heinrich

Guys, I've owned my Godzilla since January 2000. I recently replaced the entire suspension, adding new shocks and more importantly, personally going over every suspension bolt, nut, and part after installing the new pieces.

I then had the car aligned by whom I can only describe as a professional.

The difference in handling is indescribable.

Nicole

That's great to hear! I have always wondered about the wear in the complicated Weissach Axle's joints - did you replace any of these parts?

heinrich

Steering, tracking, roadholding .. all SHARP, CRISP, PRECISE.

heinrich

Nicole, I replaced every suspension part

anonymousagain

Good to hear Heinrich - can you assess how much was shock related - ie, could you tell the old shocks were getting tired, whereby new one's should be biggest improvement?

and how much is suspension response related?

Shocks are fairly straight forward, but my curiosity has always wondered what new "other" components would do, in the sense of more accurate and quicker response time by the suspension. (this is always a big contributor for setting up suspension on an MX bike).

heinrich

To be clear Anonymous, I replaced the 190k mile suspension with a ~60k mile suspenison with new shocks. I can tell you that the differences I am perceiving, are *not* shock-absorber differences. I believe that the biggest improvement, has come from ensuring that every bolt and every bushing is in good shape, and that the suspension is in fact in excellent shape. Something that has really surprised me, is the nimbleness and precision of the steering. And the best part is, I didn't touch the steering. THere is no more rut tracking on rutted roads.

blown 87

When you say all of it, what parts are you talking about?

heinrich

Control arms; bushings; drop links; springs, struts, shocks, hub/spindles/bearings, swaybars, steering rack (forgot about that, but it was replaced before I made the other upgrades, and the same rack had terrible sloppiness before); cross member rear; mounts; ALL BOLTS.

Marine Blue

I noticed a very similar experience when I changed the Tie Rods and steering rack in my S4. I think the rack and tie rods have a huge impact on steering feel.

Did you change any of the rear bushings?

The steering feedback is also amazing, you can really tell what the car is doing.

blown 87

That is a lot of work

anonymousagain

Excellent Heinrich - shocks and springs are the usual "huge improvement" items, but your case illustrates that the concert of moving parts <along with shocks and springs> is what makes it all work in harmony and intended precision.

Congratulations!

heinrich

Bushings came with the parts I did try gallantly to separate bushings from parts, but determined that a) the bushings in the parts I was adding, were excellent and b) they clung to each other like a joey to its mom.

heinrich

Thanks Anon, and All

IcemanG17

Heinrich
When I replaced the tie rods-steering rack + alignment in sharky it made WORLDS of improvement...just like you said...much more precise and it fixed my odd snap oversteer problem!!!

Look at the upside now you have another 140k worth of to go!!

pcar928fan

I have noticed the front suspension on my S4 is getting a bit clunky. Not sure if there is something under there that is not suspension related but is rubbing at large lock loads or if it is actually some suspension bits ready to be replaced... It has 90k miles and 10k+ of those are HARD track miles... Other than the sound though the car still feels tight and precise and fast too.