defconfour

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I just got the VAG-COM w/ Hex last Friday. Yesterday, I tried the 402 mod.

Followed the steps in Nebuchadnezzar's 11/24 write up. Everything seemed to have gone fine - although when looking at the car at level 1 it didn't look nearly as low as other 402 modded cars.

Last nite I took measurements of the height in my garage (pretty sure the floor is perfectly level) and found that the car wasn't lowered as much as planned. BTW, I entered 417 for the front values and 414 for the back (15mm front/12mm back)

From what I understand the proper way to get the 402 value is from the center of the wheel to the fender.

From the values, it almost looks like the RF channel (channel 2) was not updated and is keeping that part of the car up.

Do you guys know if I can manipulate the values to get back to the correct 402 height? Then adjust the suspension down from there? I would think there would be some way to start from scratch - say if a corner was replaced due to damage.

I should have taken measurement prior to the mod to double check. Hindsight is 50/50...
I guess if worse comes to worse I can blame it on the snowstorm we just had and have the dealer check it.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

itacud

Then you need to be sure you're holding the ruler with consistent allignment, when measuring. You can have someone help you by watching the ruler from a few feet back - checking for correct allignment

It's extremely easy for measurements to be off by several mm if the ground is not perflectly flat and level, or the ruler is tilted slightly.

If all that is good, then you just need to measure again, and adjust the height accordingly. There is no way to "reset" to stock other than to re-meassure and correct.

Nebuchadnezzar

about perfection and getting it right. It's not exactly a science how much it'll actually lower the car. I have no clue what stock even looks like anymore. :-)

defconfour

Good to hear I was on the right track.

I feel that the measuring was consistent as the rear had identical output.

My garage floor is a level and flat as can be found.

I'll see if Home Depot or Sears has a straight edge measuring ruler. Hopefully one in mm.

Thanks for the help!

-don

markcincinnati

I know this is not a popular sentiment considering the impressive technical talent that exists here on audiworld, but I had my dealer do the whole thing and IT DID require an all wheel alignment -- which thankfully was part of the audi advantage.

BTW I lowered 12mm (at level one). I know all levels are lower, but I specifically was looking for the "maximum" lowering at level one.

I do not know everything my technician did to make sure that level one was truly .5 inch lower (about 12mm, that is), but it IS visible and the handling is tighter and the ride is a bit stiffer.

In fact when I am just cruising down the frost-heaved interstates at high speeds, I push it up to level two (which seems about like the old level one) to keep things comfortable.

Of course the moment I hit the exit ramp, I drop down into "handling mode."

Anyway, I say if you are NOT technically brilliant (like me) let the dealer do it.

defconfour

...enough to mess things up but also usually figure things out as well.

I'm a programmer by trade (ASP/JSP) and find the only way to really learn things is when you totally mess it up and really have to figure it out.

Sounds like your dealer goes beyond the call and did it the right way. I have the feeling my dealer is a bit more like what Neb described. I'll "play" with it a bit and won't mind finding out as much as I can in the process. I try to do as much as I can on my cars - did the brakes/exhaust/boost gauge on the A4. If I had a better garage/air tools I would have done the suspension.

Do you know how much the alignment was out of spec? My guess is that the camber is just set in a few mm. Which might be a good thing for the turns

defconfour

I wonder if it's possible to get it corner balanced like people do with coilovers.

Markmotodr

What I have been doing when adjusting hight on my other car. Is to string on the body across the center of the wheel(Blocking if nessary to allow the wheel free movement) This will give you a reference point on the center of the wheel. a ruler taped to the wheel. Instant visual indicator. You can then roll the car to settle and have an idea of change.

Markmotodr

Defcon4: If it were a very stiff race platform (springs and frame) You would see a benny there, but for a street car on the road a few (10 to 50lbs) is not going to make a lote of difference.

defconfour

Cool - thanks. I'll make sure to try that method