4kq needs new suspension; spring q

Mon Oct 6 10:36:51 EDT 2003

  Thanks for the first hand info!

Is there a difference between the 80 and 90 springs?  (Hell, is there a
difference between the cars?!  I went to the AudiWorld model pages and found
them to have the same engines, wheelbase, and curb weight...)

   This looks like a great option- the later springs are not as sag prone,
correct?  Any idea why that is?

Thanks again,
Robert

>From: Todd Phenneger <tquattroguy at yahoo.com>
>To: R Mangas <porter_dog at hotmail.com>, jason510 at att.net,
>quattro at audifans.com
>Subject: Re: 4kq needs new suspension; spring q
>Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 10:14:20 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Hey guys,
>   I have posted this many times before.  But "90q SPRINGS DO
>WORK".  And they work very well.  I ran them for maybe 20k miles
>on my 4ktq, Shayne Pavlich has CQ springs on his 4kq, and I have
>had one other person do this as well with good results.  Here is
>the skinny. I'm going off of Memory so if I quote the rates
>wrong no getting into a hissy fit over it.
>   4kq rear - 105lbs
>   90q rear - 115lbs and about 1/2" longer.   I could be off by a
>touch but there was an 8-9lb spread between the two on spring
>rate and about 1/2" difference in length.  WHat this means is
>that when bolted on the rear sits at almost the Identical height
>to the front and is a touch stiffer which doesn't seem to effect
>roll much but definately dials out a little understeer and makes
>the car much easier to drive fast.  Fit is perfect as the
>perches are identical.  If you were so inclined then I believe
>Shayne is actually running CQ springs all the way around.  They
>are a little lower than the 90q springs so swapping on only the
>rear may not be an option on these.  But a swap of all 4 will
>make a much stiffer car that is not lowered like with lowering
>springs.
>  FYI....the 4kq rear springs I compared the 90q springs to were
>from an 84' 4kq which are supposedly stiffer than 85+ springs
>but still sag.  So if you have an 85+ car then you may see even
>better results.
>   As for the swaybar, DO NOT GO THERE.  BTDT, the car handles
>like CRAP without a swaybar unless your running over 400lb
>springs.  So unless you want to drop the $400 and go for
>coilovers, just go for the 90q sprigs and try that before you do
>anything else.
>l8r
>   Todd
>
>--- R Mangas <porter_dog at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >   Crafty solution!   I'm trying to find out more about the 90q
> > springs Huw
> > thinks will fit- supposedly they're uprated all the way around
> > from the 4kq
> > units.  More understeer is the last thing I need; I was
> > actually thinking
> > that if I got the right springs I could delete the front bar
> > and run with no
> > sways at all...
> >
> > Muffler clamp adjustable perches.  Kudos!
> >
> > >From: "Jason Gray" <jason510 at att.net>
> > >To: <quattro at audifans.com>
> > >Subject: 4kq needs new suspension; spring q Date: Fri, 3 Oct
> > 2003 09:09:08
> > >-0800
> > >
> > >This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
> > >--
> > >[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
> > >Rob- My solution to exactly this same delima is at;
> > >
> >
> >http://www.audifans.com/pipermail/quattro/20020927/062581.html
> > >
> > >One note, if you try to use front 4K springs on the rear as
> > Luke suggest;
> > >first measure the spring rates of the stock 4Kq F& R springs
> > and you will
> > >find that the front springs (while having longer free length)
> > also have a
> > >lower (softer) spring rate than the rear springs. If you lack
> > the know-how
> > >for measuring the rates, at least measure the wire coil
> > diameter and you
> > >will see that the rear springs are made from thicker wire
> > (making them
> > >significantly stiffer).  I took the spring rate measurements
> > myself, but in
> > >our last list debate, others verified that the rear 4Kq
> > springs are in fact
> > >stiffer than the front. While the rear suspension will ride
> > higher and
> > >"function" with front quattro springs in the rear,  the
> > softer spring in
> > >the rear location with no other modifications will "tune" the
> > suspension
> > >for increased body roll and increased understeer handeling of
> > the car. Just
> > >because others have done this doesnt necessarily mean it is a
> > well thought
> > >out solution for better performance handeling. Consult a
> > handeling
> > >adjustment chart such as at;
> > >http://www.zcsd.org/tech-articles/tune-your-suspension.html
> > for general
> > >spring tuning guidelines.
> > >
> > >-Jason Gray
> > >Anchorage AK
> > >4kq needs new suspension; spring q
> > >R Mangas porter_dog at hotmail.com
> > >Thu, 02 Oct 2003 14:41:41 -0400
> > >
> > >   a.. Previous message: can someone please decode these
> > DTC's for me?
> > >   b.. Next message: 4kq needs new suspension; spring q
> > >   c.. Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [
> > author ]
> > >
> >
> >--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >    Greetings.  Been away for a while, new house, two cars,
> > dogs
> > >Greetings.  Been away for a while, new house, two cars, dogs,
> > girl....
> > >
> > >My '87 4kq is still running on stock bits.  Only 75k, so
> > they're not as
> > >shot
> > >as one might intially imagine, but shot nonetheless.  My
> > biggest question
> > >at
> > >this point is the springs.  The rears are really sagged, so I
> > want to
> > >replace them but most of the aftermarket units drop the car
> > ~1.5".   The
> > >4kq
> > >is my winter car, so that's not very appealing.  I have the
> > ground control
> > >coilovers on my Miata, and like them just fine but I'd rather
> > not spend 4
> > >bills on springs.
> > >
> > >    Are there crafty options that will allow me to uprate the
> > springs some
> > >and retain stock travel and ground clearance?  I could
> > certainly buy the
> > >aftermarket units and install spacers (kludge!), but I'm
> > hoping someone
> > >will
> > >tell me that "The 5000 turbo diesel wagon rear springs will
> > fit.  They're
> > >1.87x stock and add another half inch of ride height." or
> > something
> > >similar...
> > >
> > >I can dream, can't I? :)
> > >
> > >TIA,
> > >Robert
> > >Detroit (Rock City!)
> > >
> > >From: <lrickert at covad.net>
> > > >To: <porter_dog at hotmail.com>
> > > >Subject: Re: 4kq needs new suspension; spring q
> > > >Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2003 15:02:36 -0700 (PDT)
> > > >
> > > >this has lead to some contentions debate in the not so
> > distant past (one
> > > >person with the idea that they don't work right and many of
> > us having
> > > >actually done it knowing that it does in fact work.) put
> > 80q fronts in
> > >the
> > > >front and move the stock 4kq front springs to the rear.
> > (this is what I
> > > >have on my car) It raises the car a bit and works well
> > although I might
> > >do
> > > >it the other way (80q fronts in the back leaving the stock
> > fronts alone)
> > > >to keep the back up bit higher.  I suppose you could also
> > just swap both
> > > >front and rear 80q springs in, I am not exactly sure how
> > this would sit
> > > >but I imagine it would work fine and probably ride a little
> > better.
> > >While
> > > >you are there adapt an extra front sway-bar to the rear
> > suspension (easy
> > > >$10 one hour project)
> > http://home.covad.net/~rickert/Audi.html for
> > > >pictures of what I did.
> > > >
> > > >Good luck
> > > >
> > > >Luke
> > >
> > >
> > >--
> > >
> >
> >
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