I lowered my car by replacing the Shocks (Koni) and springs (Eibach pro-kit). Overall I am happy with the way things have turned out - except for camber wear. First time I noticed camber wear, I took the car back to the installer asking for another alignment. The shop did do another alignment but I think now the extra wear (camber) has gone to the far edges of the tires but not completely gone.

Anyone know the solution for this - alignment values that should be used in my case? New control arms - what kind and where to get them at a reasonable price?!

Not surprising. The suspension geometry was designed for a particular ride height. When you lowered the car the camber changed and you are now using the suspension at a height for which it was not designed. If you can get the camber adjusted properly (it is not clear how you do this since there is no adjustment built to the standard front suspension) it will probably change camber rapidly with load and result in poor tire wear.

According to the Bentley, camber cannot be adjusted. The only thing which can be done with the stock control arms is to balance the camber left to right by moving the subframe laterally. Unless you purchased some aftermarket upper control arms with adjustement your alignment shop could not have adjusted camber, they probably added a little toe in to move the wear from the inside to the outside of the tire.

Note that there are camber adjusters on the rear suspension.

See this link for a good description of the C6 chassis.

http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_324.pdf

we should make this thread sticky. so people will be clear about implications of lowering car.

I lowered my old car and besides having tires worn on inside I also had to change cumber plates every 5000 miles or so.

So

we should make this thread sticky. so people will be clear about implications of lowering car.

I lowered my old car and besides having tires worn on inside I also had to change cumber plates every 5000 miles or so.

So

The ramifications of lowering a car are widely known. A simple search of any of the various Audi forums discloses the camber issue. Despite the known camber problem, several members have lowered their cars and now have to deal with the ramifications. With that said, the cars do look better when lowered.

Obviously, it's important how far you lower your car. A slight drop will still result in some adverse camber, but it may be tolerable. A more radical drop may be very hard to live with when it comes to tire wear, and your car is not really going to use it's tires properly.

Sounds like I have two options to fix the chamber:

- put the old springs back and raise the height of car.

- invest in new control arms. Keep the lowered look (good). Plus the old control arms are going to need replacement in a few k miles given that I'm at 70k miles already. where to get new control arms which can fix this issue?

I'm surprised others with Eibach springs didn't respond on this topic. I received mixed responses on inner-tire wear from people with Eibachs. Some say they don't notice it and others have mentioned severe wear at 5K miles. I'm not sure who to really believe anymore. You're obviously not having a good experience with it.

I'm taking the safe route and ordering the OEM sports springs this week. I've noticed that my current stock setup promotes more outside wear. I'm hoping that lowering the car by 1" will shift the wear more evenly, and at worse, end up with a minor inner-wear.

I've done some research but didn't find any camber solution for C6. I think your options are: 1) replace back to stock 2)replace springs to OEM sports 3) replace your control arms to OEM sports. Option 2 and 3 doesn't get rid of inner-wear issue but perhaps it can minimize it to the point of insignificance.

I'll post my review on this topic once I get order the springs and get them installed.

Dumb question maybe but how come the Adaptive air suspensions are not affected the same way?

Dumb question maybe but how come the Adaptive air suspensions are not affected the same way?

No,not a dumb question, it's a great question. I was wondering about the same thing. The only thing I can think of is the suspension travel isn't that great between the two extremes (can someone verify this?). I think this is the reason why I have more wear on the outside because I ride alone 90% of the time. If I carry 4 adults in the car, I can see close to 20mm suspension sag in the back.

I'm planning on getting Hartmann RS6 19" wheels and fooled around a bit with paintbrush just to see how different levels of drop would look. The first one is stock picture from their website. My stock suspension wheel gap is 2.5 inches. Using that, I roughly lowered 1" for OEM sport and 2" for Eibach.

I was surprised to see how much drop 2" really is and how it could really affect the camber by a considerable margin. No way to avoid serious inner-wear issue with that much drop. I'm definitely sticking with OEM springs.

