Rear springs mistery

[Kalchev]

Heyas,

Been lurking here for a while, great place with lots of helpful info. Am driving an A8Q 4.2 '99 for 9 months now and I'm loving it. Sure has some issues, albeit small.

At the moment I have a mystery on my hands - my rear end sits an inch or more lower than the front. I have a LPG tank instead of a spare wheel, but even empty the height doesn't change
Week ago I went on a trip with some friends - 4 of us with a full boot, and the height didn't appear to be lower than usual.

So I'm thinking I have a spring problem. I'll probably remove the springs next week and measure some, which will be followed by comparing with some second hand ones. Dealer doesn't want much for a pair of new ones, so that's a good alternative. Now, my issue is I have no clue what these paint markers on the springs are all about. Do I have to match them exactly right, what is the difference between differently marked springs?

Much appreciated

[ainarssems]

what is the difference between differently marked springs?

Suspension type- sports/standard and axle load

[Sir WIll]

I had the rear sit about an inch lower when the bottom coil of my spring snapped.

Car drove ok but it was lower on one side, I simply made a note of the coloured band on the spring and bought another set second hand on ebay.

[Goran]

vagcat.com is a useful resource
have a look at the option sticker in your service booklet for the 3-characted suspension code (like 0YP), you can check your spring colours.

Here is a example list of rear spring options from vagcat for a facelift D2, looks like there are many options depending on vehicle weight.

(16) 4D0511115AB coil spring / 1 paint mark violet / PR-1BA/1BM: 0YP
(16) 4D0511115AC coil spring / 2 paint marks violet / PR-1BA,1BM: 0YQ
(16) 4D0511115AD coil spring / 3 paint marks violet / PR-1BA,1BM: 0YR
(16) 4D0511115AE coil spring / 1 paint mark green / PR-1BA,1BM: 0YS
(16) 4D0511115AF coil spring / 2 paint marks green / PR-1BA,1BM: 0YT
(16) 4D0511115AG coil spring / 3 paint marks green / PR-1BA,1BM: 0YU
(16) 4D0511115AQ coil spring / 1 FARBSTRICHE / 1 paint mark green orange / PR-1BA,1BM: 0YV
(16) 4D0511115AR coil spring / 1 FARBSTRICHE / 2 paint marks green orange / PR-1BA/1BM: 0YW
(16) 4D0511115AS coil spring / 1 FARBSTRICHE / 3 paint marks green orange / PR-1BA/1BM: 0YX
(16) 4D0511115BG coil spring / 1 paint mark / 2 paint marks / for vehicles with extended wheelbase yellow violet / PR-0YW
(16) 4D0511115BH coil spring / 1 paint mark / 3 paint marks / for vehicles with extended wheelbase yellow violet / PR-0YX
(16) 4D0511115AJ coil spring / 1 paint mark / 1 paint mark / for vehicles with sports-type running gear white violet / PR-0YP
(16) 4D0511115AK coil spring / 1 paint mark / 2 paint marks / for vehicles with sports-type running gear white violet / PR-0YQ
(16) 4D0511115AL coil spring / 1 paint mark / 3 paint marks / for vehicles with sports-type running gear white violet / PR-0YR
(16) 4D0511115AM coil spring / 1 paint mark / 1 paint mark / for vehicles with sports-type running gear white green / PR-0YS
(16) 4D0511115AN coil spring / 1 paint mark / 2 paint marks / for vehicles with sports-type running gear white green / PR-0YT
(16) 4D0511115AP coil spring / 1 paint mark / 3 paint marks / for vehicles with sports-type running gear white green / PR-0YU,0YV
(16) 4D0616115P coil spring / for models with suspension levelling system / 1 paint mark orange / PR-0YP
(16) 4D0616115Q coil spring / for vehicles with tow bar and self-levelling suspension sys. / 2 paint marks orange / PR-0YQ
(16) 4D0616115R coil spring / for models with suspension levelling system / 3 paint marks orange / PR-0YR
(16) 4D0616115S coil spring / for models with suspension levelling system / 1 paint mark silver / PR-0YS
(16) 4D0616115T coil spring / for models with suspension levelling system / 2 paint marks silver / PR-0YT
(16) 4D0616115AA coil spring / for models with suspension levelling system / 3 paint marks silver / PR-0YU
(16) 4D0511115BC coil spring / 1 paint mark / 1 paint mark yellow brown / PR-1BA/1BM; 0YS: AKF
(16) 4D0511115BD coil spring / 1 paint mark / 2 paint marks yellow brown / PR-1BA/1BM; 0YT: AKF
(16) 4D0511115BD coil spring / 1 paint mark / 2 paint marks yellow brown / PR-1BA/1BM; 0YT: AKF
(16) 4D0511115BE coil spring / 1 paint mark / 3 paint marks yellow brown / PR-1BA/1BM OYU: AKF
(16) 4D0511115BF coil spring / 1 paint mark / 1 paint mark yellow violet / PR-1BA/1BM; 0YV: AKF

[mannyo]

Could the OP's car have the very rare self levelling system and it be faulty, 4 adults and boot full should cause the back of the car to drop significantly.

[Kalchev]

Here's how it looks at the moment:

I'm pretty certain that's not the proper way for the car to sit
Rear is about 35mm lower than the front. I don't think I have the self levelling system, as we've done lots of work on suspension and the shock/springs seemed to be pretty regular.

I wonder if the previous owner put low riding springs at the back
Gonna check them soon and see what's what.

Cheers

[Dezzy]

They all look like that on regular suspension, it's the fronts most people want to lower to counter that look. I would say if the rear is not moving whan loaded it's a good thing as the shocks / springs are working. What you don't want is a saggy back end.
Where are you measuring from, the gap in the arch or from the jacking points?

[Kalchev]

Strange, I've seen lots of other FLs with equal ride height all around. Will take a pic next time I come across one. I don't really want to lower the front, as roads in Bulgaria are terrible in an epicly awefull way

I took the measurements from the wheel arch to the center of the wheel:
~41cm front / ~37.5cm rear.

[ainarssems]

You need to measure distance from ground to the floor, wheel centre to wheel arch does not tell much.

[mannyo]

Any chance of getting a picture of the car on a more even tarmac surface, uneven ground can make perfectly fine suspension look odd.