Ohlins suspension

[JRutter]

My suspension progression has been S-line stock -> Euro S-line springs on stock dampers -> Bilstein PSS10 -> Ohlins R&T with Euro springs. I did like a lot of aspects of the Bilsteins, but they are just a little too harsh for me on uneven pavement around town (frost heaved concrete streets especially). This seems to be a characteristic of most monotube shocks.

I first heard about the Ohlins from ryeboy on the R32 forum, who got linear springs and a Ground Control conversion kit for height adjustment. Then when I spent some time at VND Motorsport up in BC, I got to talking about suspension with the owner, Shawn. He has tried 2 or 3 different setups on his R32, springs, PSS10, KW V3, and I forget what else. He said that he was not satisfied with any of them and based on rides in other Ohlins prepped cars, these were his next setup. I want to get back to a comfortable ride, even if that means going back to close to stock ride height. I ended up raising my coilovers anyway to get more travel.

I got these from Tracy at Performance Shock in CA. They were easy to work with and did not have any other suspension package at any price that they thought would be better. These were ordered from Sweden and arrived in about 3 weeks. Overall quality is very high. Unlike the PSS10s, which I could barely budge at the lowest damping setting, these move pretty easily and smoothly on compression and rebound.

Just a little tease for right now. Not sure when I will have the chance to get these installed.

[slowandlow]

[ceese]

My suspension progression has been S-line stock -> Euro S-line springs on stock dampers -> Bilstein PSS10 -> Ohlins R&T with Euro springs. I did like a lot of aspects of the Bilsteins, but they are just a little too harsh for me on uneven pavement around town (frost heaved concrete streets especially). This seems to be a characteristic of most monotube shocks.

I first heard about the Ohlins from ryeboy on the R32 forum, who got linear springs and a Ground Control conversion kit for height adjustment. Then when I spent some time at VND Motorsport up in BC, I got to talking about suspension with the owner, Shawn. He has tried 2 or 3 different setups on his R32, springs, PSS10, KW V3, and I forget what else. He said that he was not satisfied with any of them and based on rides in other Ohlins prepped cars, these were his next setup. I want to get back to a comfortable ride, even if that means going back to close to stock ride height. I ended up raising my coilovers anyway to get more travel.

I got these from Tracy at Performance Shock in CA. They were easy to work with and did not have any other suspension package at any price that they thought would be better. These were ordered from Sweden and arrived in about 3 weeks. Overall quality is very high. Unlike the PSS10s, which I could barely budge at the lowest damping setting, these move pretty easily and smoothly on compression and rebound.

Just a little tease for right now. Not sure when I will have the chance to get these installed.

Can't wait to see this setup and I volunteer to help with the install.

[SilverSquirrel]

Can't wait to see this setup and I volunteer to help with the install.

x2

but these look too shiny and nice to install in a dirty old car. You should just put them in a glass case and hang them in the living room

[krazyboi]

[Subaruski1]

what springs are you pairing with these?

[JRutter]

what springs are you pairing with these?

euro s-line for the 3.2

[tp.wannabe.s3]

are these lighter than stock?

[JRutter]

Not lighter from what I remember.

[Maitre Absolut]

ohlins = baller

[Rogerthat]

For 3.2, I can't relate.

[SilverSquirrel]

I can.

[JRutter]

For 3.2, I can't relate.

All Mk5. You just pick the appropriate springs.

[SilverSquirrel]

Are you going to have your spring rates measured before you install?

[punkstarkitch]

How much are these? They must be a lot, I want some Ohlins forks for my Ducati, but they're over 2k!

[JRutter]

I asked about getting the springs dynoed, but apparently, they don't have a rig that will do progressive spring rates accurately

Under $2k shipped, with one free revalve if they don't match the springs (unlikely).


-JR

[SilverSquirrel]

I asked about getting the springs dynoed, but apparently, they don't have a rig that will do progressive spring rates accurately

Under $2k shipped, with one free revalve if they don't match the springs (unlikely).


-JR

hmm... interested to hear how she rides/handles.
remember, these ohlins are tailored for stock MKV GTI. Our A3 3.2's are 600lb heavier, and our stock springs are 260(+/-)lb/in F and 300 lb/in R,
compared to GTI @ 150-180 F and 180 R

I'd hang on to that free revalve coupon... in case the adjustment knobs dont get you where you need to be.

[JRutter]

The R32 guy who has them paired with stiffer linear springs is running them at just under 1/2 of full stiff, so it should be great with the OEM euros. Definitely good to have that service on tap though!


-JR

[crew219]

I asked about getting the springs dynoed, but apparently, they don't have a rig that will do progressive spring rates accurately

Under $2k shipped, with one free revalve if they don't match the springs (unlikely).


-JR

.... aren't Euro S-line springs linear?

[SilverSquirrel]

Our 3.2 suspensions are UA9 so, are which ones are the euros, do you suppose?



