I arrived at Auto Motion in Louisville Monday for the install and dyno testing. I wanted to make sure I dynod with these installed since when I get programming I would like to eliminate as many variables as possible.

The install was pretty straight forward in the expert hands of Brian of Auto motion.

Here we have the strut tower mounts being prepped for the new mounting plates of the liner rate springs and front dampers...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/CoiloverInstall-1.jpg">

Now, the next thing to do with any coilover kit is to set up the ride height for proper driving with the coilovers not yet installed.

The proper ride height is available in a set range of preferrred height specified by the valving of the dampers. If you set the car to low, the car will get squirrely when pushed hard and can end up all over the road or track when pushing it hard. Set it too high, and you will not receive the full benefits of your new modified suspension. The optimal range of operation for your coilover can be obtained either in the instruction manual or by contacing the manufacturer.

The optimum range for setting the ride height can be determined by measuring from the lower damper bolt holes (in the lower perch) to the lower spring collar. The optimum range is not easily measured using "fender to floor" ride heights since the manufacturers do not specify these ranges often and also since changes in tire sizes, etc can change these variables. Here is a photo of the ranges of the PSS9 Coiliver kit...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/PSS9Adjustments-1.jpg">

With these coilovers set to the lower end of the optimal ranges for ride height, we then installed them on the car...

FRONT:
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/CoiloverInstall-5.jpg">

REAR:
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/CoiloverInstall-2.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/CoiloverInstall-3.jpg">

Note that the dampening adjusters are facing forward for the front and rearward for the rear. The PSS9 kit is unique in that it allows full compression/rebound adjustability with the setup installed on the vehicle. This makes adjusting the damper firmness a less than 5 minute excercise for going from track to street or perhaps setting the car softer when family is in town.

Here are some before and after pics...

BEFORE HEAD ON...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/b7audifront-1-800.jpg">

AFTER HEAD ON...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/B7afterBilstein-4-640.jpg">

BEFORE FRONT 3/4...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/b7audiside-2-800.jpg">

AFTER FRONT 3/4...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/B7afterBilstein-5-640.jpg">

BEFORE REAR 3/4...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/b7audiside-3-800.jpg">

AFTER REAR 3/4...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/B7afterBilstein-2-640.jpg">

The ride height stock was...

Front: 27 3/4"
Rear: 27 5/8"

The current ride heigh is...

Front: 25 1/2"
Rear: 25 1/2"

I will be contacting Steve at Bilstein to see if since we are using the upgraded springs and valving on a lighter car if we cant bring the front down 1/4" to creat the desired 1/4" positive rake for our cars.

IMPRESSIONS...

It has been nice testing this setup with the stock swaybars in place so I could remove that from the equation. All in all, this setup performs above my expectations.

The dampening is set to full siff on the rear (setting range from 1 to 9 with 1 being stiffest) and one setting from full stiff on the front. The ride is stable without any "bounce" I have found with many spring and coil type upgrades that are non-matched. The ride dampening is definitely stiff, but surprisingly very tolerable on Kentucky roads that are spotted with potholes.

Taking cornes at twice to three times the posted speeds is stable and sure with this system. The car rides with less understeer than previously however understeer is still the end of the spectrum this car leans towards when pushed to 10/10. The addition of a rear sway upgrade may be very helpful to neutralize or even shift this car towards mild oversteer. I'll let you know how that works out next month.

cheers! Mike

 

this kit also gives a car much better looks.
I bet you miss you old B6 less and less by day now.
Congrats, Mike.

Max.

 

Looking good. Glad the PSS9's worked out for ya!

Thanks for the write up!

 

Wow that thing sat high before. Looks good!

 

wow nice drop!!

 

I saw a post about this on the B6 forum. Wondering what this entails and if I should do the same with my coilovers. Thanks.

- Frank

 

Basically, just loosen and tighten while lowered. Sure, a good thing to do.

 

set it at 30mm

 

are all those white dots rock chips?, if so, ouch. very nice setup tho.

 

Love how clean everything looks.