4000 suspension / Boge's

[Craig Lebakken]

"E Bavely" wrote:

"I'd like to go with Bilsteins because I know they're HD,
but I'm afraid of
it being too stiff for a daily driver (plus there's the cash
factor, but
that point is kinda moot in the Audi world, I'm learning).

I drive 60+ miles a day and I value my teeth and their warm
places in my
gums...that said, I do appreciate a firm, responsive
ride...plus this whole
"brake dive" and "roll-in-the corner" business with the
4kcsq has got to
stop."

I have heard that Bilsteins are the stiff end of the
spectrum. I also value my teeth, and appreciate a CD player
than can play a whole CD without skipping. I have also heard
that Boge is the soft end of the spectrum, and probably not
suited for coilover stiff springs.

"On the autox FSP car, I have GC coilovers, pretty heavy
spring rates, fat
bars and Koni's and the thing is STIFF even on the softest
setting. Hell,
that car almost skips when it hits the division lines in the
pavement. It's
hell on the course, but not suited for the highway.  I guess
that's the
other end of the spectrum."

I don't think that this is solely due to the Koni's and
springs. Heavy bars (upper and lower/front and back), as
well as poly bushings can add a ton of stiffness. It is
likely that you will not be doing this with the 4KQ.

"Anyone with the Bilsteins or another setup care to chime
in?"

I have the 2B (GC) coilovers with the Koni yellow
adjustables, and Eibach 325 lb/in front, 275 rear. Great set
up. The car is like a slot car compared to stock, and I
don't think that the ride is too stiff. The 205/45-16 tires
and wheels are though - 15's would have been better. A
friend and I bought the coilover kits together, and I had
second thoughts about taking a grinder to my struts, and
then welding on new collars. No goin' back there! I had
already arranged to ship the kit back to 2B for the nominal
10% restock charge. Fortunately my wussy procrastination
allowed my friend to complete his installation, and he let
me take a test drive. I was making sparks that night.

Here is another interesting thought and the main reason for
my post. About a month ago I pulled the front struts, and
put new wheel bearings in and strut bearings on. I was at a
neighbor's house (Porsche/Audi mechanic - great neighbor!),
and while we were rebuilding the struts, he commented that
my Koni's were a bit soft. Fortunately, the fronts are
externally adjustable, and I checked the adjustment the
other day. First, I backed off to soft, and found that the
RF was full soft, and the LF was 1/4 turn stiff. I then went
to full stiff on both to find out that there are two full
turns of adjustment. Back to full soft, and then to 1 &1/4
turns stiff. What  change in how the car drove. The ride is
LESS harsh, because the spring is dampened commensurate with
it's rate. If you are running stiff springs, you better have
a shock that is capable, and preferably adjustable to make
up for changes over time. I think my Koni's softened after
nearly four years. Unfortunately, the rears are not the
externally adjustable - but they are still adjustable - and
I will be doing this in the near future. The strut bearings
are probably shot anyway, just like the fronts were.

HTH

Craig Lebakken
1986 4KQ
and, oh yeah, 1981 Scirocco S 2.0 liter Techtonics Stage II.