DRC suspension upgrade for 2020

[AudiPilot]

There are quite a few threads addressing suspension upgrades... many started 10+ years ago, as folks were first discovering the sub-optimal longevity of DRC. My DRC made it to 117,000 miles (with rear shocks replaced under warranty at around 40k), but I think it's time to say goodbye -- three of 4 shocks are leaking, reservoirs/lines are badly rusted/corroded... it's only a matter of time. Part of me will die a little bit in swapping to aftermarket -- I love the idea of everything being OE... just not at the price for new DRC (and with no assurance of long-term integrity).

I'd be grateful for advice -- from reading it seems to be either Koni Yellows or KW V3... probably with Hotchkis sway bars as long as we're under there? But again, lots of the advice is close to a decade old. What is often most beneficial is when someone describes their setup and how they like it (not just "V3's are what you want") -- there's a wealth of knowledge in the long-term owners/experts here. I've learned a lot about the car in 8 months of ownership (lots of it here), but I don't do major repairs myself (just littler things like N85 canister, RNS-E upgrade, trim stuff, etc.). So when I read things like "Koni's with stock springs," I understand what that means in theory, but not why that's a good choice. If you care to describe your settings, even better -- I'm going for the OE ride height/look/feel.

Here's how I drive it:

- I'm the guy @nene spoke of in his post on 16 Jun on the Del Stator thread... "Get the RS6 well sorted and enjoy it daily, and slam the gas pedal on occasion on some on-ramps or empty highway cruisin'."
- Daily highway driver (e.g., 4k miles between Nov 2019 and Mar 2020 before working from home)
- Moving it to CA in August, will commute ~25 miles/~30 min highway each way daily (shipping the car though, not driving it out there from VA)
- I don't track the car -- it has a Stage 1 EPL tune, everything else is OE (wheels, etc.)
- I love the way the car stays level on an un-banked highway ramp, but I wouldn't mind a slightly softer ride... just not bouncy or unresponsive obviously (I get it, trade-offs)
- Looking for as close to OE ride height/look/feel as possible

Look forward to hearing whatever feedback you have, planning to make a decision over the weekend and move forward with a gameplan on Monday. :rs6kiss:

[cruzanrs6]

I replaced my DRC - probably about 5 years or so ago and went with the Koni FSD inserts, and replaced all the rubber components and bushings, etc while in there. I did the work myself - it was a considerable job, especially not having access to a hoist. I looked into a complete coil over replacement (from all the available options). I did not want to lower the ride height and really did not want to stiffen up the ride and also really did not want to spend $2K+. I drive the car daily (no tracking). I have been very pleased with the decision. If you do research you will probably see that the Koni's will not be a fit for the RS6, but will for the A6 - 4.2 with sport suspension. It's because the RS6 has the DRC system, and obviously any aftermarket insert will not connect to the DRC's pressurized set-up. Everything went together fine - definitely will need coil compressors and air impact tool, torque tool etc. - the rears were much more difficult to remove than the fronts. I believe I picked up the Koni's for around $750 and then another $200 or so for the other OEM components.

Good Luck

[kevcp]

I can bring the car by one day in the next few weeks for you to drive and see how you like the KW V3 + Hotchkis setup. I will be down in the Chesapeake area so it wont be out of the way by to much..

[AudiPilot]

I can bring the car by one day in the next few weeks for you to drive and see how you like the KW V3 + Hotchkis setup. I will be down in the Chesapeake area so it wont be out of the way by to much..

Wow, that would be awesome and incredibly generous... will send you a PM.

[kevcp]

Shoot me a text @ Five four zero 216 six 7 six 9

[nene]

I replaced the DRC after the 2nd failure and really have not looked back. The stock system is great if it worked for a long period of time, but just does not seem to. Different folks get better mileage out of them, but even after the 2nd replacement it did not ride like it did from factory. Honestly the system has to be serviced by someone who really knows and cares and that is just hard to find around here, especially at the dealership.

