Re: S4 suspension

[jay@synema.com (Jay Eisenlohr)]

I have a '92 S4 Quattro.  I love the car.  However, I recently moved to the
Bay Area CA from Oregon.  The roads here are behind in repair, very rough.
I had the ABT bilstein suspension from Joe Hoppen.  The ride was too harsh
and the car sits to low.  Suprisingly I put the old 92 suspension in the car
and it was still to harsh.  I bought  '94 S4 shocks and springs, but now the
roll stiffness doesn't seem to be tuned to the shocks and spring
combination.  I feel every bump with a delay through the suspension.  I took
of the rear swaybar and that seems to help.  The next step I'm contemplating
is reducing the '92 antiroll bar diameter from stock 29mm to 100cs 25mm and
adding S4 Eibach springs to slightly lower the car and increase the spring
rate all around to compensate for the antiroll bar change.  

Has anyone out there gone through this mess.  Please help, I want to save my S4.

Jay Eisenlohr
jay@synema.com 

>  It sounds like your best bet might be to get back to a totally stock
>  setup. Then start tuning from that known reference point. You're trying
>  to juggle too many variables at once. Audi did a pretty fair job of
>  tuning on the S4, it's an excellent handling/ride comprimise as
>  delivered, IMFO.
>
>  -glen
>
>
Are you suggesting a '92 suspension or '93-'94 suspension.  What I've
discovered at this point is the '92 suspension had stiffer spring rates and
shock valving.  The '92, also had a rear anti-roll bar and finally 16 inch
wheels (which I have) were optional, current tires are Dunlop 225/50 D40 M2
ZR.  Essentially, I now have '94 stock suspension with a '92 front anti-roll
bar and every S4 owner who has driven my car, says it feels different from
any '93-'94 S4 they have every driven.  Upon investigating the problem
further, I did discover the reason for changes to the '93-'94 suspension was
American owner's complaints of a harsh ride.  The question that is unclear
at this point is the front anti-roll bar different in the '92.  Possibly the
rubber bushings are even harder.  I don't know.  There's more here than what
appears on the surface.  

I have ridden in later S4's with the ABT sport suspension that I had
originally in my '92.  They work great, even in the Bay Area.  I'm trying to
sort out the differences before I make any more changes.

Jay
Jay Eisenlohr
VP of Business Development
Synema Corporation
3350 West Bayshore Road
Suite 109
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(V) 415-858-2670 x901
(F) 415-858-2679
Jay@Synema.COM