How much can a good set of coilovers improve handling/steering?
06-25-09, 06:40 PM
#1
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How much can a good set of coilovers improve handling/steering?
As some people on this board know I have been in the market for a sports sedan. After some issues regarding trade-in value of my S5, I am opting to just keep the car. Still, the lightness in the steering and ride height is almost unbearable. I have lowered my car before (IS 350 with Eibachs) but didn't really feel much of a improved handling, just a lowered height and slightly more stiff. How much would a good set of coilovers improve the stiffness of the ride and steering? Currently I am look at Stasis coilovers which uses Ohlin dampers and springs. Would this be a much better improvement than just adding springs?
06-25-09, 06:48 PM
#2
As some people on this board know I have been in the market for a sports sedan. After some issues regarding trade-in value of my S5, I am opting to just keep the car. Still, the lightness in the steering and ride height is almost unbearable. I have lowered my car before (IS 350 with Eibachs) but didn't really feel much of a improved handling, just a lowered height and slightly more stiff. How much would a good set of coilovers improve the stiffness of the ride and steering? Currently I am look at Stasis coilovers which uses Ohlin dampers and springs. Would this be a much better improvement than just adding springs?
06-25-09, 10:53 PM
#3
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06-25-09, 11:11 PM
#4
Regarding your previous IS350, the eibach springs were pretty soft to begin with. If you didn't upgrade your shocks, your damping probably didn't match the springs so that didn't help either. If you go with quality coilovers where the damper and springs were made for one another, you may feel more of a difference through the turns. You can't do much about the light steering though, at least not without modifying the power steering system.
06-25-09, 11:14 PM
#5
if you get a good set of coilovers, improve in handling can be quite noticeable. my gs400 was a good example. stock it handles like crap, period. when i got my tein HA, it's noticeably stiffer, but the handling improved a lot
are there any aftermarket sways for the s5? if there is one, get that instead, that helps even more
are there any aftermarket sways for the s5? if there is one, get that instead, that helps even more
06-26-09, 12:12 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
the sway bar route is your best et. It will reduce roll and make the steering feel noticably more direct. A good set of coilovers would be the next best step. In conjunction I think you will have a winner
06-26-09, 05:29 AM
#7
original intent of coilovers was that since you can adjust the height, therefore you can shift weight to and away from each corner of the car. Thus you can try to get as close to 25% of the cars weight on each tire as you can to make the car more balanced.
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06-26-09, 06:23 AM
#8
NINEZero, you should search out some companies that specialize in Audi's and the S5/A5 -- and perhaps look for info on boards like vwvortex.com and the audi forums. What you can accomplish depends upon what's adjustable on the factory setup and what's available aftermarket for the S5. If you simply lower a car, add heavier sway bars, wider wheels/tires, etc., and don't dial the car in, it likely won't be anywhere close to optimized. You really need someone who knows what they're doing if you want to make it perform like a well set up factory car.
Modern Audi's have electro-mechanical steering (electric power assist, not hydraulic). On some models you can use VAG-COM and reprogram the steering boost, etc. and dramatically alter the steering feel of the car. This is the case on some A3's for example ranging back at least as far as 2006 models. I've driven them before and after and can attest that there is a wide range of adjustment. I don't know what's possible with the S5, but it's worth investigating.
Here's a little something on the system but some searching will reveal a lot more I'm sure, along with info on whether or not it can be reprogrammed with VAG-COM:
http://www.cartype.com/pages/4003/au...nic_innovation
If you haven't already done so, check out this forum and someone may have already done the leg work:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeroforum?id=956
Last edited by I6turbo; 06-26-09 at 06:33 AM.
06-26-09, 07:34 AM
#9
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As some people on this board know I have been in the market for a sports sedan. After some issues regarding trade-in value of my S5, I am opting to just keep the car. Still, the lightness in the steering and ride height is almost unbearable. I have lowered my car before (IS 350 with Eibachs) but didn't really feel much of a improved handling, just a lowered height and slightly more stiff. How much would a good set of coilovers improve the stiffness of the ride and steering? Currently I am look at Stasis coilovers which uses Ohlin dampers and springs. Would this be a much better improvement than just adding springs?
06-27-09, 06:56 AM
#10
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Off topic but I've seen some of your posts in the F forum...what are you getting on a trade number for the s5 if you don't mind sharing...those cars seem to have held their values very well for some time now but maybe supply and demand/economy is finally catching up...
06-27-09, 11:45 AM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
I agree, and all sacrifice ride quality to some degree to achieve improved handling. But in being true to OP's question that's somewhat offtopic.
06-27-09, 07:07 PM
#13
06-27-09, 07:09 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
if you want performance coilovers go with KW. They will turn your audi in to a track monster. I went the soft route and went with a "comfort" set up that can produce mild to moderatley improved handling