As much pain as I felt by moving away from OE parts, and KW v3s are a bit harsher on the ride, I figured once I made the choice of 19" wheels and lower profile tires I was in all the way.
Other options were available but also had some issues that required too much working around or high maintenance. So far the KW v3s have serviced me well. Other than adjust slightly the ride height after they settled, nothing else.

Good luck with your choice.

[AudiPilot]

Thanks to all for the helpful descriptions. At the risk of highlighting my naïveté, what are you getting for >$2k in V3 parts that Koni offers at under $1k? Is there a perceived/actual quality/performance/longevity difference? I’m sure the rides are a bit different, but materially speaking...

[AudiPilot]

Thanks to all for the helpful descriptions. At the risk of highlighting my naïveté, what are you getting for >$2k in V3 parts that Koni offers at under $1k? Is there a perceived/actual quality/performance/longevity difference? I’m sure the rides are a bit different, but materially speaking...

Ok so answering my own question, I get that at least part of it is re-using OE springs with Koni, and the V3 comes with the full spring kit... Anything else? Are new springs just that expensive?

[nene]

I think one of the main difference is that V3 provides you the ability to change the ride height and a few other tweaks on rebound and sportiness adjustment. But honestly I don't think you can go wrong with either option of V3 coil overs or Koni shocks with OE springs.
From experience I think any setup that is a full coil over happens to have a sportier/harsher ride, even if you put it on a softest setting.

[JettaGLi16v]

KW V3's are legendary and have been for decades. They are one of the top of the line coilover packages, with dampening rates specific to the vehicle they are designed for, progressive spring rates, and independently adjustable compression and rebound (VERY nice for fine-tuning, if you care about really dialing in the suspension.). I installed mine a year ago, and am very happy. It's a coilover that can be adjusted for weekend track days or comfortable highway cruising. They will allow you to drop the car substantially (my car is tucking the front and rear tires, with about a one finger gap F & R), while still maintaining good softness, and staying within the designed range of the dampers.

I have run a lot of modified suspensions over the years: Bilstein sport shocks, Koni adjustables, HOR springs (waaay back in the day), Eibach springs, Bilstein PSS9's, Eibach coilovers, BC racing coilovers, but these were my first KW's. I think they are absolutely on par with the best of the best as far as performance and adjustability, within the range of the $1-3k coilover packages. I've never ridden on something with Stasis, or Ohlins, or the like, so I don't have a good comparison once you get into the remote reservoir level of suspension.

TL;DR: More adjustable shocks than a Koni, with ride height adjustment, and better springs than stock. If you don't care about ride height adjustment, I love Bilstein sports, and think they are one of the best shocks money can buy.

[DKP]

I’m going to be the stodgy old guy who sticks with OEM at least one more time. Mine were done in 07 and have just developed a little dampness on the right front. Found a full set new from Audi for just under 2k. If this set lasts as long as the first I’ll be happy.

Maybe some of the veterans here know the answer to this. How many failures were do to poor installation procedures. I can see someone over pressurizing and blowing out seals real easy.

The guys who who have been servicing by car as of late seem very conscientious about their work and go by the book. What I’m worried about is if there is a book for them to follow with all the various steps to be followed.

[AudiPilot]

I’m going to be the stodgy old guy who sticks with OEM at least one more time. Found a full set new from Audi for just under 2k.

I appreciate your staunch support of OE! Am I correct that the “set” you found is four shocks, but not new lines/reservoirs? Those appear to be $3k just for new reservoirs/lines, before you even get to the shocks.

[DKP]

Yes that was just shocks. And now you have me thinking about the other bits and pieces. I was working on the assumption that the rest is still sound. Car has resided in Colorado and Florida. Always garage kept. Zero corrosion, no winters etc. 80k on the clock. Garage queen for the most part. But I may start shopping around for those items. Just on the basic principles of hoarding for the future. Anyone have those part numbers written down anywhere?

