[s-cars] Springs - Springs & more Springs

[Mtgadbois at aol.com]

For those of you who  are investigating changing out your springs here are my 
observations. 
About a year ago I  went from stock (95.5 S6) springs to H&R 29921 (V8) 
springs.   The ride improved by having more  control.  It did not feel any  
stiffer, just more control.  I would  have been totally satisfied but the ride height 
was too low for my day-to-day  /winter driver S6.  This car does  not see any 
track time.  Summer car  is a Porsche. 
Several months ago I  bought the Audi Euro springs in a GP.  I also bought 
Bilstein HD shocks.  I installed them about two weeks ago.  I like the ride 
firmness (about the same  as the H&Rs)  but my S6 is  approaching the “Ranchero” 
look again.  But will I keep them, absolutely! 
Below are the  floor-to-center of the fender measurements (in inches): 
USA 95.5 with Boge  shocks:  27-2/8, 27-2/8, 27-6/8,  27-3/8 
H&R 29921 with  Boge shocks:  25-5/8, 25-5/8,  26-1/8, 25-6/8 
Euro with Bilstein  HD shocks:  26-4/8, 26-4/8, 27-3/8,  27-0/8 
Measurements are in  Left Front, Right Front, Left Rear, & Right Rear order.  
My tires are half worn 225/50-16s on  AVUS rims.  
Color  Codes: 
USA:  Front = Yellow - Sliver - Silver      Rear = Pink - Green 
Euro:  Front = Silver - Pink - Pink      Rear = Yellow - Blue -  Blue - Blue 
Camber  adjustments:   
USA  Stock - adjustments were basically centered in plates. 
H&R 29921  - pushed adjustments to their extreme outer positions and did not 
use camber  plates.  Tire wear was slightly  greater on the insides but 
nothing really extreme.  Ran this way for approximately 10,000  miles. 
Euro &  Bilstein - adjustments are basically centered again.  
Note - none of these  adjustments were done professionally.  As long and the 
alignment looks close and the car tracks down the road  perfectly straight I 
did not bother spending $$ for alignment.  Maybe when my tires are going to be  
replaced I’ll get it aligned. 
Other Observations  with previous cars – totally biased! 
Eibachs – had them  on my UrQ and were too soft – bottomed out all the time. 
 Maybe I was sold the wrong springs but I  only ran them for two weeks and 
then tossed them away. 
Konis – Had them on  the UrQ and on a 911.  I thought  they were just OK.  
Never cared for  the adjustment feature – just too fussy. 
Bilsteins – Had them  on another 911 – came with the factory sport 
suspension – they rocked – loved  them.  
Good luck with the  slippery slope, 
Mark