Koni FSD cheaper alternative- Monroe Reflex shocks

russellbridge said:
For reference I've just had fitted new Monroe Reflex shocks all round and new Audi springs, Meyle drop links etc. Replaced 150k, 10yr old original suspension (inc broken rear shock), including all parts as suggested earlier in this thread. Local garage did it for £270 labour. (they did say it was a pain...). Approx total cost = £167 for dampers + £240 for springs + £26 for droplinks + £110 for Audi parts + £270 labour to fit = £813.
It does feel tighter than it did before, and I can go over speed bumbs slightly faster but I can't honestly say it feels any comfier, if anything I'd say the damping is actually marginally worse. They may need time to bed in a little. If anyone around Manchester wants to do direct comparison with FSD's then please feel free to PM. I don't drive like a spanner anymore as 90% of the time there's 2 nippers in the back, so I can't comment on what it feels like at maximum attack.
Slightly deeper rubber going on next (185/55/R16's) to replace the 185/50/R16's to see if that aids comfort at all.
Dave, a bit thanks anyway for listing doing the leg work and listing the part numbers etc...
Russ
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I basically did the same changes as russellbridge on my FSI a few weeks back. Without doubt the change is beneficial, the car has lost that loose feeling and handles bumps in a much more controlled manner. Also gone is the crashiness (both sounds and feel) and the ride does feel more compliant now that the dampers have had a couple of weeks to settle down. I bought some 16" wheels to move from the 17" currently fitted and with higher profile tyres but frankly the improvements from changing the damping has reduced my enthusiasm for spending more cash on tyres but maybe I'll change my mind on that point simply because the tyres fitted to my car are lousy mixed up Chinese things that grip like an arthritic monkeys hand!
Cheers Keith
 
I put mine into Audi and had all new shocks and springs etc all OE and what a ride, still that German hard suspension trait that they all have but smooth and in my opinion worth while.
Win
 
My Monroes have bedded in a bit more now, but I would still only describe it as a modest improvement on stock. As huytonman says, it feels tighter and more direct but I'm sure this would have happened with stock replacements too.
Going up a size on the tyres from 185/50/R16 to 185/55/R16 (both Conti Premium Contact) at the front helped a bit more too - waiting for the rears to wear out before replacing the 185/50/R16's with 185/60/R16's - these fit at the back apparently but not the front.
Overall the car still has a firm / brittle / crashy ride compared to most other cars. (still love it though... ;) )
Would I do it again with Monroes? Borderline - not without a ride in a car with Koni's first to see if these made a more noticable difference.
Russ
 
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i suspect the lack of improvement in the ride is down to the use of stock OE springs. Having just fitted Spidens' they are a significant improvement over stock or Weitec.
 
My fsi had only covered 35k miles when I did the swap over so the oe dampers were still quite fresh, I personally doubt that swapping to new oe dampers would provide the improvement that I've felt and let's be honest, vw won't pay a penny more for dampers than they need too and ultimately you pay for what you get. At the end of the day though, the a2 rides a damn sight better than my wife's cooper s works!
 
interesting to hear that you can feel an improvement over stock with the Monroes. My OE suspension was at 150k when I changed so a bit more worn - I wasn't sure how much of the improvement was just removing the slackness worn into the OE set-up.
Good info from Adrian though re the Spiden springs...
So I suppose Monroe dampers + Audi springs is the cheaper way of renewing/improving suspension, Koni FSD dampers + Spiden springs is for those with a few more beans in their pockets...
Russ
 
This is a very good thread and i have to say the Monroes sound really quite good ,Still not got around to changing my dampers and springs , i keep putting it off
has anyone got a link to the Spidan and Weitec springs also :)
 
I really need to change my suspension. I've read and re-read all the suspension threads & had my heart set on Monroe shocks + spidan springs. But then it occurred to me that nobody is running that set up (I think). So now I'm doubly confused..

Dull.