My car is lowered over 70mm, 2.75in. The rear has a camber adjustment, front I didn't check. I'm currently on my winter setup. I didn't noticed any wear problems on my 265/30 20s when I pulled them off. My car was aligned by the dealer after I installed the coilovers.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/NedRager/P1000811.jpg

I'm also interested in fitting OEM springs, maybe with Koni FSD or Bilstein HD shocks. Look forward to hearing how yours work for you

I'm also interested in fitting OEM springs, maybe with Koni FSD or Bilstein HD shocks. Look forward to hearing how yours work for you

I'm assuming the message was meant for me? I just ordered the springs through AudiUSAparts.com. Loree was very helpful. About $430 shipped. It'll take some time for me to get them installed but I'll let you know. A member named ACSGP also installed sports springs with Konis and he seems to be very happy with it.

My car is lowered over 70mm, 2.75in. The rear has a camber adjustment, front I didn't check. I'm currently on my winter setup. I didn't noticed any wear problems on my 265/30 20s when I pulled them off. My car was aligned by the dealer after I installed the coilovers.



Wow, your experience throws my theory out the window. Was your car standard before or did it come with sports suspension? I've heard sports version come with different control arms. I thought they were just different lengths perhaps they come with camber adjustment?

Camber isn't the only force at work here. Think toe in/out. ;)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs040.snc3/12737_323328265220_648320220_9483201_2063970_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs040.snc3/12737_323327475220_648320220_9483199_1798575_n.jpg

Camber isn't the only force at work here. Think toe in/out. ;)



Mike, first off, love your photos and I really liked the MB GLK wheels you had on. I personally think they are the best looking wheels I've seen on C6. I would do the same except I'm getting older and 20" wouldn't give me the ride that I seek. If they had them in 19", I'd be all over it.

So what are you saying with your picture? that an improper toe in/out caused the wear and that you can eliminate the lowered tire wear problem with just to adjustments? I know you can compensate the lack of camber by some toe in adjustment but a height difference of 70mm seems too much to compensate if Nedrager started out with a standard suspension.

My car had the standard suspension before. I drove it about a week before it was aligned right and didn't have any wear issues then either. I did loosen the upper control arms and compress the suspension to the lowered ride height before retorqueing them. I don't know if that would cause wear issues with the tires but I can sure wear those bushings out real fast if it's not done. I've done a 300 mile round trip a couple time at speeds between 80 and 105. If I had issues the tires would show me by now...

Have you checked www.k-mac.com ?

They make camber adjusters for many of the Audi and VW platforms, in fact their boast is that they do all back to the sixties.

To give you some reference where my car sits... the peak of each wheel arch sits 25 inches from the ground with the stock 18 inch wheels. I don't know what a standard one sits at exactly but grab a measuring tape and let me know.

Has anyone here used these before? do they work - it will be great to hear first hand experience!

Have you checked www.k-mac.com ?

They make camber adjusters for many of the Audi and VW platforms, in fact their boast is that they do all back to the sixties.

I lowered my car in April this year, and drove with summer 19" until November, since beginning of November I ride on 18" winter tires.
I have not seen any excessive tire wear yet. I think if anything I would have seen something with my winter set up, given the fact that it was pretty warm for a while and winters are much softer compound. I have 2005 4.2, and I only lowered by changing springs (eibach).
Cheers,

Guys,

I've been away from the Audi scene for a few years now but I felt it was time to chime in to help you guys out. We all have the same A6 C6 suspension (regardless of Sedan or Avant), so it stands to reason when we use after-market suspension parts we all will have similar inner tire wear. Why? Our rigs do NOT have upper control arm adjustments on the stock control arms, negating any level of camber caster adjustment. We only have the ability to adjust toe on the fronts and that's NOT enough to compensate for aggressive inner tire wear due to altering the stock suspension geometry. If you canyon run like we often do out here in SoCal, you will destroy a set of front tires in no time without making a change. Yes, it's alarming and I nearly killed a set of 255/30/20 Nitto Invos until I smartened up and saved them from death.

