possible change to sports suspension.

goldsax · #1 15th November 2014, 07:28 PM

carl from A8 parts has put together a package to change my FL 2001 4.2Q to having the OEM sports suspension. this will lower the car by 2cm .
reading the threads on lowering i have come across numerous S8 owners who want to lower their cars by a further 1-2 cm.
what are members thoughts about the impact 2cm will make on a on sports car?
i would like to drop the car by 3'ish cm in total. but do not want to pay big buck to do that.
i am not a track/fast driver so do not need all a dancing/singing solution.
your thoughts would be welcome
cheers raj

mannyo · #2 16th November 2014, 06:47 AM

The OEM sports suspension will make your car look very different, especially if on 19 or 20" wheels, going lower will only give you heartache with ground clearance on speed cushions, kerbs etc.

Even with the OEM suspension you'll have to be careful when navigating humps or parking nose into the kerb. The number of times I caught the front end on the D2 Quattro sport parking can be counted on a few hands.

ainarssems · #3 16th November 2014, 07:17 AM

Bumper on my S8 was already cracked when I bought it and I have caught kerbs at parking many times with the bumper and also hit the ground with underside on speed bumps going at speed several times in the past running on standard S8 suspension which is the same height as quattro sport and 2cm lower than non sport.

I have since gone for higher tyres 155/45R19 which give me 17.5mm extra ground clearance and also got aftermarket bumper which sits about 25mm higher. Have not had any problems since.

Goran · #4 16th November 2014, 11:44 AM

I have to agree, my previous S8 would catch the lower rim of the front plastic bumper on some speed bumps unless I slowed right down, and catch some curbs. That was on stock 18's with 245/45 tyres.
The manual S8 is just a little lighter on the front which is just enough to not catch speed bumps or curbs (so far).
Other than that to me the sport suspension feels very nice, not harsh at all.

TG1 · #5 16th November 2014, 05:04 PM

I found my old 3.7 PF sport too hard for a luxury car. My 3.7 FL Q non sport by contrast has a much nicer ride, in fact one of the best riding cars I've ever driven including 7 series, S classes. It doesn't look as mean and I've been wondering if fitting the 18" sport wheels would be noticeably detrimental to the ride quality.

As I've mentioned BMW and Mercedes of which I've owned numerous types of both I think it's worth saying that Audi's just steer and corner so much better on the whole. A4 and A6's again far superior to their counterparts - must be something to do with all those front suspension links!

goldsax · #6 16th November 2014, 05:16 PM

thanks for the feedback.
i am currently running 17" Competition with non sort suspension .
can i ask if the sports suspension makes the ride much harsher?
if then i fit OEM Avus 18" ..even harder..?
but i presume that the handling would be sharper?

my plan was to lower a bit and get the Avus alloys.
if i do proceed, i will take your a advice and stay with OEM sport suspension from A8 parts.
having had Mercs S class and BMW 7 series the A8 wins hands down on poise esp country roads, as TG1 has confirmed.
mmmmmmm ..no free lunch then
either look great
or
comfy ride..
confused
raj

Goran · #7 16th November 2014, 06:14 PM

The best thing to do before buying sport springs is to try it out first.
Come along to the next meet, and I'm sure one of us will be more than happy to let you drive a sport suspension D2 or at least give you a ride in one so you can judge for yourself if its harsh or not.
If I go to a meet I will give you a ride in my car.

goldsax · #8 16th November 2014, 07:41 PM

many thanks for the offer Goran.
was looking at the winter meet up..

a quick thought:
18" avus alloys without the sport suspension???
cheers raj

Goran · #9 16th November 2014, 07:45 PM

I have had 18" avus on both my S8's and to me it felt fine, very nice amount of bounce over speed bumps, shock absorbers never bottoming out. I have also had final edition 20" on the current S8 and they did start to feel a bit harsh.
So I imagine on a standard A8 suspension 18" avus will feel fine with 245/45 tyres.
The other crucial part of the equation is the tyre, a skinny tyre makes the ride harsher. A harsh ride can be softened by a big tyre.
I may be going to the South East meet coming up soon, and Neil is organising it so he will be there, his D2 has sport suspension and 20" wheels (I believe) so that may be a good one to go if you can make it. Neil is also organising the christmas/winter meet so if that one is closer to you also a good one to go to and a sport suspension car should be there.

Architex_mA8tey · #10 17th November 2014, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goran

I may be going to the South East meet coming up soon, and Neil is organising it so he will be there, his D2 has sport suspension and 20" wheels (I believe) so that may be a good one to go if you can make it. Neil is also organising the christmas/winter meet so if that one is closer to you also a good one to go to and a sport suspension car should be there.

The South East Meet is next Sunday from 2pm onwards (unless you want to eat at the fairmile pub first in which case turn up from 12 noon). My D2 is on 21" wheels with 25 profile tyres on the back and 30 on the front and has standard sports suspension at the rear and coilovers at the front to lower it down to a more pleasing height, its harsh on some roads but feels quite ok on many