The Definitive Suspension Parts List

Just about to do the same , spoke to spring loaded , really nice chaps , seem to know their onions & that's a great price I reckon , are you replacing the strut mounts on yours ? if so what make have u gone for / going for ? as im guessing it's sensible to change these at the same time , so I costed the bilstein items , but I think I read somewhere on the forum that it's best to use a certain make ? But I don't know what make or the reason , can anyone shed some light on the subject please
 
Can someone help me out with the part numbers for the front ARB bushes pls, there seem to be two different parts, presumably for different diameter of ARB? Ours is a sport but no idea if that means it has the 20mm ARB?
Also, are Febi drop links any good?

Thanks

Ian
 
Just about to do the same , spoke to spring loaded , really nice chaps , seem to know their onions & that's a great price I reckon , are you replacing the strut mounts on yours ? if so what make have u gone for / going for ? as im guessing it's sensible to change these at the same time , so I costed the bilstein items , but I think I read somewhere on the forum that it's best to use a certain make ? But I don't know what make or the reason , can anyone shed some light on the subject please
Missed your request (always handy to quote). I purchased SKF VKDA 35115 T strut mounts(I think depronman used these) from mister auto. Yes, my car is expected to be in the family a while, though I'm getting the creak when turning at low speeds suggesting the bearing has passed its best. Also replacing the bump stop though keeping the original springs (84k miles) until I convince myself to go with the Eibach E7910-140 as I fancy it being slightly lower.
 
Can someone help me out with the part numbers for the front ARB bushes pls, there seem to be two different parts, presumably for different diameter of ARB? Ours is a sport but no idea if that means it has the 20mm ARB?
Also, are Febi drop links any good?

Thanks

Ian
Sorry, can't help with the ARB diameter though I gather the universally recommended droplinks are Meyle HD. Mine were £28.95/pair here...
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-AUDI-A...0650581259?_mwBanner=1&_rdt=1&epid=1782456340
 
Can someone help me out with the part numbers for the front ARB bushes pls, there seem to be two different parts, presumably for different diameter of ARB? Ours is a sport but no idea if that means it has the 20mm ARB?
Also, are Febi drop links any good?

Thanks

Ian

Two different diameter ARBs the smaller diameter has a plastic sleeve that seems to usually break meaning the usual 18mm bush (including the sleeve is too big, so you then use the polo 16mm bush without the sleeve
The larger ARB takes (I think) 21mm bushes and I'm not sure whether it has the crappy plastic sleeve - I found this item on ebay 152408776821 which includes the recommended Meyle HD drop links, that I was going to buy, but unfortunately I had the smaller ARB (SE model)

Brian
 
Thank you. So am I safe to assume a sport model will have the 20.8mm ARB?

Don't think so.
As far as I know, sports suspension uses the same dia roll bar as standard set-up.
Early roll bars have the plastic sleeves which effectively increase the dia of the bar where it mounts in the bushes - which are 20.8mm bore

When the sleeves break up, a quick fix is to remove them completely and fit smaller bore bushes (often referred to as 16mm Polo bushes) I think these are an ultra tight fit to provide some clamping effect to limit sideways movement of the bar

Later roll bars don't have the plastic sleeves but incorporate end stop washers to prevent sideways movement of the bar. they use 18mm bushes.

Early and late model roll bars are nominally 18mm dia

For info, several club members use the thicker H&R front roll bar plus a rear roll bar kit

Cheers Spike
 
Handy list, save a bit of time, most part numbers are still used as 03/07/2018.

The rear shock absorbers were trash, planning to replace the front absorbers / springs next month
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A couple of questions about the top-level parts list.
My understanding is that SE and sport suspensions use the same springs but different top mounts at the front, and spring seats at the back. These account for the 10 mm difference in ride height. Correct?
When the Polo front strut mount is described as "stronger", does that simply mean more durable (lasts longer) or is it a different stiffness?
What is it about the Koni FSD struts that cause them to jack the front of the car up? Different spring pan position vs. location to hub?
Does the Special Active strut (successor to the FSD) have this same characteristic?

