rfan-r32

well,

yesterday I woke up nice and early to get my car lowered. I've had springs sitting in my possession for almost 3 months, so I was finally soo glad to put them to use. I went with a Bilstein/H&R combo. The reason I went with these is because I'm also getting 18" Oettinger RE's, which should be coming today. So the shop installed the shocks and springs VERY quickly, within a hour and half. (Went to C&G in Verona,NJ) The car looked soo slammed, cuz I went from the stock height to H&R sport height. Well as I was backing out of the garage, the first thing i do is BOTTOM OUT! Oh well, I plan on getting the S4 bumper soon.

So later in the day, I got the car aligned at Euro-tire. They had a really nice clean garage with lotsa tires. I noticed a significant difference after the alignment. Before the alignment, the car got unsteady on sharp turns and stuff.

So performance wise, the combo is great. But of course coming from stock suspension, the combo is obviously much harder. I just have to get used to it and avoid those potholed roads.

After my suspension was installed, I went to get my car checked. Luckly everything passed, I was afraid they'd say something about my clear corners. It was funny when they rolled it onto the 2WD dyno and were about to run it. I had to run out and tell the guy. Then I could tell the guys were checkin out my car, more then doin there job. I knew they were impressed with my car, when I asked the final inspection guy about the crack on my windshield and what happens when i replace it. The guy didn't say, but apparently you aren't supposed pass inspection with a cracked windsheild.

Anyways, for the rest of the day, I was pulling out the cup holder and mounting the TT in its place. I had Zev from Avalon pop up out my radio so I connect it all together. I saw in his car the Nav Plus system. DAMN~ that thing soooooo sweet. I cannot wait till he gets it out. I'll be waiting for it to come out. He said that he'll be at Waterfest with it set-up. So i'm considering going down there to check it out again.

Well this is the end of long post. Here are some pics I took:

Shot of the car being lowered
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9223/dsc00085_small.jpg">

Rear Wheel Gap (2 fingers)
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9223/dsc00087_small.jpg">

Rear Wheel
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9223/dsc00088_small.jpg">

Front Wheel Gap (3 fingers)
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9223/dsc00089_small.jpg">

Front Wheel
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9223/dsc00090_small.jpg">

The Greddy TT installed and mounted
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9223/dsc00086_small.jpg">

So a quick question. Should I change the perches on my rear suspension so it is evened out? I set the rears to the lowest perches, but I also am wondering if the front will settle anymore.

Thanks.

EDIT: I went back a revised my post for errors, I wrote it in a crazy rush this morning.

VicG

center of wheel, up to fender (which takes out any discrepency measuring from ground up due to tire pressure).

Also check the look of the lines on your car front to back, place a level on the windows and see if your car is level. Personally I'd adjust to that. I think a level car looks better than one with any amount of rake, positive or negative.

Vic

Digit@lex

if you have that tight gap with the 15" stockers...wait until you put the REs on! That's going to close the gap even more because the tires are wider. When I went with my rims and 235s it really filled out the wheel wells.

RKA

Typically, the rears should be on the lowest perch, and you should have and even gap all around with the H&amp;R sports. Give it some time to settle and see what happens. Putting on the 18" wheels will also change your perceptions of how low or high your suspension is. Get the wheels on let it settle, then re-evaluate.

pyite20v

And I am putting in bilsteins/nuespeed sports, so it better drop at least an inch. Do you guys think I am expecting too much? 20mm from the shocks, and another 15mm from the springs is what I am expecting, is this possible?

rfan-r32

also, i had bilstien shocks, not the neuspeeds. so the first shocks were not adjustable.

VicG

if you put your new tire/rim next to old tire/rim, they should be very close to the same height.
Otherwise, your rolling diameter will be different, and your speedometer would be way off.

Digit@lex

so wider wheels stick out more and that additional width visually changes the wheel gap. If the new rims were the same offset and width, then there would be no change.

When I replaced my 7" wide rims to 8.5" rims, the wheel gap decreased by about 1 finger although the overall diameter was the same.

VicG

the width does move rubber towards wheel fender but it doesn't decrease "gap" per se.

It's all a matter of perspective...

Digit@lex

but I know what you are saying.