18" wheels

john-wingnut

Active Member
I have read on various posts that some people have fitted 18" wheels to there A2's.

I just want to know whether any arch modifications are required and if there are any problems with tyres scrubbing the speed sensor/ pad wear wires.

I also presume that one must stick to 7.5" width and 35-40mm offset?

Cheers

John
 
Ok, so relating to that other thread, im going to need to modify the arches if i want 7.5X18's with 215 R35 tyres.....

using a dremmel - what exactly needs doing to them???

John

ps, if i get a wheel with a 35 ET, i will need a 5mm rim spacer to make it 30???

Cheers
 
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I fitted 18" with 8" width. All I had to do is 'trim' a little 'metal overhang' from the front brake pads. I have done nothing else at all. Yesterday I was left with no choice and I relunctantly ended up having to transport over 100KGs of cement bags in the boot, with a passenger and me, and it didn't rub or anything at all :)


Oh before I get any comments on the grass, yes I know it looks bad :o ...LOL



Cheers

Sarge
 
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What size tyres do you have on them??

How come you had to cut some of the brakepads?? Im assuming its off the part nearest the centre where the wheel bolts to the axle.

Also is your car lowered??

John
 
if i get a wheel with a 35 ET, i will need a 5mm rim spacer to make it 30???

Cheers

Yep, a wheel with an offset of 35 combined with a 5 mm spacer results in ET30.


Additional spring travel limiters (clips or other systems) have to be avoided if possible because
  • we want to retain the stock positive spring travel of the coilovers or any other lowering setup
  • we want still acceptable ride comfort (non-bouncy, non-bottoming)
  • we want impressive sporty performance without safety losses (breaking distance, traction etc)
  • we want long-lasting shocks

It doesn't matter if the rim width is 7 or 7.5 or 8“ if you arrange an offset of 30, because potential 18“ induced rubbing issues will be related to the tyre side wall or shoulder...

Therefore you should definitely take the 205/35R18 tyre size in case of lowering.

With an ET of 30 plus 35 mm of lowering serious rubbing will hardly occur. If light rubbing shows up, then it will be most likely the inner wheel arch plastic material. Just dremmel that location until tyre clearance is achieved. Or simply take a heat gun and deform that material carefully.

Schnelletrecker said:
john-wingnut said:
Im looking to sort my suspension and am looking towards coilovers.

Been reading some of your posts regarding them.

You have mentioned the FK silverlines and konigsports but not the highsports, so I was just wondering if they are as good a quality as the ones you mentioned in your post.

The FK Highsport and Silverline coilovers come with low-quality shocks made by Sachs. These dampers are prone to leak soon from experience of several German A2 users :(

Same does apply to the KW variant 1 coilovers featuring cheap shocks as well (AL-KO). :(

Therefore only Koni „yellow“ equipped FK or KW coilovers are recommended, if you desire long term trouble free performance. That are FK Silverline-X or FK Königsport or KW Variant 2.

However, in all cases the front Konis should be modified, i.e. the compression valve characteristics should be altered (stronger damping during compression to prevent bottom out of the front end of the A2 even at very bad road conditions).

Several German A2 coilover drivers including me have got that Koni mod done professionally here:

http://www.poohlpower.de/

So if you buy the either FK Silverline-X or the Königsport or the KW Variant 2 coilovers from a German E-bay site just get the set shipped to Poohl-Power. Then they will do the front compression valve mod. Also highly recommended is a special damper oil by KONI that increases low-speed damping force...

In addition Poohl-Power always recommends to exchange the main seal of current Konis. Since the cheaper actual Koni main seal doesn't last as long as known from past Konis (at least 150.000 miles) Poohl Power will install the good heavy duty seal all Koni “yellows” and “reds” formerly had stock for little money.


Alternatively - what about the SPAX RSX 929 coilovers coming with combined compression/rebound damping adjustabliliy (similar to Bilstein B16 PSS9 or PSS10) and stainless steel body?

http://www.doppler-fahrzeugtechnik.de/spax/media/spax_2008.pdf

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPAX-RSX-COIL...trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1683|293:1|294:50

You have the 1.4 TDI engine, haven't you? Depending on the front axle load between the different A2 motor versions the damping should be adjusted differently in case of coilovers...

john-wingnut said:
Are the Spax ones as good a quality as the silverline X coilovers, as in the seals wont break and leak etc.

I pressume the coilovers will have to be adjusted by someone who knows what they are doing, in terms of the rebound and compression damping etc.

Also will i need to get new bump stops etc with coilovers

As for the built quality of the stainless steel SPAX RSX coilovers - this should be OK. Just do a google-search of RSX users.

Damping adjustment of the RSX:
Because they feature combined compression and rebound damping adjustment, it is easy to find your personal best setup by yourself.
You just have to keep the front damping force setting (let's say set at #10) equal or stronger than the rear damping force. Considerably stronger damping forces at the rear axle than at the front can result in oversteering tendencies in case of our super light A2 rear end.