2004-2012 A3 [8P] (UA0 UA4) Normal Suspension
2004-2012 A3 [8P] (UA1 UA5 UA9) Sports Suspension
2004-2012 A3 [8P] (UA2) Offroad Suspension
2004-2012 A3 [8P] (UA3 UB3) Sports Suspension Quattro GmbH
2004-2012 A3 [8P] (UA6) Sports Suspension Audi Magnetic Ride (AMR)
2006-2012 A3 [8P] (UA7) Sports Suspension S3 Audi Magnetic Ride (AMR)
2004-2012 A3 [8P] (UB2) Sports Suspension RS 3
2006-2012 A3 [8P] (UB5) Sports Suspension S3

Slightly off topic, (sorry JR)

[JRutter]

They look almost identical to the springs that came on the car. So I assumed that they were just a tad lower and stiffer. That is how I remember them anyway. I don't have the invoice here with me to see what the P/Ns are.


-JR

[SilverSquirrel]

They look almost identical to the springs that came on the car. So I assumed that they were just a tad lower and stiffer. That is how I remember them anyway. I don't have the invoice here with me to see what the P/Ns are.


-JR

just wondering how many tads stiffer. I think low is 1/2" +/- based on all the old threads.
But, according to TechEd's posts the eruo spec springs on the GTI and Golf R and MKV R32 have the same rate, but slightly lower static height.

[JRutter]

Tyrol Mike will test springs, so I am planning to send him mine before I do the install. He has a basic jig and just gets 3 data points at 1", 2", and 3" of compression.


-JR

[JRutter]

IIRC, my car dropped 5/8" in front and the back was pretty much unchanged for height. Compared to 2007 S- Line springs.


-JR

[SilverSquirrel]

Tyrol Mike will test springs, so I am planning to send him mine before I do the install. He has a basic jig and just gets 3 data points at 1", 2", and 3" of compression.


-JR

thats great! post up the data, when you get it!

[JRutter]

Pulled out my original springs and the Euro springs from storage and cleaned them up to send to Tyrol Mike. Here are some comparison pics and basic info. Note: length and outside diameter is from a tape measure, so may not be as precise as the last significant digit indicates. Coil count and wire diameter should be very close.

US Front: Red/Pink/Pink/Pink, 12.375" x 5.75" OD, 5.25 coils @ 0.519" thick

Euro Front: Green/Gray/Blue/Blue, 10.25" x 5.9" OD, 4.75 coils @ 0.569" thick

US Rear: Green/Green/Blue/Blue/Blue, 12.5" x 4.75" OD, 7.6 coils @ 0.531" thick

Euro Rear: Brown/Gray/Gray/Gray, 10.625" x 4.68", 7.5 coils @ 0.555" thick

[SilverSquirrel]

(see my request for outside dia. data on MKV R32 thread)

just went out and checked color code:

For my stock USA 2006 3.2Q, Its different than your '07
Front: Grey x3 and one Green dot, Rear: Blue x3 + Orange x2 dots

Has anyone EVER figured out this damn color code system??

[JRutter]

Added the OD info above. I hope to get these sent off by the end of the week.

[ceese]

True Ducaudi suspension - I bet that's going to be a great setup. Anyone know where you can get a set of the Euro springs?

[JRutter]

I ordered mine through the dealer. There must be some used out there though.

[JRutter]

In round numbers:

S-Line F = 180 lb/in
Euro F = 280 lb/in

S-Line R = 250 lb/in
Euro R = 330 lb/in

[ceese]

In round numbers:

S-Line F = 180 lb/in
Euro F = 280 lb/in

S-Line R = 250 lb/in
Euro R = 330 lb/in

Seems like a big difference from US spec - right around 35% stiffer rate in the front and 25% in the rear. Do you remember what they were like when you installed them with your OEM shocks originally? Big difference in handling in body roll over the US spec?

I wonder why the % difference between the front and rear.

[JRutter]

I remember them being firmer, but the ride was still comfortable. The damping was not the greatest on stock shocks though. It cornered flatter than stock, but still had that compliance in corners that you want for better traction.

I learned from SilverSquirrel that in 2006, when the A3 first shipped to NA, the springs were almost identical to the Euro rates and the dampers were valved to match. They changed that spec before the model year even ended though, in favor of softer rates.

[LWNY]

Any info on the R32 springs? Are they close to the Euro A3 3.2 springs? I see practically every R32 dood selling their spring, but practically no Euro A3 3.2 springs around

[SilverSquirrel]

Any info on the R32 springs? Are they close to the Euro A3 3.2 springs? I see practically every R32 dood selling their spring, but practically no Euro A3 3.2 springs around

according to the sources on the MKV R32 forum, R32 springs test out identical to JRUTTER's stock 2007 US 3.2, 180F/250R

coincidence? I dont think so.