Alignment for mild-track/agressive-street & H&R coilovers (long) (repost from Racing)
#1
Alignment for mild-track/agressive-street & H&R coilovers (long) (repost from Racing)
First of all, thanks to all of you who posted thoughts and personal experiences with coilover sets for the A4s and S4s. I read as much as I could find in the archives and finally decided on the following in order of "personal" (after all my research) preference:
1) Vortrag Hypercoil/cutom-Koni $2200 from vortrag
2) H&R Ultra-Performance coilover for the A4/S4 $1500 from tirerack
3) H&R Coilover kit for the A4 Quattro $1300 from tirerack
4) Koni Coilover < $1000 from tirerack
(the reason I chose tirerack instead of other vendors is because I do not pay sales tax, only shipping - I'm in CA)
I got my second choice (due to cost). Every review I read about the H&R coilovers was talking about choice #3 - the regular kit for the A4quattro or the regular kit for the S4. Almost everyone was very happy with the kit on the street but a few mentioned that it was somewhat mild for the track. These same people have either thought about upgrading to the Vortrag or already have upgraded. I was surprised no one had installed the ultra performance kit (which by the way, it is the same for the A4 1.8TQ and for the S4) so I called H&R and asked for details and here they are:
Spring rates in lbf/in:
A4 Quattro Coilover: 460 Rear, 430 Front
A4 Quattro/S4 Ultra Performance: 610 Rear, 595 Front.
So how do they feel: Excellent! But I did take a few precautions. I only wanted a slight drop: 1/2 in. drop from the sport-suspension, and I am still using the sport 16" wheel. The distance from the pavement to the wheel fender is about 25.5 in. all around. In the highway they are great, very tolerable. Even some passengers that prefer the lincoln town car suspensions expressed that they were not too harsh. Now on rough (full of potholes and not smooth at all) roads they are OK if traveling at more than 30-40 mph, if you travel slow below 25mph it can get a little harsh for me still tolerable for a few minutes.
I will post a more detailed review after Thunderhill Jan 13-14, 2001!
Over all I am very happy!
Now for the alignment, I will be getting it corner balanced and re-aligned before the Thunderhill event and I would like your opinion.
Basically I would like a mild-track alignment set-up. Steve S. posted some numbers last year and are as follows:
Left Front Right Front
-1º24'........Camber.......-1º28'
+5º01'..........Toe..........+4º17'
Left Rear Right Rear
-1º11'........Camber.......-1º10'
+0º10'..........Toe..........+0º10'
Any suggestions?
By the way, the H&R coilover kit was installed by 2Bennett in Davis, CA. Well worth the drive (from Monterey). Excellent service and price! Even though it took 2.5 hrs longer than they expected, they only charged me what they quoted me.
My corner balance and alignment will be done by Custom Alignment in MountainView I think.
1) Vortrag Hypercoil/cutom-Koni $2200 from vortrag
2) H&R Ultra-Performance coilover for the A4/S4 $1500 from tirerack
3) H&R Coilover kit for the A4 Quattro $1300 from tirerack
4) Koni Coilover < $1000 from tirerack
(the reason I chose tirerack instead of other vendors is because I do not pay sales tax, only shipping - I'm in CA)
I got my second choice (due to cost). Every review I read about the H&R coilovers was talking about choice #3 - the regular kit for the A4quattro or the regular kit for the S4. Almost everyone was very happy with the kit on the street but a few mentioned that it was somewhat mild for the track. These same people have either thought about upgrading to the Vortrag or already have upgraded. I was surprised no one had installed the ultra performance kit (which by the way, it is the same for the A4 1.8TQ and for the S4) so I called H&R and asked for details and here they are:
Spring rates in lbf/in:
A4 Quattro Coilover: 460 Rear, 430 Front
A4 Quattro/S4 Ultra Performance: 610 Rear, 595 Front.
So how do they feel: Excellent! But I did take a few precautions. I only wanted a slight drop: 1/2 in. drop from the sport-suspension, and I am still using the sport 16" wheel. The distance from the pavement to the wheel fender is about 25.5 in. all around. In the highway they are great, very tolerable. Even some passengers that prefer the lincoln town car suspensions expressed that they were not too harsh. Now on rough (full of potholes and not smooth at all) roads they are OK if traveling at more than 30-40 mph, if you travel slow below 25mph it can get a little harsh for me still tolerable for a few minutes.
I will post a more detailed review after Thunderhill Jan 13-14, 2001!
Over all I am very happy!
Now for the alignment, I will be getting it corner balanced and re-aligned before the Thunderhill event and I would like your opinion.
Basically I would like a mild-track alignment set-up. Steve S. posted some numbers last year and are as follows:
Left Front Right Front
-1º24'........Camber.......-1º28'
+5º01'..........Toe..........+4º17'
Left Rear Right Rear
-1º11'........Camber.......-1º10'
+0º10'..........Toe..........+0º10'
Any suggestions?
By the way, the H&R coilover kit was installed by 2Bennett in Davis, CA. Well worth the drive (from Monterey). Excellent service and price! Even though it took 2.5 hrs longer than they expected, they only charged me what they quoted me.
My corner balance and alignment will be done by Custom Alignment in MountainView I think.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
funkadelic
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
4
12-05-2001 10:54 AM
Todd/A.W.E.
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
4
04-24-2001 09:37 AM
Jose A4
Motorsport Discussion
12
12-22-2000 10:57 AM
How do you adjust the H&R Coilovers? On the car I presume or do i have to take off, is it hard to do
sparkster
Performance and Tuning
2
11-03-2000 09:09 PM