Re: But which urq suspension is BETTER?

[ejfluhr@austin.ibm.com (Fluhr)]

>springs were changed at 85-d-900-001. this was inline with a raft of other
>changes in the suspension (new lower wishbone, ball joint, and new shock
>absorbers and anti-roll bar). there was another change in front springs at
>85-e-900-324 (nov '83, during the '84 model year) (corresponding to the
>deletion of the rear the anti-roll bar, new rear wishbones specified, tie
>rod, and the ball joints).  the rear strut also changed for the '83 model
>year, along with the rear shocks and the rear coil springs.


I think the point Jeff is trying to make is that all the changes to
the suspension occurred around 85-d-900001, which is the beginning
of the 1983 model year.  At that time, Audi was still using the 15x6
wheels.  In mid 1983, Audi switched to the 4000q-ish suspension (i.e.
no rear sway bar, front sway bar with end links), but they still kept
the 15x6 wheels on the car.  Then in 1984, with apparently no other
changes to the suspension (maybe struts/springs??), Audi began
offering the 15x8 wheels as an option on the urquattro.

Now, I have not heard anyone offer a claim that the handling of the
1983/84 urq without rear sway bar and 15x6 tires is any better (or worse)
than the 1982/83 urq with the bar.  Many people have stated that the
car benefits from the 15x8 wheels, but this occurred in 1984 (in the
U.S. at least) after the suspension changes had already been
implemented.


Phil Payne has on several occasions offered the story about how
Audi "discovered" that the 15x8 wheels worked underneath the tqc
fenders.  If this story is true, then it certainly implies that
Audi did not design the suspension for 15x8 wheels initially.  
Perhaps the basic design is a large compromise of many factors
and is relatively tolerant of different wheel combinations, such
that the increase in tire width and better sidewall profile of
the 15x8 wheels was the only (or main) contributing factor to
the improvement in performance.

(Couldn't resist, I just had to add some hot air to this discussion... :)

Later,
Eric
'85 CGT, '82 urq
---
Eric J. Fluhr                                Email:  ejfluhr@austin.ibm.com
630FP Logic/Circuit Design                   Phone:  (512) 838-7589
IBM Server Group                             Austin, TX