Rally Suspension?!

[audiosrallygod]

I know I know but here is the low down,
I live in the Pacific Northwest and have for most of my life. As you might infer from my namesake I have been a rally enthusiast since my dear old man took me up in the hills to watch Group B cars with the likes of Buffum's Audi throwing flames out the back end and giving me a permanent scar on my shin from 100mph rocks. Yes, over 25 years later....its still there.....On to my quandary. I camp, backpack, snowboard, and in between those transit stages.... IM FREAKIN RALLYIN!!!. Gravel stages from the HammaHamma to Forks, Capital Forest, Wynoochee Dam I know some of the most "Rally Ready" roads around. To get down to it. I'm looking for a suspension that will allow me to raise the car in an adjustable coilover fashion so that when I go out on my adventures I can change the tires, lift her up a little and off I go. Any insight would be great. I thought I would ask you good folks if you have ever heard of a kit around....Maybe Europe with these sort of features. I'm sure some of my northern friends in the snow have had the same dream while sitting in their garage with 4 feet of fresh snow on the ground......Yours humbly, RallyGod

[JimmyBones]

You have a bunch of options for coilovers. The real deciding factor is how much money do you want to spend?

The best that you can get is the PSI Raceline Ohlins TTX from 034 Motorsports for almost $5,500 to only height adjustable Vogtlands for just under a grand.

I would personally recommend that you get something with a stainless steel body so it doesn't rust over really bad like KW V3s.

[cdsvt]

I can only share remotely related advice.

My last and only rally car was a vw, and I used ground control coil overs with eibach springs and bilstein rally struts. I increased the spring rates considerably and used linear rate race springs. The bilstein rally struts have thicker shafts and compression/rebound settings tuned for rally use. I'm sure you can get something similar for the audi.

I also ran extended brake lines to account for the suspension extension when airborne. I had a friend lose his (rear) brakes on a stage because he forgot this simple step. Not sure if this translates directly to the audi, but it is worth considering the other related components if you are going to mess with raising ride height.

Last but not least, I'd highly recommend a skid plate. You can go with a Evolution Thor (I have one on my s4) or Panzer plate, but you are just as well off with a sheet of .125 aluminum from your local metal supplier that you can cut to shape and custom bend. This could save your expensive oil pan (and engine for that matter).

[pwest15]

Here's a thread on b5 s4's rallying:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...2-Rally-the-s4

User Hans J rallies his b5 s4. You should PM him about suspension but it looks like most people run average-height suspension. No need for an f-150 lift kit so I bet your car will be at a great ride-hide for DDing.

Video:

Tires matter wayyyyyy more than suspension as I'm sure you know. Also, BUY/FAB some hardcore skidplates. You really don't want to verse all that gravel with a stock, plastic skidplate from Audi

[blackedoutt]

S4evr has done some gravel dirt and snow driving in his b5, I believe he ran vogtlands for most of it just set at a higher height. Skid plates a must.