[AudiPilot]

Anyone have those part numbers written down anywhere?

According to Jim Ellis parts it’s 4B3616807A and 4B3616808A, each is called “Cental valve with lines.” My car was an Illinois/Ohio resident, and this I cannot say the same for corrosion/winters. Shop says the reservoirs are so rusted they’re not sure they can simply un-bolt DRC components to uninstall them.

[DKP]

Thanks for the numbers. Yikes that doesn’t sound good on the corrosion front. Damn mag chloride. Hate that crap. Do you know Does lines mean the ones at each corner or lines to each corner?

[AudiPilot]

Do you know Does lines mean the ones at each corner or lines to each corner?

I do not, sorry. I’d need someone with more parts savvy to assess what’s needed to actually replace an entire system.

[DKP]

Yea I maybe should have thought through all the possible failure points before I bought all 4 shocks. Could turn into way more work and money then I had in my head. Especially since I’ve looked at the new A6 Allroad. Me like. Then you do that mental money tally in your head and think with what I’ve spent on my RS I could have almost bought the new Allroad. Silly humans.

[AudiPilot]

If you don't care about ride height adjustment, I love Bilstein sports, and think they are one of the best shocks money can buy.

It’s looking like I’ll go with Bilstein B6 Performance simply due to availability — Koni’s are backordered 3-4 weeks. You are correct I do not care about ride height adjustment… Do you have any comments on the ride quality itself (stiffness, etc.)?

Also planning on Hotchkis sways to keep things better linked together.

All the feedback has been invaluable, and I’m very appreciative.

[JettaGLi16v]

It’s looking like I’ll go with Bilstein B6 Performance simply due to availability — Koni’s are backordered 3-4 weeks. You are correct I do not care about ride height adjustment… Do you have any comments on the ride quality itself (stiffness, etc.)?

Also planning on Hotchkis sways to keep things better linked together.

All the feedback has been invaluable, and I’m very appreciative.


Personally, I love B6's. Excellent, top quality product. I don't have any opinion of them on stock springs, but Bilstein's have an excellent way of getting stiffer when they are bring worked hard. I found them slightly stiffer than regular upgrade shocks (H&R's, etc), but they really excelled when pushed harder. I think it's a really comfortable, but performance minded, shock. Can't go wrong with Bilstein sport's!

[spoolinrs6]

Have you ever thought about getting billsteins?

[AudiPilot]

Have you ever thought about getting billsteins?

As a matter of fact, that's where I've decided to go... with the B6 Performance!

[AudiPilot]

Personally, I love B6's. Excellent, top quality product. I don't have any opinion of them on stock springs, but Bilstein's have an excellent way of getting stiffer when they are bring worked hard. I found them slightly stiffer than regular upgrade shocks (H&R's, etc), but they really excelled when pushed harder. I think it's a really comfortable, but performance minded, shock. Can't go wrong with Bilstein sport's!

Excellent feedback... thank you for that!

[DKP]

Audipilot I assume we can count on you to report back on your final decision and your opinion of the ride? The more info on these kinds of things the more we all learn.

Thanks

[AudiPilot]

Audipilot I assume we can count on you to report back on your final decision and your opinion of the ride? The more info on these kinds of things the more we all learn.

Thanks

Absolutely! Planning the swap to Bilsteins on the 16th with the very generous help of a forum member. Will follow up!

[kevcp]

Absolutely! Planning the swap to Bilsteins on the 16th with the very generous help of a forum member. Will follow up!

We will post pics and impressions once we have completed the install tomorrow, hopefully have time to get some pics of the two cars together also..

[DHall1]

Good chance to compare the V3s with Bilstein

[AudiPilot]

It was indeed a good chance to do that... also the 10SEC tune vs. my EPL... let’s just say I’m jealous of that tune now, and need to get a TCU tune (maybe different ECU as well), because the 10SEC/GIAC combo is pretty impressive. Then again, there’s probably some “enabling” there having Apikol intakes and much more air intake than I do.

