allroad suspension options?

[Spunky424]

my 2002 allroad on stock air suspension seems to be giving up a little. I keep the car on level 2 95% of the time and i'm starting to notice that when i leave the car overnight the rear passenger side gets pretty low. when i open the door i can hear the compressor engage and the suspension goes back up to normal level 2 height. If believe all four are leaking since if i leave it for 2-3 days the whole car will sit on its bump stops.

I've looked into the arnott replacements been hearing bad things about their gen 2.

i'm leaning more towards the coilover suspension as much as i would like to keep the air suspension, but it seems its too expensive at this time.

what coilovers are you guys running/recommend? or should i stick with the air suspension?

[julex]

coilovers all the way if you don't need adjustability for anything but "cool factor".

[Spunky424]

Thanks Julex. Which ones do u recommend? Are they're allroad specific ones or people using modified a6 ones?


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[Spunky424]

i've also got an audi a6 c5 that im parting out. any reason to switch over the suspension from the sedan to the allroad?

[julex]

i've also got an audi a6 c5 that im parting out. any reason to switch over the suspension from the sedan to the allroad?

FTG coilovers for A6 are the ticket, don't get allroad specific ones as their lowest setting is way too high for low riding.

Putting A6 suspension on allroad is a recipe for problems due to that 1" spacer. no adjustability will result in front being at different level than rear. You need fully adjustable coil overs like FTG to dial height to what you want.

[Spunky424]

Are you currently running the ftg a6 coilovers? If so do they require any modification or are a true bolt on?


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[julex]

Are you currently running the ftg a6 coilovers? If so do they require any modification or are a true bolt on?


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both allroad and A^ models require you either drilling two mount holes in stock allorad spring hat or simply getting A6 top hat. Other than that, it's a bolt on. A6 ones allow you to drop allroad to L0, while allroad model only allows allroad to go down to about factory L1.25 (yes, one and a quarter). Allroad specific WILL NOT go lower than that in the back (front has no such issues).

[Spunky424]

both allroad and A^ models require you either drilling two mount holes in stock allorad spring hat or simply getting A6 top hat. Other than that, it's a bolt on.

Thanks for the clarification. Are you currently running the ftg coilovers? If so how are they?


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[julex]

Thanks for the clarification. Are you currently running the ftg coilovers? If so how are they?


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I am running them and the car is like on rails. The spring rate is rather high so keep that in mind. If you're expecting factory cushy ride, look for something else... the springs can be replaced with any model from say HR though if rate is a problem.

[Spunky424]

Thanks for that heads up. I'll need to look for something else then. This is the family car and with two kids in it I don't think they'd appreciate the harsher ride.

My stock air ride now is just a little too boaty for me. I'm wondering if the shocks are blown.


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[julex]

air springs are inherently boaty since they have very little spring rate to them... and it doesn't increase linearly. This is a typical bahavior of air vs steel springs:



Steel springs are usually linear affair these days, air springs are progressive due to their design... Initially they allow a lot of travel per force applied but as the air pressure increases, they become harder and harder per lb of force applied.

[julex]

FWIW I drive with two kids all the time too, the ride is no different (in stiffness) than say run of the mill BMW Z3 for example, thus nothing crazy.

[white fish]

are you running A6 uprights?

[julex]

are you running A6 uprights?

No.

But I have parts for conversion to aluminum style uprights so eventually yes.

[ARONDALE]

People are quick to assume the suspension is leaking when it can just be one of the air suspension sensors in each of the 4 corners. They go bad often. In the two allroads I've owned I have replaced at least 2 sets under warranty and 2 sets out of warrenty between the 2 of them, but not all at once.

Also, there is a repair kit for the compressor mounted in the boot that can often times fail... You don't have to buy a new compressor. The compressors will often go out over 80-100k miles but can be repaired with the aforementioned repair kit.

The suspension is what makes this car so unique. If you want a wide body with springs, trade for an S6.

I would definitely keep it an allroad and not a cheap man's S6. If your tech scans and determines it is, indeed, a bag leaking.. Just pick some gen I's or gen II's for something a little stiffer and replace the front pair only if it's the front. Never replace a single air suspension shock.

[julex]

To each their own, allroad is the only C5 avant with 2.7t engine and 6 speed tranny - so no, it is not as easy as getting S6 which has pathetic engine and only auto. If RS6 was an option (in avant version), then I would let you have this argument in its entirety as auto tranny can always be swapped for 6speed.

The whole air suspension debacle has a simple answer: if you have any real use for air suspension like carrying 2000lb in the back, towing something with serious tongue weight (but then hitches for allroad are not rated to load them!) or REALLY going off-roading, air suspension has its place there. If you don't do any of that, spare yourself constant failures and get coil-overs. You can set coilovers to be anywhere L0-L4 and enjoy much more stable car.

[white fish]

No.

But I have parts for conversion to aluminum style uprights so eventually yes.

Not to be rude but why??
I hate having 35et front 20et rear
I wanna put the AR uprights back on
I get that they are 2 inches shorter but I had the bags lower then 402 and never once hit the control arm to the body
I like it low but it handled like shit with very little pressure in the bags

[julex]

Not to be rude but why??
I hate having 35et front 20et rear
I wanna put the AR uprights back on
I get that they are 2 inches shorter but I had the bags lower then 402 and never once hit the control arm to the body
I like it low but it handled like shit with very little pressure in the bags

Mostly for weight reduction purposes... and I have coil overs so the handling part is not applicable to my situation (yet another reason why air sucks ). My wheels are on spacers anyway so it would be just a matter of finding right one for the tire tuck I like.

Also, the camber is naturally better on A6 uprights due to how UCAs move when they are at that L0 height. Their wheel side knuckles are higher than the chassis bushing, creating shorter effective distance than A6 uprights which place these knuckles are roughly same height for more favorable camber.

[white fish]

hey julex
can I seem some pics of your ride height and where your wheels sit?
thx

[julex]

hey julex
can I seem some pics of your ride height and where your wheels sit?
thx

Currently I have it the lowest where I am not getting any rubbing and I can barely stick a finger between wheel and flares. My wheels are also pushed out to the very limit of flares with extra spacers for wider stance.

Something like this. I can naturally adjust lower higher is I ever wanted to, but this is the height I want:

[glennda5id]

Has anyone looked at ST coilovers on the Allroad? I would probably set my coilovers at L1.

My front bags are leaking in L1 but have been okay at L2. I am torn between fixing the fronts for now or putting that money towards coilovers. If I go with coilovers I am trying to pick between the FTG and the ST. ST is made by a reputable manufacturer. Both have 5 year warranties though.

[XLR8 Craig]

Has anyone looked at ST coilovers on the Allroad? I would probably set my coilovers at L1.

My front bags are leaking in L1 but have been okay at L2. I am torn between fixing the fronts for now or putting that money towards coilovers. If I go with coilovers I am trying to pick between the FTG and the ST. ST is made by a reputable manufacturer. Both have 5 year warranties though.

We converted an Allroad to ST coilovers a few months ago. In my opinion ST>FTG. No comparison.

Beware of some reverse rake withouth using spacers for the shock int he rear like the Arnott coil spring conversion includes.

[glennda5id]

What is the highest level you can run it at?

Theoretically, cant you adjust our the rake with the coilover adjustment?

Did you use stock uprights and LCA's?

[glennda5id]

What is the highest level you can run it at?

I guess a drawback would be having different preloads in the front vs back.