I think SPAX includes their own specific bump stops, but you may phone them to ask for details...

Here's the list of suspension parts that should be exchanged as well when installing new suspension:

http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showpost.php?p=74403&postcount=88

I fitted 18" with 8" width. All I had to do is 'trim' a little 'metal overhang' from the front brake pads.
I assume your 8x18" wheels come with ET 35. With 5 mm spacers all around this problem will not show up. :)
 
Thanks for the info Schnelletreker.

I take it from those parts to be replaced that with coilovers the following wont be needed

8Z0 511 149 A - rear, bottom spring yellow PUR rubber seat (2 pieces)
1J0 512 149 B , rear, top spring black hard-rubber seat (2 pieces)
6N0 413 175 A - dust protection for the front damper piston rod (2 pieces)
1J0 513 425 A - dust protection tube for the rear damper piston rod (2 pieces)

John
 
What size tyres do you have on them??

How come you had to cut some of the brakepads?? Im assuming its off the part nearest the centre where the wheel bolts to the axle.

Also is your car lowered??

John


Tyres are 215/35/ZR18 84W XL Extra Load HP199. I didn't have to 'cut' the pads, just a little trim on one side of the metal overhang edge, as the metal part was rubbing on the inside rim of the wheel, this (I have been told) is only needed if the brake pads are not Audi oem ones, and as when I bought Shoby Car, the pads were brand new, with NO mileage on the at all, it didn't make sense for me just to replace them.
Your correct in the assumption the part nearest the centre where the wheel bolts to the axle
No my car is standard suspension setup. :)


Cheers

Sarge
 
Oh before I get any comments on the grass, yes I know it looks bad :o ...LOL



Cheers

Sarge

Hey Sarge i hear you brother lol, i know its hard to keep on top of the grass because you are always on here, just like me, thats why Mike hasn't got any he's on here more than us ;)

Cheers Phil
 
We laid some turf actually a few weeks back - it's all dead now!

It was infested with grubs and went downhill within a week - trying to get a refund or more turf, but no joy yet!

Phil, you're a cheeky so and so!

Cheers

Mike
 
Are you sure you wasn't posting on here instead of taking care of the turf lol, plus thats funny it went down hill, where did you lay it? at the top of your garden and it slid to the bottom with all that rain you get over there lol

Phil
 
LOL ... Phil I will get rid of the damn grass area in front of my house, this will create room for another 3 cars! more A2's ... bring em on ...LOL :D


Cheers

Sarge
 
I take it from those parts to be replaced that with coilovers the following wont be needed

...

The FK Silverline-X coilover kit content: http://www.a2oc.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=496&d=1165270897


The following suspension parts won't be needed, because they cannot be combined with some coilovers:

8Z0 412 301 - front bump stop (2 pieces) => depends on the make of coilovers (e.g. for all FK coilovers these still have to be applied in stock length!)
8Z0 511 149 A - rear, bottom spring yellow PUR rubber seat (2 pieces) => replaced by the height-adjustable lower spring seat
6N0 413 175 A - dust protection for the front damper piston rod (2 pieces) => coilover kits for the A2 normally include their own specific front dust protection tube (except for FK :mad: , here the front dust protection of the KW or KONI coilovers for the Polo 9N should be used)
 
Think im going to go with the SPAX RSX 929 Coilovers

They wont need the rear spring top/bottom seats as the coil is on the damper.

Just need to find out if they come with there own bump stops and dust covers

John
 
Think im going to go with the SPAX RSX 929 Coilovers

They wont need the rear spring top/bottom seats as the coil is on the damper.

Just need to find out if they come with there own bump stops and dust covers

John

Well, all coilovers for the A2 have separated springs and shocks at the rear axle. The EBAY-picture of the SPAX RSX displays a coilover kit for a different car...

Just call SPAX headquarters UK for details (dust covers, bump stops etc).

The RSX for the A2 has just been released in Germany officially. :)
Here's the TÜV certificate:
 
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Yer just phoned them

Rears need the dust covers and bump stops from the car!!

So the only bits i wont need are front dust covers and bumpstops and the rear spring seats.

John
 
Then call SPAX again and ask for the correct item# for the A2:

According to the TÜV approval for the A2 it must be one of these:

RSX725
RSX854
RSX880
RSX836
RSX837

So I assume that SPAX made a mistake when attributing the #929 to the A2 in their catalogue...
 
Just joined the forum, so I'll be classed as a newb...
I've got contacts at Spax and the TUV cert DOES cover the RSX929. If you had a TUV tester check your car, you would find all the dampers and springs have the part numbers mentioned on the TUV certificate, the only thing not mentioned in RSX929. The cert states the A2 is covered.
How will a TUV man know you have an RSX929 not RSX854 for example? :D

Also they're not stainless steel, only the adjuster thread is, the rest is a milder steel (stainless is very rigid and gives no flex) and powdercoated.

Has anyone on here tried them yet? Any problems? Good/bad? Etc etc...
 
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