I’m sure @kevcp will add a bunch, but he put me through the paces with a full swap out (plus rear Hotchkis — indy shop replaced the front OE posts with bolts that were impossible to access, so only did the rear) in about 10 hours of work in a single day. Was not without excitement, with a very strange strut mount that came out of the right rear... zoom in on that and check out how the strut end nut wore into the top mount. So that’ll need to come back off (using my new skills) at a future date with the proper part.

All in all, extremely grateful for the expertise generously shared today! Makes owning the car more fun and more rewarding. Oh and it turns out that only one side of my DRC had any pressure... who knew!?

https://www.rs6.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=19267&stc=1

[DKP]

Hey Audi Pilot. Are you back on the road. Also I had another question. Since you only had pressure on one side when you got to work I was wondering what the handling characteristics were. Was the car just floating along like some 60,s barge.

[AudiPilot]

Thanks for asking! Not back on the road yet... car is at New German Performance outside DC... since we didn’t have the mounts ready to go when the struts were off (no idea they’d be bad, and I’m out of time, moving to CA on Saturday), I’m having the shop do it before it gets shipped next week. Fingers crossed it’ll be ready to drive upon arrival.

Having never driven any other RS6 (and without enough general experience to know what’s “off”), I honestly didn’t have anything to compare it to. @kevcp noted it was quite floaty, especially compared to his on V3s!

[Muggy]

Wish I could have chimed in sooner on this....I changed my email and got locked out of posting permission for a while....I did the Bilsteins on mine since my DRC was blown when I bought it (knew this already) and the car came with a boxed set of H&R sport springs in the trunk, ready to install. Overall, I'm happy, especially since I picked up a brand new set of shocks and all mounting hardware, rubber bits, bolts, etc. for about $800.00 all in (since I had springs) from an Audizine member. The car rides well on the road, not too harsh, but it could use a little firmer hold on the curves...still a little boat like on long sweeping curves. I was way outgunned by a new Golf R, not for lack of power, but for me not wanting to plow off of the road on 100 mph curves. I do have upgraded H-Sport sways front and rear as well. As I mentioned, for the price, definitely great (and a nice drop too), but if I had to do again, I'd go V3's or 2Bennets...

http://www.fototime.com/4DC46A73820A5ED/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/BE3C641F64A1C04/large.jpg

[DHall1]

Audi Pilot

increase damping if you’re able to adjust the struts

RS6 needs more damping on the front from stock setup. Even the V3s need 2-3 clicks more damping

[AudiPilot]

Audi Pilot

increase damping if you’re able to adjust the struts

RS6 needs more damping on the front from stock setup. Even the V3s need 2-3 clicks more damping

I appreciate that input. Unless I’m mistaken, the Bilstein B6 doesn’t have any damping adjustment.

[AudiPilot]

I was way outgunned by a new Golf R, not for lack of power, but for me not wanting to plow off of the road on 100 mph curves. I do have upgraded H-Sport sways front and rear as well. As I mentioned, for the price, definitely great (and a nice drop too), but if I had to do again, I'd go V3's or 2Bennets...

Good call on that choice against the Golf... Even a quick drive on the V3’s was enough to know they’re the real deal, the price was just to steep for me at this moment in time. And you definitely beat me on your “all in” price for the B6s... But I’ll enjoy them when I have the car back, and sometime down the road when there’s some surplus maybe I’ll pop for the V3s! Your car looks great!

[Muggy]

Thanks!...I love the car and it is certainly not a disappointment, but I know it could handle better. At the time, $$$ was a factor, so it was 100% the right choice at that point to get the car back on the road...it was blowing fluid all over the front rotor from the soft line and making a mess of the brakes and wheel, so not really drivable at all at that point.

