Front lowering trick with OEM parts
 

How to lower the front of a FL S8 by half an inch using OEM parts:

Have a look at these two lower spring platforms. These slot on to the damper. On the left is a stock S8 (or A8 Sport) platform, on the right is a non-sport version.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1520285789

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1520285760

These both have a rubber doodad on them which is what the spring sits on. Take the doodad off and observe the centre where it locates on the damper:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1520285760

The non-sport one sits quite a bit lower on the damper body. To compensate, the nubs on which it sits are an inch higher up the non-sport damper resulting in an overall higher ride height. However, if we put this on a sport damper, it sits half an inch lower than the original sport platform.

Now look at the rubber doodads. The non-sport (right) is thicker, again leading to higher ride height compared to the sport (left). The two are not directly compatible, but that rarely slows me down :D

Cut the edge off and cut a notch where shown, to match the non-sport platform:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1520286161

The non-sport platform sits lower on the damper so it's closer to the back of the strut hence having this flat bit (in orange). The rubber needs to be trimmed to suit

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1520286358

The finished article looks like this:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1520285760

All in this translates to about 1/2" lower at the wheel.

Part number for the non-sport lower platform is 8D0412103B. I don't have any loose dampers kicking about but I'll update this post if I come across any. I've done this on my A4 and A6 but my S8 is on Bilsteins which use billet platforms so this trick doesn't work.

There's also a similar swap to get a little bit from a prefacelift using the facelift top spring platform. I'll grab some pics of those bits next time +++

Love it - could you add that to my "list" please ;)

Bouncy Bouncy
 

As always MJ, excellent stuff! Caught my eye straight away, thats the kinda mods I like. Do you know if this mod may have been a factory mod? Reason I ask is, as I scrolled down to the first pic my plans to do this mod were immediately scuppered lol. The "vented" std cup on the right is what is fitted to my struts (factory sport model).... hmmmm ..... discuss..... lol


Also, I have a loose strut kicking about if you need any measurement, dont know what model its off but will check the part number

Its an interesting point actually. There's a very clear differentiation between sport and non-sport setups in the A4 and A6, but the A8 blurs the lines somewhat. The sport platforms only turn up in the D2 in the 01 model year so they must have done earlier ones with either different dampers or springs, or probably both. You may get the same effect using the springs from an 01-02 sport on a 99-00 sport since the later springs must be slightly shorter to accommodate the higher platform. You can also get a little bit from swapping the rubber buffer thing, although that might be so small as to be invisible.

I'll find out more when I get my 2000 A8 sport in to the workshop and have a good poke around under that :)

Nice one! Added to upgrades sticky +++

Great insight - thanks MJ +++

I remember doing similar in the past when I was into mk2 golfs. Can’t remember exactly what we used to swap as it was so long ago....either Passat or G60 top mounts and you gained 10mm to 15mm lowering up Front.