Allroad air suspension upgrade

[vtraudt]

Is there any alternatives out there to upgrade the air suspension (NOT COIL OVERS etc, want to maintain height adjustability) aside from Arnott Gen 2 and Bilstein/Arnott shocks?

I have the Gen 2 in the front (stock shocks), and Bilstein/Arnott in the rear (stock air bags) (- don't ask; it's a money thing).

The rear Bilstein shocks don't have the fancy 'heavy trailer' feature the stock ones have.

The Gen 2 feel a bit stiffer than stock springs, but not much.
With the Bilstein rear shocks, I did not notice much difference to stock.

The Gen 2 springs with the stock shocks are CLEARLY under dampened (bigger wheels tires will make that even worse).

From reading posts, I gather that Bilstein is using their 'normal' internals and stick them in the Allroad needed sheet metal.
Bilstein offers the same internals in a 'sport' version, but NOT in the Allroad package.

Any other options out there?
Any suggestions how to firm up the air suspension (which seem to get softer the lower the height settings are).

[Byrdman]

I to am interested if there is anything that can be done to make the allroad handle a little better. Currently in the market for an upgrade. What works best?

[V1nny]

I wonder, if there are any performance shops that would rebuild/revalve original Allroad shocks.

[jesusgatos]

Talking with Arnott about working with Bilstein to tune a set of allroad-specific shocks. Will keep you guys posted. Would really help our case if anyone interested could express that. Oh and in the meantime, Bilstein can/will re-valve shocks for $100ea.

[4ringAR]

I take it you don't have h-sport sway bars? Start there then come talk to us of you are still wanting more.

[V1nny]

I take it you don't have h-sport sway bars? Start there then come talk to us of you are still wanting more.

Hotchkis sway bars do very little to the suspension damping rate. I really hope some performance shop is able to re-valve our OEM shocks for more firmness. It should not be a rocket science.

[4ringAR]

Hotchkis sway bars do very little to the suspension damping rate. I really hope some performance shop is able to re-valve our OEM shocks for more firmness. It should not be a rocket science.

Yeah, its only adding spring rate for cornering, technically. But it tightens up the whole car and reduces the "wallowing" of the stock allroad.....I also dont want to get into a vibrations lecture

[bengone1]

I will be keeping the air ride on my allroad and I hope this is sorted by then.

Hard to believe they cannot make the shock's valving stiffer as they get lower. Too bad there is no money in it for Koni come up with an FSD competitor.

[geeky]

I will be keeping the air ride on my allroad and I hope this is sorted by then.

Hard to believe they cannot make the shock's valving stiffer as they get lower. Too bad there is no money in it for Koni come up with an FSD competitor.

If you want adjustability of the air suspension and getting more responsive handling the only way to do it at this point without investing money into R&D, prototyping etc is to do an A6 suspension swap with a bag-over-coil setup and running an aftermarket air management system. That is literally the only way at this point in time to have the versatility of the AR air system and not having to invest in R&D and production costs unless you work at a fabrication shop and can do this on your own time.

[vtraudt]

A6 suspension swap with a bag-over-coil setup and running an aftermarket air management system.

Can you tell us more about this system? What coils are used? Spring rates? Damping rates?

Through collaboration between Russia, Australia and German-in-USA, measure-up, design, machining, and some fabrication/modification to the Koni (likely the 82-2488-Sport (180n at 0.52 m/s; the 82-2516 may be a bit to stiff at 390N at 0.52 m/s), we may have a setup that has the proper damping for the Gen II springs.
We'll see.

What bothers me is the ignorance or plain UN-KNOWLEDGE of Arnott. I COULD accept that for some ebay re-seller, but not from someone how claims to works/manufacture/sell suspension parts !!!

Since they are already working/buying from Bilstein, why not have them make a set of say 4 shocks with different valving and put them on a car. As suspension manufacturer, they even should have access to test stands, vehicle 'shakers'. So finding the proper damping settings for those Bilsteins would be a SNAP!

They did not even KNOW Bilstein is offering custom valving of their shocks. When I talked to Bilstein, the only issue was what damping to chose, with NO baseline to go by (no spring rates from Arnott Gen II).

Would really be a slap in their face if some backyard screwdriverjunkies (the above mentioned 3 stooges) can come up with a decent solution.

If someone could dig up the damping rates of the Bilstein Arnott is using? Bilstein 24-025935 , BE5-2593
And confirm the numbers gathered for the Koni above?

[bradnic]

very interested in this. any updates?

[vtraudt]

very interested in this. any updates?

I sourced the Koni's and have the parts here to make a front pair. Need to pull all the information together to modify the shock housing (groove), the fork (cut and weld machined extension piece in) and put it together.

Good reminder to get it done, since my 2002 AR 6 spd is currently on the hoist, engine out (big upgrades; hope to get 550 cHP off the bat), tranny out (1st and 2nd gear synchros worn). So ideal time to also put the modified Konis in.

[2.5TDi_AR]

Pushed the allroad hard today and hated the floaty and wallowy suspension. Have you had a chance to fit the Koni's with modifications to your allroad?

[CHRISTOPHÉ]

On my old 8 I cut out the bar between shock and fork and re welded it 20mm closer to lower it wish there could be something done with rear shocks like this as I would have done it on my AR by now! Did look at lowering the mounting position of the bolt on the lower arm but haven't touched it yet, I still can't find much more info on cutting down the bumpstops on original suspension