Try this if you will - Park your lowered A6 on level ground out in the middle of an empty parking lot. Walk at least 30 yards away (front or rear doesn't matter), take a knee and site down the side of the vehicle so you can see the rear wheel in relation to the front wheel. If you have Eibach springs, air bags, H&R springs or coilovers you will notice the top of the front wheel will be inset slightly as compared to the rear wheel which will sit perfectly straight up & down. We all have the same suspensions so it stands to reason without any upper control arm adjustments we will all have the same tire wear. I had immediate tire wear on my Nittos for my 20" x 9" wheels and the wear was likely more pronounced due to a wider tire as compared to the stock 18" tires.

Thankfully we have an option and I have over three (3) years of experience with the solution so I will say it works. K-Mac bushings (k-mac.com) was introduced to me by the Audi TT guys. They have used k-mac upper control arm bushings with success for many years so I thought I would try them out, with clear aprehension and doubt. The design is so simple I thought they were a joke when I opened the box because I didn't understand how they functioned. I assure you guys, they are so simple if you overthink how they work you will think you got ripped off.

Now, I only have 23,000 miles on my 2006 Avant and I installed the k-mac bushings several years ago when the car hit 8,000 miles, but the k-macs have been trouble-free ever since and my alignment guys (also skeptical) nailed the setting perfectly to a point I can't get better tire wear with the 20's or the stocker 18's. My alignement guys have used them several times since, always with positive results. If you site down the side of my Avant now the fronts are standing perfectly vertical, in perfect alignment with the rear tires, despite the Eibach springs. I also have ZERO tire rub and I have yet to experience premature tire wear on the fronts.

Email me if you want to talk in greater detail. I'm happy to help anyone out to clear up any doubt or confusion.

Great answer and glad to see your post again. Thanks.

But what about s-line? Aren't sline cars lowered than regular? I couldn't find any sline control arms on the audipartsnationwide.com site. How do sline cars avoid having camber wear issues?

From what I hear 4.2 also had a different suspension. To my understanding shocks are from S6, so after putting Eibach springs, it feels like sport suspension. Maybe that is a reason I haven't notice any extra wear. After I lowered my car, I did alignment and my car had negative camber of -1,6 which is only about -0,35 off from Audi allowed spec. According to the guys at the shop, this isn't very much and I shouldn't notice any excessive wear.
Not sure what to think after reading this thread, but I believe it depends on how aggressive your drop is.
As mentioned before, I didn't have any issues yet.

But what about s-line? Aren't sline cars lowered than regular? I couldn't find any sline control arms on the audipartsnationwide.com site. How do sline cars avoid having camber wear issues?

A good point. I was told that Audi normally makes different control arms for S-lines. They might not show up in parts lookup (most sites only show one type of springs as well) but doesn't necessarily mean they don't exist. But it'd be interesting to find out if they really do exist or not.

Now, from I have heard, our A6 came with three different heights: Standard, sports suspension and S-Line suspension. However, I don't think Audi made three different control arms. Also fe341285 makes a good argument about factory air bag suspensions.

My guess is that you don't suffer too much irregular tire wear if you drop agressively. I'll find out soon. My sports springs have been shipped.

A good point. I was told that Audi normally makes different control arms for S-lines. They might not show up in parts lookup (most sites only show one type of springs as well) but doesn't necessarily mean they don't exist. But it'd be interesting to find out if they really do exist or not.

Now, from I have heard, our A6 came with three different heights: Standard, sports suspension and S-Line suspension. However, I don't think Audi made three different control arms. Also fe341285 makes a good argument about factory air bag suspensions.

My guess is that you don't suffer too much irregular tire wear if you drop agressively. I'll find out soon. My sports springs have been shipped.
Have you installed your springs?
Any updates on tire wear?

Has anyone here used these before? do they work - it will be great to hear first hand experience!

Yes, they do... but be sure to take them to a shop that has patence... they are sensitive to adjust so you have to take your time on the rack.

