DSP 4KS underway

[Robert Phillips <r3rfp@dax.cc.uakron.edu>]

Well, after some time in the garage, I have installed a set of sport 
springs on the little 4K.  The free length was much less thatn stock, but 
the front was lowered about 1", and the rear seemed only slightly lower.  
The good part is that handling is much improved.  I reinstalled the 
Progas shocks on the rear, after some modifications, and things are 
working well so far.

With the Progas and the springs, even before re-alignment, the car turns 
in much quicker, and seems to have a lot less body roll than before.  It 
almost feels the same as the stock springs, with very little increase in 
ride harshness on small bumps, but when pushed past the previous limits, 
the car responds.

It's really odd.  I can do everything that I could do before, but I have 
the limits of the old setup in my head.  Upon finding an open parking 
lot, I pushed past the limits in my mind, and the car did beautifully.  
Some re-training of the driver is in order before I can realize the 
new-found potential of the car.  A trip to the shop for a re-align will 
probably also help a bit.

Keep in mind, I only took the car out for about 15 minutes to play.  
Then, 4 friends and I went to dinner in it.  I figure, if the new setup 
can handle 5 adults over RR crossings and Ohio potholes, it can go the 
distance.  "Real" race cars are cool and all, but you can't beat a 
four-door box with wheels that can take you autocrossing on the weekends, 
yet transport 5 people to dinner in comfort.

Basically, I am saying "If you are doing a shock/strut job, splurge the 
extra bucks and put a set of mild sport springs in while you are there."  
It's well worth the effort, and while everything is apart, it is no 
harder than re-assembling the factory components.

BTW, when doing the struts/shocks last Dec., it took me about 7-8 hours 
to complete.  I did the same job today in about 3 hours.  I had no new 
tools, just knew how it goes together.  

Robert Phillips
The University of Akron Sociology Department-------Akron, Ohio
1987 Audi 4000S, 1.8L 4-cyl, FWD----------SOLO II  H-Stock