[V8] lowered suspension

Sun Jun 7 04:11:38 PDT 2009

Wow.. That would suck to live in NH.

Curtis

On Jun 5, 2009, at 4:09 PM, Dan DiBiase <d_dibiase at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I am bored on a rainy Friday, so checked and found the specs they  
> are inspecting to - basically, the bottom edge of the bumper has to be
> higher than 16 inches off the ground. See below, from http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/Rules/saf-c3200.html 
>  . I'm not sure what they consider
> the bottom edge of the Audi bumper, as on my 2004 A4, there is no  
> discrete 'bumper', just a front valence panel. It is less than 12"  
> from the
> ground at it's lowest point with the stock Sport Package. Good thing  
> I don't live in NH!
>
>
> Saf-C 3211.07  Steering, Alignment and Suspension.
>
> (a)  A vehicle shall be rejected if:
>
> (1)  A spring, strut or torsion-bar height does
> not meet the manufacturer’s specifications or there is a broken spri 
> ng leaf,
> spring shackle, coil, sway bar or any connecting part;
>
> (2)  On the bounce test, the vehicle continues to
> oscillate for more than 2 cycles, except on vehicles equipped with  
> gas-pressurized
> struts or shock absorbers, which show more oscillation than  
> conventional,
> non-pressurized struts or shock absorbers;
>
> (3)  The suspension has been altered, and the
> bottom edge of the horizontal bumper bar:
>
> a.  Is less than 16 inches or more than 20 inches
> above level ground on a passenger vehicle;
>
> b.  Is less than 16 inches or more than 30 inches
> above level ground on a multipurpose passenger vehicle; or
>
> c.  Is less than 16 inches or more than 30 inches
> to the bottom of the front or rear frame rails of a light-duty  
> truck, measured
> where the bumpers would be attached by the manufacturer;
>
> (4)  The vehicle is misaligned from linkage
> looseness or suspension damage that affects the safe operation of  
> the vehicle;
>
> (5)  The wheel camber, caster or toe-in exceed the
> manufacturer's specifications, that affects the safe operation of  
> the vehicle;
>
> (6)  Steering wheel lash or free-play exceeds 3
> inches of total movement at steering wheel rim or 2 inches on power- 
> steering
> equipped vehicles, before the front wheels or the steering wheel  
> moves, except
> those designed for handicapped operators, is not circular or  
> equivalent in size
> and material strength as approved by the manufacturer;
>
> (7)  The front wheels cannot be turned from full
> right to full left lock without binding or interference;
>
> (8)  Shear capsule, if any, on energy-absorbing
> steering column is separated from bracket, there is general  
> looseness of the
> steering wheel and column or the steering wheel and column can be  
> moved as a
> unit;
>
> (9)  Steering box is loose, power steering fluid
> level is insufficient, or visual observation reveals obvious defects  
> in a belt,
> hose, connection, component part or mounting which could result in  
> failure;
>
> (10)  Steering linkage free-play exceeds the
> manufacturer’s specifications or is:
>
> a.  In excess of 1/4 inch, for wheels 16 inches
> or less in diameter;
>
> b.  In excess of 3/8 inch, for wheels 17 or 18
> inches in diameter; and
>
> c.  In excess of 1/2 inch, for wheels over 18
> inches in diameter;
>
> (11)  Any wheel bearing exceeds the manufacturer's
> tolerance for looseness;
>
> (12)  Any ball joint is broken, cracked or
> separated; or
>
> (13)  Any ball joint without a wear indicator has
> movement in excess of the manufacturer's specifications. Movement  
> shall be
> measured with a pry bar, using only enough pressure to lift the  
> wheel assembly
> to prevent unnecessary ball joint replacement.
>     
>                                                                     
> Source.  (See Revision Notes at chapter heading Saf-C 3200) #8915,  
> eff 6-22-07
>
> Dan D
> Central NJ USA
> '76 MGB Tourer
> '65 MGB Tourer (Project)
> NAMGBR #5-2328
> http://dans65b.blogspot.com/
> http://dans76b.blogspot.com/
> http://dansautoblog.blogspot.com/
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dibiase/Working_MG_Gallery.html
> http://dans-life-blog.blogspot.com/
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Kent McLean <kentmclean at comcast.net>
> To: quattro <quattro at audifans.com>; 200 20v List  
> <200q20v at audifans.com>; V8-list <v8 at audifans.com>
> Sent: Friday, June 5, 2009 2:47:51 PM
> Subject: lowered suspension
>
> If you've been following along the "get 3 Audis inspected" game,
> the new score is 1 for 3. :(
>
> The V8 failed for 2 reasons.
>
> 1) Back-up lights don't work. I knew this before going in, and I  
> think I have
> a solution. I just need to get under the car and  run some wires  
> from the
> back-up light switch to the wires I found in the automatic  
> transmission
> multi-function switch (gizmo) under the hood.
>
> 2) The car has been lowered. This I also knew, but I didn't know it  
> was a
> point of failure in NH. As Dave (at Steve & Dave's) said, he's seen  
> trucks
> that have been jacked up, but they would fail at his station.
>
> Me: How high does it have to be?
> Dave: "Stock."
>
> I'm not sure how he judges that, but my questions now are:
>
> a) How tough is it to replace the springs on all 4 corners? Remove  
> the struts?
> Screw up the alignment?
>
> b) Can I get away with putting shims/spacers under the springs, to  
> boost the
> ride height to normal?  (To be returned to "normal" after the  
> almighty sticker
> has been applied.)
>
> c) Anyone know what ride height is "normal"?
>
> I'd prefer to keep the lowered suspension, but I don't want to have  
> to do this
> every year just to comply. Unless I find a "better" inspector. ;)
>
> Summary: '91 200 needs rotors, bads, and an exhaust, '90 V8 needs a  
> suspension
> and back-up lights. At least the A4 is OK to drive.
>
> -- 
> Kent McLean
> 1999 A4 Avant, V6 Tiptronic
> 1991 200 TQA #3, with mods
> 1990 V8 w/5-speed and other mods
> gone: '91 200 TQA x2, '94 100 S Avant, '89 200 TQ "Bad Puppy"
>
> _______________________________________________
> quattro mailing list
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
> http://www.audifans.com/kb/List_information
> _______________________________________________
> Audifans V8 mailing list
> Send posts to: mailto:V8 at audifans.com
> Manage your list connection: http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/v8
>
> You can help keep the audifans site running by shopping at http://audifans.com/shop/
>