FYI: To reduce some of the tire wear w/o adjusting the camber,have the alignment set to zero toe (I think -1.5 is stock) it will reduce the wear somewhat... the K-MAC is the only real fix though.

Have you installed your springs?
Any updates on tire wear?

I installed them about three weeks ago. I haven't had the chance to get a new alignment yet. Here is the post: http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2801453

The OEM sports only lowered it about 3/4". Not enough to cause any excessive inner-wear. Visually, I wish the springs lowered it more but it did get rid of "that is way too high" look. It looks like what the stock ride height should of have been from the start. I really would of have liked to get Eibachs installed but I think the inner-tire wear issue is inevitable with those. I'll post some pics once the rain stops.

I installed them about three weeks ago. I haven't had the chance to get a new alignment yet. Here is the post: http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2801453

The OEM sports only lowered it about 3/4". Not enough to cause any excessive inner-wear. Visually, I wish the springs lowered it more but it did get rid of "that is way too high" look. It looks like what the stock ride height should of have been from the start. I really would of have liked to get Eibachs installed but I think the inner-tire wear issue is inevitable with those. I'll post some pics once the rain stops.

I am glad you like it.
It would be great to see some photos though(maybe before and after?)
I finally saw inner tire wear on mine. I guess I never saw it before because I have two sets of tires. I was in process of checking my breaks and I saw it. Not too drastic, but enough for a concern of ruining tires.
I am now seriously looking in getting k-mac kit.

I am now seriously looking in getting k-mac kit.

I just got the kmacs installed today. Seems like this is the solution. Car rides better (too much toe out earlier) - more balanced - hopefully it is not just physiological, but car seemed like it was resting/riding evenly on the front tires. Had the upper control arms replaced while I was at it.

To give you some reference where my car sits... the peak of each wheel arch sits 25 inches from the ground with the stock 18 inch wheels. I don't know what a standard one sits at exactly but grab a measuring tape and let me know.

stock height front 2005 a6 c6 4f sline

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h4M7E7Rhgn0/TtCld_FW2gI/AAAAAAAABEU/OYT32La-qr4/s972/stock%252520height%252520front%2525202005%252520a6 %252520c6%2525204f%252520sline.jpg


stock height rear 2005 a6 c6 4f sline

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--QTCIwPCYmY/TtCl7Vq1g1I/AAAAAAAABEc/9GzLyMm7b-c/s964/stock%252520height%252520rear%2525202005%252520a6% 252520c6%2525204f%252520sline.jpg

stock height front 2005 a6 c6 4f sline

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h4M7E7Rhgn0/TtCld_FW2gI/AAAAAAAABEU/OYT32La-qr4/s972/stock%252520height%252520front%2525202005%252520a6 %252520c6%2525204f%252520sline.jpg


stock height rear 2005 a6 c6 4f sline

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--QTCIwPCYmY/TtCl7Vq1g1I/AAAAAAAABEc/9GzLyMm7b-c/s964/stock%252520height%252520rear%2525202005%252520a6% 252520c6%2525204f%252520sline.jpg

Just check my stock suspension 05 4.2 on 18 inch rims and same measurement was 28" for the fronts and 27.5" for the rears.

i would REALLY love someone with Eibach pro kit springs to measure their height... it would be very helpful

stock 245 40 18 wheel tire combo preferred but 255 35 19 is acceptable too

i would REALLY love someone with Eibach pro kit springs to measure their height... it would be very helpful

stock 245 40 18 wheel tire combo preferred but 255 35 19 is acceptable too

with 19's and eibach pro is 26 1/4 .. Koni FSD and front and rear sways go on wednesday

i would REALLY love someone with Eibach pro kit springs to measure their height... it would be very helpful

stock 245 40 18 wheel tire combo preferred but 255 35 19 is acceptable too

i've got koni fsd and eibach setup. will measure tomorrow and post

i've got koni fsd and eibach setup. will measure tomorrow and post

26.25"