SUV
10-16-2006, 08:16 AM
All-
As some of you know I recently had Shine Racing install their Real Street suspension kit for B5s in my 2001.5 S4 Avant. As I have said all along, this is a superb setup, and in my opinion is how this car should have come stock.
This setup includes 500lb springs all around and custom, revalved Bilstein shocks.
I would like to address some issues I initially encountered, and then discuss the results.
About 3 weeks after getting the suspension installed, I noticed on the website that what looked like the same setup was for sale for $795 versus the $1200 I paid. It turns out the $795 version includes the 500lb springs and the Bilstein shocks AS-IS from Bilstein. The setup I received included the Shine custom revalved Bilsteins. I cannot comment on the $795 version at all, but as I have said all along... I am very happy with how the Real Street suspension handles.
Secondly, I developed a squeaking, creaking, crashing sound in the right rear corner shortly after installation and it only worsened. From everything I had read, and my contact at Shine, Eli, had led me to believe, was that this was a result of not properly torqueing the corner to spec UNDER LOAD. I had therefore assumed that this was shop error and would be fixed under warranty. It turns out that the droplink was faulty and one bushing was completely seperated and another was very loose--- in short, city driving and 55k miles and a suddenly stiffer suspension had just worn the parts out, and they just needed replacing. This is totally understandable, and after talking to Jim, I am more comfortable with the work done, and am happy to pay for it.
The initial poor communication issues have been eliminated, and Jim and I now clearly see where eachother was coming from. He has really helped me understand exactly what I was charged for and why.
I want to finally reiterate, that the suspension has all along been one of the best mods I've made to my car, and has itself been completely satisfactory --- if you are thinking of upgrading your suspension, just keep in mind what city driving, bad road conditions and overall age will do to the supporting parts!! It's not just springs and shocks... I will probably have all the control arms, bushings, TRs and TREs replaced in the some-what near future.
One of the reasons I chose to go with the Shine setup in the first place is because it is the product of the shop near me who would be doing the work. If there were ever any issues, they would be close by and we could work together to fix it. Jim has made a point of making sure I am happy with everything they have done with my car... and I am.
-Rob
PS. I am not advertising for Shine. I am reporting my opinions on the setup (love it!) and the resulting issues that have occurred and how Jim and Shine have worked to solve them and help me feel confident in their shop/work. No, they did not refund me or pay me gobs of money or anything. He talked to me about a half a dozen times and really explained all that was going on and also offerred to put the car on the lift and go step by step through each wheel well and inspect all that was done in person.
As some of you know I recently had Shine Racing install their Real Street suspension kit for B5s in my 2001.5 S4 Avant. As I have said all along, this is a superb setup, and in my opinion is how this car should have come stock.
This setup includes 500lb springs all around and custom, revalved Bilstein shocks.
I would like to address some issues I initially encountered, and then discuss the results.
About 3 weeks after getting the suspension installed, I noticed on the website that what looked like the same setup was for sale for $795 versus the $1200 I paid. It turns out the $795 version includes the 500lb springs and the Bilstein shocks AS-IS from Bilstein. The setup I received included the Shine custom revalved Bilsteins. I cannot comment on the $795 version at all, but as I have said all along... I am very happy with how the Real Street suspension handles.
Secondly, I developed a squeaking, creaking, crashing sound in the right rear corner shortly after installation and it only worsened. From everything I had read, and my contact at Shine, Eli, had led me to believe, was that this was a result of not properly torqueing the corner to spec UNDER LOAD. I had therefore assumed that this was shop error and would be fixed under warranty. It turns out that the droplink was faulty and one bushing was completely seperated and another was very loose--- in short, city driving and 55k miles and a suddenly stiffer suspension had just worn the parts out, and they just needed replacing. This is totally understandable, and after talking to Jim, I am more comfortable with the work done, and am happy to pay for it.
The initial poor communication issues have been eliminated, and Jim and I now clearly see where eachother was coming from. He has really helped me understand exactly what I was charged for and why.
I want to finally reiterate, that the suspension has all along been one of the best mods I've made to my car, and has itself been completely satisfactory --- if you are thinking of upgrading your suspension, just keep in mind what city driving, bad road conditions and overall age will do to the supporting parts!! It's not just springs and shocks... I will probably have all the control arms, bushings, TRs and TREs replaced in the some-what near future.
One of the reasons I chose to go with the Shine setup in the first place is because it is the product of the shop near me who would be doing the work. If there were ever any issues, they would be close by and we could work together to fix it. Jim has made a point of making sure I am happy with everything they have done with my car... and I am.
-Rob
PS. I am not advertising for Shine. I am reporting my opinions on the setup (love it!) and the resulting issues that have occurred and how Jim and Shine have worked to solve them and help me feel confident in their shop/work. No, they did not refund me or pay me gobs of money or anything. He talked to me about a half a dozen times and really explained all that was going on and also offerred to put the car on the lift and go step by step through each wheel well and inspect all that was done in person.