway (the emblems lift the paint when they are 
>removed!), so both the lid and spoiler could be painted at the same 
>time.  The 4kq spoiler would make the car look more boxy, but it 
>almost matches the car well.
>
>Best regards,
>
>Ken
>
>On 15 Aug 2001, at 7:51, Wallace White wrote:
>
>> Interesting... my right rear spring is sagging too. I too am looking 
>to
>> replace one or both springs (someday) and the strut inserts, but not 
>to
>> lower the car.
>> 
>> - Wallace
>>   '87 5kcstq 176k
>> 
>> Ken Keith wrote:
>> > 
>> > Hello,
>> > 
>> > Does anyone here have any used springs for a 5kcstq they want to
>> > get rid of?  I need with one rear, both rears, or a full set if 
>they need
>> > to stay together.  Ideally, I'd like to find some free or cheap 
>ones.
>> > 
>> > My right rear corner sags, and I'd like to have a known good one 
>to
>> > put in when I replace the struts.
>> > 
>> > I'm leaning (no pun intended) towards the idea of not lowering 
>the
>> > car yet, but replacing the worn struts.
>> 
>
>