If I want to transform the tired, wooden ride of my TDi 90 with optional sport pack, my reading of this forum suggests a good set-up would be
Koni Special Active dampers
Spidan 49527 front springs
SE-spec strut top mounts (Meyle)
SE bump stops
New cast lower arms (for security rather than ride) with petrol-spec rear rubber bush
SE-spec rear spring seats.

Does the panel think that this lot makes sense?
 
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When we did ours we were told by the Audi parts guys that the sport rear spring seat is no longer available, so we used the SE item. It doesn’t make any different to the actual ride as far as I’m aware.
 
When we did ours we were told by the Audi parts guys that the sport rear spring seat is no longer available, so we used the SE item. It doesn’t make any different to the actual ride as far as I’m aware.
Hmm, interesting. Are you talking about the top seat? At the top of this thread, Tom says:
"Choice: 1J0 512 149 B – SE rear spring upper seat or 1J0 512 149 - Sport rear spring upper seat (10mm thinner than SE version) (x2)"
Maybe the nominal 10 mm difference isn't that noticeable

PS the OSS is working beautifully, thanks.
 
The symptoms suggest that the top mounts/bearings are shot on my front suspension. While I'm replacing them I may as well replace the shock absorbers, the springs appear to be fine. I don't want to change the ride height and I want a better ride if possible. What shocks would the sages out there currently recommend?
 
The symptoms suggest that the top mounts/bearings are shot on my front suspension. While I'm replacing them I may as well replace the shock absorbers, the springs appear to be fine. I don't want to change the ride height and I want a better ride if possible. What shocks would the sages out there currently recommend?
I very recently bought 4 new Koni Special Active dampers. Dear, but good. I only really noticed how good they are today compared to my old Audi Sport-spec jobs. The car floated over some nasty irregularities in the A14 near Cambridge that used to have me and the car bouncing all over the place.
Other people like Bilsteins or Monroes, but I can't speak for them.
Unless it's broken, I see no reason to change a spring. They don't wear out.

Good luck,

Mike
 
Koni, Bilstein and Monroe all appear to do versions that are either ~£50 or ~£130 (eg STR/Special Active, Spectrum/Reflex). Are the expensive versions worth the extra outlay? Would I notice £150 more in frequency selective damping or whatever? Would I be happy enough with the change to intact top mounts and fresh shocks?
 
It would be interesting to see if we could assemble three similar-spec cars with each of the three damper makes and do a blind tasting. Keeping it blind might be a challenge, tho’.
If you’re anywhere near East Anglia, you’d be welcome to come for a spin in mine.
 
They'd also need the same wheels and tyres, to give a true impression?

@Nye - there are a couple of German online retailers selling a full set of 4 Monroe Reflex dampers for around £110, including delivery to UK. That's a lot less than you'll get the Koni's for.
 
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They'd also need the same wheels and tyres, to give a true impression?

@Nye - there are a couple of German online retailers selling a full set of 4 Monroe Reflex dampers for around £110, including delivery to UK. That's a lot less than you'll get the Koni's for.
Thank you. Which German retailers please? I've found fronts for £67/pair. Are Monroe Reflex better than Monroe OESpectrum? I think I read that OESpectrum had superseded Reflex, although the Monroe site lists them both.
 
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Hi, I just ordered the OESpectrum as these are the next generation from Monroe for the Reflex shox. Seem to be goo per the advertising blurb and manage the feel of buzzy roads better... so they say. I also ordered the Spidan springs (49527 front, 49546 rear) after a lot of searching. I have ordered top mounts and bearings from online auto shops and will get the bump stops (sport) and dust covers from local Audi to me.

Going for the SE version of the upper rubber spring seat for the extra height just in case the back end sits low with the lower sport spring seat version (-10mm from SE version). Mine is a TDI 90bph.

If anyone can help... does anyone know if the rear top strut mount has a bearing also? I am not clear on this and the online order I did I note states 'Without anti-friction bearing'.... suggests there may be a bearing to be ordered for it, but cant find anything on searches and it is not listed in the definitive parts lit from Timmus.
Cheers, Douglas.
 
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