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A4 bad handling


scamp
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I must say my tyres (PZR's) are at about 4mm now and just lately I've noticed a tendency to tramline and ‘move about’ a little on bad roads, particularly under braking. Might be time for the PS2’s! grin.gif

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They get worse! 4mm is only 50% worn also!

Don't get me wrong, they do actually suit some cars, but in the sizes I've had they've sucked.

Thinking about it, I had them on my CSL also and they provided a useless amount of winter grip.

Give Neros a try, they have a different design so may be better.

Back to the point - don't stiffer ARB's mean more understeer?

Cheers

Ben

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Strange. I don't get problems with mine until they are down to 2mm. I was hooning around this morning and the roads were slippy but my car gripped well. Got them installed on the other car too and that also has no problems with the rossos. Good drip in dry or wet.

confused.gif

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I assume that along with the other traits I've described, large amounts of tyre noise are also the norm? Because mine is that bad , particularlky on smooth roads that I thought it was perhjaps a bearing going at first, then thought it must be that the pirellis were bad, and now realise that it yet another delight of having 18 inch wheels on an Audi.

And yes, in asnwer to a previous question, I should have bought a BMW. DOH! But I'd like to try and improve my Audi experience before I have to give up.

Scamp

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are your tyre pressures ok? does seem like something is amiss tbh

and i dont care what anyone says on here, i had the tyres that the car came with and the car understeered v badly. i changed the tyres to eagle F1s and it made a huge difference also i opted for the S4 rear anti rollbar as i didnt want an oversteer happy car and it has made handling so much better

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No keen on the Rossos. They do tramline badly and are very hard.

After 18000+ miles I changed to Toyo and they are quieter, seem to have a smoother, less harsh ride and grip better in the wet. I was also told by Paul ( Monty's wheel & tyres) not to expect 18000 miles out of them !

I have the S4 rear arb ( RS4s were not out when I fitted mine) and even that makes a noticable difference -- well worth fitting.

S Line suspension is already hard and unforgiving, and 10 mms lower than the ordinary sports suspension.

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Avus Bub highlighted this that I wrote. 'has anyone ever had geometry changed to reduce understeer, and improve steering feel?'

Why?

My other car for track days is a VX220, and that with all Lotus built cars come out of the factory with the wrong geometry as they have so little time to do it correctly.

If you have the geo set up properly it transforms the handling, and if you change it (with prefooesionals who specialise in that), you can set them up better to suit fast road/track use etc, without any real problems with tyre wear etc.

I just wonderd if the wrong geometry settings is common with Audis. Please dont answer by saying no, they are all built beautifuly, because any company who can spend millions designing a car that drives like this, must have many problems.

Scamp

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Avus Bub highlighted this that I wrote. 'has anyone ever had geometry changed to reduce understeer, and improve steering feel?'

Why?

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Sorry, my point was fit the 22mm RS4 rear anti roll bar. I'm sure it will help a lot.

I fear you're comparing a 1700kg FWD estate car to a 900kg (wild guess) plastic roller skate. I'm not sure how much of an A4s suspension is adjustable. Give someone like AMD or Star a call and ask what they can do for you.

I'm very happy with the drive and handling of my car and I'm sure that given the right road a 3 series touring wouldn't see which way I'd gone after 1/2 a mile.....

BUB beerchug.gif

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I have a 2004 AT 1.8T S line, sports suspension pack,18 inch wheels, 190bhp, all standard Audi.

It has new michelins pilot sports, but always wheelspins when moving off (with even a light foot), torque steers like a pig, has way too light steering and far too hard and sensitive suspension giving the whole car a floaty feeling and really uninspiring or safe feeling to drive.

Is there anything that can be done, i.e. any replacement spring types, dampers, is it woty getting the geometry changed. Anything that might make it less like its driving on stilts.

Martin s

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Yip, all sounds OK - typical Audi A4. Last word in finesse they 'aint whatever enthusiastic owners may think. Driven back - to - back with a 3-series and you know the Bavarians do dynamics in a much better league...

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Ok, thanks all, I sort opf get the feeling that its the way its meant to be, but I'll get the suspension geometry checked, and wouldnt mind knowing any recomended tyre pressures (I'm using Audi recomendeds), for my car,with Michelin Pilot sport 2's.

Thanks for all the comments and help.

Scamp

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Driven back - to - back with a 3-series and you know the Bavarians do dynamics in a much better league

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Maybe, but for sheer mechanical grip and the ability to be literally thrown at a sharp corner or roundabout a 3 series won’t touch an A4 Quattro.

So dominating they practically banned it.............. notworthy.gif

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You can keep your RWD finesse and balanced chassis,blah,blah, blah, it won’t do you much good when you’ve swapped ends on a damp roundabout chasing an A4Q.

Did you know Ingolstadt is in Bavaria? wink.gif

BUB beerchug.gif169144-ok.gif

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For my car it sais 35 psi all round half loaded and 41 fully loaded. I want it to ride better and steer better so was thnking of lowering the pressures slightly as its all so hard and nervous feeling on the current pressures (35 psi).

If I make them harder that will surely just make all my problems worse?

Scamp

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My car states 32 all round. What benefit is it for me to go up to 37?

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None I guess. Don't forget my car is an Avant Quattro so is a bit heavier.

I just put an extra 1 PSI in for luck!! laugh.gif

Scamp, fit the RS4 'bar you can't go wrong!! As for your pressures, don't go too low. Have a play and let us know how you get on.

BUB beerchug.gif

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has way too light steering and far too hard and sensitive suspension giving the whole car a floaty feeling and really uninspiring or safe feeling to drive.

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Scamp - have you been using my car recently?!

Had the standard ARBs on my S3 upgraded to R32 spec just over a week ago. Was looking forward to much improved handling and poise only to find that it drove like a pig (your description of your A4's handling is exactly what I was experiencing)

Initially thought that the alignment was out and it was booked in anyway for a 4 wheel alignment as part of the ARB upgrade.

Up on the ramp prior to the alignment it was discovered that there was some lateral play and movement on the front offside wheel, a symptom of worn ball joints.

No point in doing the 4 wheel alignment then with worn suspension components.

Had both off/nearside ball joints replaced today, and what a difference - car feels planted, totally stable and unflinchable. Feels like it could drive up walls!

The uprated ARBs only exaggerated the problem of the worn ball joint.

Re-booked in this Friday for the 4 wheel alignment, so should have it well and truly sorted then and back to rude health.

Jack up your car at the front on both sides. Push and pull on each wheel to check for movement and if it feels loose, it may well be the ball joints.

Hope this helps.

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Have been lowering my tyre pressures below the minimum recommended by Audi of 37 psi) and once I got to 34 psi, the steering has taken on a bit more feel, notably less torque steer and the front tyres dont spin up continually in first.

It still has its problems but its noticeably improved.

Scamp

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