Good call on NGP...I love the guys up at Aberdeen and I'm sure they are just as good at the Lorton shop...just had them align mine finally after a year and a mega-failed alignment at the local stealership! They'd be a first call for any paid work, but I try to do as much as I can myself, including an engine pull in the next week or two...

[gregoryindiana]

Late to this thread. Obviously per the other post I made today I went with 2Bennett’s package. Only back 4 days so no real “testing” until new brakes properly bedded. But so far I am super pleased. Good solid control maybe a bit stiffer than what I vaguely remember working DRC to be. Happy with my pick.

[lswing]

The Koni Yellow struts work amazingly well with the stock springs, decent ride height also. If I do go coilovers it will be the Billstein PSS9 as they are reviewed for great comfort/performance for those wanting a sporty ride that isn't too harsh.

[boca rat]

Reading this, I am also looking for help. Not clear exactly what I am running though. I was told Bilsteins w/H&R springs by previous owners/ads, but car sits a bit too low with tons of downward adjustment (?!?!) and rears are both seized and can't be adjusted up any further (car originally from Boston....). Wondering if springs are shot though as I believe approx 10 years old.

So are the only options KWV1/KWV3/B14/B16?

Thoughts on differences between them? Likely will have to go KWV1 or B14 due to cost constraints right now.

Thx!

[nubcake]

H&R do sag over time, I think. Mine are pretty damn low.
"Available downward adjustment" makes sense because shocks were likely intended for stock springs.

Avoid KW v1, they absolutely suck. Ride is too bouncy, handling is terrible.

[lswing]

Been happy with the Koni yellow sport struts and stock springs combo for years. That said, going with Bilstein PSS9 soon, seems to be the best comfort/performance fully adjustable coilover on the market. I'd never touch KW's after riding in some cars and reading years of posts about them.

[GreggPDX]

Been happy with the Koni yellow sport struts and stock springs combo for years. That said, going with Bilstein PSS9 soon, seems to be the best comfort/performance fully adjustable coilover on the market. I'd never touch KW's after riding in some cars and reading years of posts about them.

I'm still rocking the DRC on mine with the Hotchkis ARB's, and I like it a lot, but I know my days are numbered with that setup. I had the PSS9's on a B7 A4, and they were pretty stiff. Handled really nice, but if you have to deal with rough roads regularly, it could get old. My research seems to indicate that it's hard to find a really smooth coilover for our cars, because the coilovers use smaller diameter springs, and the only way to make them strong enough to hold the weight is to make them stiff. That's why the larger, factory springs seem to work so well. That said, I've read the Ohlins are supposed to be really good, but they don't currently make a setup for our cars. The other one I'm curious about is the 2Bennet setup. I don't know much about them, so I'd love to hear more first-hand experience with them.

[boca rat]

Has anyone looked at the other options on Amazon like Godspeed or Border Racing? Or are they junk?

https://www.amazon.com/Border-Racing-Coilovers-Avant-Quattro/dp/B083DP3DP5/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=coilovers&pd_rd_r=816a60c0-32bf-420a-8483-dcc1c14225f1&pd_rd_w=Nu47q&pd_rd_wg=7pml1&pf_rd_p=66bfffce-2a61-4c34-a0b9-6807cf97f8e1&pf_rd_r=GT1PV5T0RN2W6HDM0NMV&qid=1601135722&sr=1-8&vehicle=2003-73-995------------&vehicleName=2003+Audi+RS6

https://www.amazon.com/Godspeed-MSS1040-Coilovers-Suspension-Lowering/dp/B07LGDRHCF/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=coilovers&pd_rd_r=816a60c0-32bf-420a-8483-dcc1c14225f1&pd_rd_w=Nu47q&pd_rd_wg=7pml1&pf_rd_p=66bfffce-2a61-4c34-a0b9-6807cf97f8e1&pf_rd_r=GT1PV5T0RN2W6HDM0NMV&qid=1601135688&sr=1-6&vehicle=2003-73-995------------&vehicleName=2003+Audi+RS6