Cheers, Hedge
 
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Hi all, just a quick update on my Monroes as they'll have been on a year next week. Since I fitted them I've added a set of 17" original option QT design alloys as shown above. Many posters on here have reported that 17" wheels with the Koni's are too harsh and have taken them off in favour of 16" versions. What I've found with the Monroe's is that because they seem to damp at a softer rate than the Koni's I can easily live with the firmer ride the 17" wheels give.

The whole bundle has settled down nicely and I'm been left with a nice smooth comfortable ride without any of the harshness sometimes associated with the Koni's. Handling is very good too with minimal body roll into fast corners and a surefootedness that I didn't have before with the OE setup. If you bear in mind the lower cost of the Monroes, the unchanged ride height and the fact that you can still run 17" wheels without being shaken to death, to my mind it's win/win :cool:
 
I see you have the OSS, what rear springs are you using? And what code for the Reflex shocks, E1308 or E1309?
 
I went for E4998 at the front which is the only option available and is described as 'Sporty Ride, Heavy Duty', and E1309 at the rear which is the 'Sporty ride'. I used the original SE springs all round....
 
You're doing an epic job of restoring your car to its former glory. It's hard to believe the mileage on its clock. Seriously good work. :)
 
Thanks! It's getting there. I need to nail an annoying low knocking noise that I get as I pull away. It's driving me nuts and I can't find the source. Changed the droplinks already so think it might be a tired anti roll bar. Overall, the spray job is over a year old now and still no scratches or car park dings and the alloys are still un-kerbed so I'm well happy with it :cool:
 
Ordered yesterday from Mister Auto:

Shock Absorber MONROE E1309 £35.75 x2 = £71.50
Shock Absorber MONROE E4998 £62.53 x2 = £125.06
Shipping cost : £5.95

and from Amazon (Express Car Parts):

Meyle Strut Mount £20.10 x2 = £40.20
Delivery & Handling: £4.95

Now I need the following from Ipswich Audi:

2x 8Z0 412 301 - front bump stop £10.97 + vat
2x 6Q0 512 131 B - rear bump stop £9.81 + vat
2x N 102 078 03 - screw £1.95 + vat
2x N 101 064 02 - nut £0.84 + vat
6x N 019 530 3 - screw £1. 41 + vat
2x N 905 173 02 - screw £1.19 + vat
2x N 102 613 10 - nut £0.30 + vat
Total = £70.30 inc vat

Thanks to everyone for their opinions, experience and part numbers :)

John
 
The Mister Auto stuff arrived yesterday - in a parcel from France! Disappointed to have assisted someone's UK tax avoidance :-(
 
The Audi prices have gone up:

Code Description Quantity Price
8Z0 412 301 front bump stop 2 £28.58 inc VAT (pair)
6Q0 512 131 B rear bump stop 2 £27.70 inc VAT (pair)
N 102 078 04 screw 2 £5.88 inc VAT (pair)
N 101 064 02 nut 2 £2.23 inc VAT (pair)
N 019 530 3 screw 6 £12.67 inc VAT (6)
N 905 173 04 screw 2 £3.50 inc VAT (pair)
N 102 613 10 nut 2 £0.86p inc VAT (pair)

Total Price: £81.53 inc VAT
 
I've just fitted the Reflex rears, which was turned out quite simple. Despite advice that the job could be done without removal of the arch liner I elected for total removal which was very quick & easy - no more than 2 minutes. Non-removal would probably have added more than that to the job due to access inconvenience.
a2_shock_01.JPG a2_shock_02.JPG a2_shock_04.JPG a2_shock_05.JPG a2_shock_03.JPG
After removing the offside unit I was surprised to discover that the new shock was about 10mm shorter - see photos 1 & 2. Otherwise it was identical to the OE Audi (stamped Monroe) unit. However, once I'd got both old units off I found that they were different lengths too (photos 3 & 4).

The test run was good and proved that the new units have eliminated the knocking & clicking from the rear. I'm hoping that on Thursday, when the fronts are fitted that they'll have the same effect on the noises from that end of the vehicle...

Thanks to all who've assisted with this.

John
 
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