So,<p>I've finally gotten my new suspension installed (the swaybars that were part of the order are now on their way back to Neuspeed having not been unboxed, thank you) and have a general question for those with the same setup. Has anyone experienced the following?:<p>When I make a turn into a driveway that has a slight rise so that the car is twisting somewhat as it goes up the incline I hear a "sprong" noise from the rear shock on the side of the turn. Right turn causes the noise on the right rear shock. Left turn causes the noise on the left rear shock. The parts were all installed by the great guys at 2Bennett Audimotive in Davis, CA and we put the car back up on the lift to take a look. Everything is perfectly tight and aligned. Nothing is out of place. The Bilsteins are adjustable and the rear shock is set on the lowest of the four grooves. The front shocks are set on the second groove from the top (out of five grooves). The height looks perfect from front to back. We could see nothing that might rub or catch the spring.<p>Anyone else have this experience?<p>Other than this issue the setup feels great. Firmer without being too harsh. <p>Sean<br>97 1.8Tqm<br><ul><li><a href="http://www.ns.net/~seang">Sean's A4 Page</a></li></ul>

It could be a case of coil bind....did the springs come with casings on them (covers over the springs at the top - made out of plyable plastic material)?<p>If not...try going to Radio shack and getting those wire gathering tubes...and put them on the top portion of the springs. Just a thought.<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM<br>

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How's that for your daily dose of Zen ?<p>It sound like you've got a spring sliding around on the top or bottom perch, and catching an edge as the suspension loads and unloads. Is the top and bottom of the new spring the same as the old one (i.e. diameter, flat ground, pig-tail, open coil, etc - although you probably don't know what the hell I'm talking about) ?<p>I have this happen on several cars when I've sprigns that don't exactly fit the perch - it allows them to slide around, maybe catch an edge when they're unloaded, and then SPROING when they get loaded again and slide off that edge. <p>Jack the car up, climb underneath (after you slide some jackstands under the car - and please sign the liability release below) and try sliding/twisting the springs when the suspension is at full droop.<p>And check your sub-frame.<p>And wax your gas tank.<p>And don't forget to remove the jackstands before you drive away (you can - it's quattro, you know)<p>John<br>Trained Seals Racing

John,<p>The springs are round coils from top to bottom. Not flat on either end. The shocks come with a perch made to accomodate this type of spring. The top of the spring fits into the stock perch in the same fashion as the stock spring.<p>When we had the car back up on the lift with wheels "drooping" we found that everything was very, very tight. No movement at all. Everything was nice and snug. One theory we came up with is that where the bottom of the spring sits on the lower perch it is catching on the perch for a second then freeing itself. It is spring on metal on the lower perch. No rubber bushing or anything. Just a guess. We lubed that area with lithium grease but that did not eliminate the sound.<p>Even on the lift there is a LOT of tension on the springs. We couldn't really figure out where it might be able to shift when unloaded.<p>Hmmm....<p>Sean<br>97 1.8Tqm<br>

whew....where'd you pull that one out of?....I think your coffee is too strong today. <p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM<p>P.S. Sean's just feels left out since he doesn't have stress cracks in his subframe. Wouldn't it be interesting if the sports package guys started getting problems with this subframe/sway bar issue also?<br>

Tank wax is proven to be twice as effective in improving performance as a front shock tower bar.<p>Steve, it is not funny! The factory package will not break...The factory package will not break...The factory package will not break...<p>BTW. Ironic humor alert!!! Does the rear subassembly replacement cost mean that the Nuespeed chip is actually more expensive than a WETT chip plus a K04 turbo????

I have always heard that a good dose of Mr. Zoggs Sex Wax goes along way in preserving the sheen on your gas tank. (This will go over the heads of anyone that has never surfed in the ocean.)<p>Steve "the Duke" S.<br>Ex-Beach Bum<br>97 2.8QM<p>P.S. the power of positive thinking may be overpowered by murphy's law...or just plain entropy<p>

You may end up getting scratches or swirl marks on your gas tank if you use a rotary buffer.<p>Orbital buffers are ok, but if you love your car and your gas tank, you'll wax it by hand.<br>

Congrats on the installation!<p>I get a little noise on some bumps but not when entering/exiting driveways. Otherwise, they're quiet.<p>Not sure if it means anything but I have mine set to the third groove on my rear shocks (and, like you, the second ones up front). Ron A. has his set to the bottom in the rear but has his fronts set to the third (middle) groove.OTOH, you have the "sport" version Bilsteins up front and they may not set up at the same height as the HDs.<p>You're right that the springs are under a lot of tension, due to the several dead coils on top. So, I couldn't imagine anything moving around either.<p>BTW, I got my car back yesterday and am pretty surprised how well it rides with the Audi sport stabilizer bars. The suspension is stiff enough to counter a lot of the body lean and the bars do the rest. Of course, it's not as tight as with the Neuspeed bars, but it might be better suited for my driving conditions.<p>Hope you figure things out,<br>Jim

A few important bits of information. I have just the Neuspeed springs and factory dampers, so it is entirely unrelated to the Bilsteins and what setting they are on. Mine makes the EXACT same sound, however only on the passenger side. I also believe it has nothing to do with the vinyl sleeve that is wrapped around several of the upper coils. In fact, my vinyl has begun to split at the very bottom and is slowly working it's way up. Everything is tight as well in terms of nuts and bolts, and it won't just go away. I have had mine for a little over 2000 miles now. Within a week of the installation, I drove the car to Neuspeed, and had Aaron go for a ride in the car. He had never heard that before, and recommended I check everthing again. Please, those of you with this issue bring it to there attention so they can help find a solution, knowing I am not the only case.<p>Overjoyed I'm not crazy,<p>Michael 98.5 1.8T QMS Neuspeed<br>

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Over the last couple of days I have also found that the sound occurs when going around a corner a little fast even when the corner is flat. I guess as the car lifts on the inside of the turn and compresses on the outside whatever geometry that causes the problem is duplicated. Another place is while backing out of my driveway at the house. The rear drops over the curb OK. As I ease the front left tire off the curb very, very slowly the spring speaks up.<p>Something is just not right!<p>Sean

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I just noticed that I'm experiencing that same "popping sound" going in and out of moderately steep entrances. Actually, my wife pointed it out first.<p>We didn't hear it before I had my subframe fixed and re-installed the factory sport bars; IOW, it didn't seem to do it with the Neuspeed bars. I'll see if I can determine exactly where the noise is coming from and let you all know.<p>Sheesh, when it rains, it pours! :-P<p>Jim