Audi A6

6920 messages,  Last post on Dec 26, 2012 at 7:05 AM

You are in the Audi A6 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi A6, Sedan

#1590 of 6920 Need advice on Sway Bar and Springs by chicago27t1

Aug 08, 2001 (8:59 pm)

After leasing a 5-speed 1998 A4 2.8Q for three years, I now have a 2001 A6 2.7t. I would have loved, and I mean loved, an S4, but my kids are bigger, I need a little more room, didn't want to pay top dollar for the 2002 A4s, and loved the 2.7t's acceleration. You know how it goes.
 
Anyway, while I love my new car, I find that the handling is not as crisp as what I had with my previous vehicle. It's a little cushier than I would like, and I get a bit more body roll than I had with my A4. I'm kind of kicking myself for not getting the Sport package (my reasoning was that I didn't want to deal with performance tires in Chicago winters), but that's water under the bridge.
 
I've read a number of posting that talk about adding or improving the stock rear sway bar or changing the springs.
 
I have a few questions:
1) Will these changes give me a significantly crisper ride?
2) What is a sway bar? Where does it go? How much should I expect to pay if I have this done by my Audi dealer as opposed to a european import mechanic? Ditto for the springs.
3) Should I have both done (bar and springs) or just one or the other?
4) Any other suggestions?
 
I'll be hitting my 1000 mile mark tomorrow. I think I'll celebrate by dusting another 540, which should bring my count to an even dozen. I only blow them off the line. I've kept my rpms under 4200 and generally stay within 10 mph of the speed limit.

#1591 of 6920 Got my A6 Avant! by srusmantijo

Aug 08, 2001 (9:55 pm)

Chicago27T1,
 
Thanks for the info on leasing. I went to the local dealer equipped with my spreadsheet and print out from your posting, along with some others.
 
I bought it last Saturday, although not as low as your calculation. I'm comfortable with the payment, and enjoy the car. So far, everything is great. Engine is really smooth, acceleration is decent, interior is just crisp. I really enjoy it.
 
I'll keep you posted.

#1592 of 6920 Re: advice on Sway Bar and Springs for - chicago27t1 by markcincinnati

Aug 09, 2001 (5:14 am)

From the Audi Web site - www.audiusa.com -- I made a similar modification on a 1997 A8 that I owned (and also switched tires, which for Chicago would mean either a summer and a winter tire/wheel combo -- or, my current fave Yokohama AVS db's which are Ultra High Perf All seasons). I loved the improvements and found nothing to complain about re ride. I later added front and rear sway bar upgrades which I purchased from Joe Hoppen Motorsports. You may find these Eibach's are "just what the Dr. ordered." Hope this helps.
 
Sport Suspension
                                                     Springs by Eibach®
 
                                                     Specially tuned for Audi by
                                                     legendary suspension
                                                     manufacturer Eibach®.
                                                     Audi Sport Springs create
                                                     a sportier profile by
                                                     lowering your Audi A6's
                                                     ride height about 1.5
                                                     inches (30 mm). Chassis
                                                     responsiveness is also
                                                     increased.
 
                        Item: 4B4071677DSP
                        Fits Models: A6 2.8 Sedan (quattro) 98>, A6 2.7T Sedan (quattro) 00>
                        Price: US$325.00
 
                       Visit Your Local Dealer To Purchase This Item

#1593 of 6920 Help...E430 4Matic or A6 4.2? by blehrlich

Aug 09, 2001 (5:19 am)

I really can't decide....the dealers explainations of the benefits of THEIR all wheel drive systems is making my head spin. Please help.
Thanks

#1594 of 6920 All AWD systems are not alike by markcincinnati

Aug 09, 2001 (6:46 am)

I am biased, but the dealers are more so. You need some "more or less" independent information.
 
There are factual (technical) differences between the systems, some then take those facts and make them into values (opinions based on point of view+facts). BMW,e.g., says "rear wheel drive is king" for years and years and years -- then needed to change their tune with the intro of their SUV and their "wet tongue, frozen pole" campaign for their AWD 3 series (and their rumoured roll out of AWD across the entire line). BMW says, for example, that a "rear biased" AWD system is better than the compeition (Audi perhaps?). I have read that a "dynamic" AWD system that has virtually NO bias is better. I am not an engineer of automotive drive systems, nor are my degrees in physics. I buy into the idea that a rearward bias is, however, NOT necessarily better, however.
 
Do a little digging and see if this (the facts, or an interpretation of them) has been applied to Audi's, Volvo's, Merc's (and others) implementation of AWD -- then as they say "pay your money and make your choice" (or words to that effect.)
 
I'm sticking with quattro -- but the ES430 is, no doubt about it, a very nice ride (but the 4.2 is, IMHO more visceral).

#1595 of 6920 markcincinnati by blehrlich

Aug 09, 2001 (7:14 am)

Thanks for the input, I'm going to check out the 4.2 now (the dealer only has 15 of them).

#1596 of 6920 One more question by chicago27t1

Aug 09, 2001 (7:54 am)

What is a sway bar?
 
How much for a rear sway bar upgrade

#1597 of 6920 A6 vs. E430 by mmcbride1

Aug 09, 2001 (8:36 am)

Not to mention C&D just did a comparo. The A6 came out ahead of the E430, but that's not what was striking about the comparo. The A6 4.2 was $53,000 MSRP fully loaded. The E430 was over $60k, and that's without 4Matic. Add at least a couple of thousand for 4Matic, and the E will cost well over $10k more than the A6 4.2. That may not matter to you, but it would to me.
 
And I would rather have the A6 even if price was equal.

#1598 of 6920 Sway bars 101 by markcincinnati

Aug 09, 2001 (8:51 am)

Anti-sway bars are engineered to reduce "body roll." They keep your vehicle flatter in the turns by transferring the pressure exerted on the outside wheels and applying opposite pressure on the inside wheels. In this way weight is more evenly applied to all four wheels, helping the vehicle stay more level with the road. Your car will corner "flatter" -- sometimes this is discussed using the term "body lean" (as in how the car leans into the curves.)

Your Audi already has anti-sway bars (front and rear). On the standard suspension set up they are adequate, but some would argue that they are of insufficient diameter. A larger diameter bar will give you more resistance to body lean. Upgrading a rear bar will make an even greater improvement than just the front. By keeping the vehicle more level in a turn you will have significantly more control, giving you better handling. A good combination of front and rear bars can also keep your car more stable on the open road. This plus your new springs will make your A6 feel like it is on rails.

Unlike springs, which can be noticed, sway bar upgrades will be virtually undetectable except for the imrovements noted above. Oh and they are inexpensive, too (as I recall, new front and rear anti-sway bars for my 1997 A8 were a couple hundred bucks -- I bought the S8 suspension upgrade from Hoppen, BTW, as Audi was not marketing upgrades on their web site at that time). Contact Joe Hoppen http://www.hoppenmotorsport.com/ for more details and a technical explanation of what these things do. You will need to call them as the anti-sway bars are not listed on their web site.

When you put your new springs and roll bars on (let the dealer do it) -- the dealer will perform a full all wheel alignment. IMO you will need a second all wheel alignement after 1,000 miles. Your tires will thank you for the second alignment. Reason? The springs will "settle" or could do so and generally the second alignment is included in the installation charge. It was at Northland Audi here in Cincinnati, anyway.

Hope this helps.

#1599 of 6920 hey diane and bruno by trejos28

Aug 09, 2001 (10:11 am)

I too have the 2.8 and love it. You're right, the initial acceleration is not the best, but overall...wow..the A6 is a great car. course, we all know that, right?
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