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Thread: DRC vs Bilstein/Koni Struts.

  1. #37
    Registered User hahnmgh63's Avatar
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    Fairly easy to get at. The Central valves are bolted on to the front side of the spare tire well. From the C.Valves there are two criss crossing hydraulic (exact same as hard brake lines) criss crossing to each of the front struts. I unbolted the central valves and pulled all of the hydraulic lines, actually cut the lines in multiple places to pull them out easier. Some of the lines in the rear pass behind the fender liners and are easier to pull when the fender liners (rear) are removed. It is much easier to do on a lift.
    2003 White RS6 2013 Midnight Blue S5
    2013 Daytona RS5 2x944 Turbo's 1974 911 w/'91 3.6ltr motor
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  2. #38
    Registered User ttboost's Avatar
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    I will likely do this and bag the DRC as I am still not sure if my DRC was updated. Not sure what coilovers to go with yet, although the KW clearly are the most popular. My car rides OK and handles OK on the back roads, at a slow to medium pace. High speed corners are borderline frightening.
    2013 Audi S8

  3. #39
    Registered User hahnmgh63's Avatar
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    Just found my old post, the KW's come to 18lbs less than the DRC (shocks, struts, Central valves & lines). The KW's were about the 2nd replacement specifically for the RS6 to come out after the Bilsteins, they are the most expensive out there but in my opinion they are worth the cost. It's an expensive car so I figure I would go with the best quality parts and I will never worry about the DRC again when I'm going around that corner at 9/10ths or better and hit a little dip and the DRC decides to act up. My only worry on the car now for a poor design is the tranmission.
    2003 White RS6 2013 Midnight Blue S5
    2013 Daytona RS5 2x944 Turbo's 1974 911 w/'91 3.6ltr motor
    Roy, WA

  4. #40
    Registered User ttboost's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hahnmgh63 View Post
    Just found my old post, the KW's come to 18lbs less than the DRC (shocks, struts, Central valves & lines). The KW's were about the 2nd replacement specifically for the RS6 to come out after the Bilsteins, they are the most expensive out there but in my opinion they are worth the cost. It's an expensive car so I figure I would go with the best quality parts and I will never worry about the DRC again when I'm going around that corner at 9/10ths or better and hit a little dip and the DRC decides to act up. My only worry on the car now for a poor design is the tranmission.

    Thanks for the info. 18lbs is 18lbs and yes, I agree. As I learn and drive my car more, I am coming to understand it's shortcomings. I think coilovers and a torque converter are on my short list.
    2013 Audi S8

  5. #41
    Registered User Brav's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by micdee View Post
    Guess what, after I made the appointment to repair the DRC I still kept on reading about the DRC and the problems.
    I start doubting more and more. So I called the shop that sells the KW 3V sets and they told me every V3 set is hand made and will go for about 100k km and they will fit it for the same price as the repair for the DRC so.........................

    Yes I changed my mind. I will call Audi on monday to cancel the appointment and when that is done, I'll make the appointment for the KW V3 set and hopefully we can do the strut mounts and H&R stabilizer at the same time.....

    I hope Audi have not yet ordered the struts......
    Please tell me Audi is paying for the KWs.
    03 RS6 | Daytona Gray on black | KW V3 | Rotiform 19x10 Wheels | REVO ECU | MTM TCU | 170k miles and counting..
    "Some people play hard to get... I play hard to want."

  6. #42
    Registered User 4everRS's Avatar
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    I thought the DRC campaign was over in the US?
    Quote Originally Posted by Brav View Post
    Please tell me Audi is paying for the KWs.
    Avus Silver RS6 - Viper Stage 2 ECU/TCU - Water/Meth Injection - Frozen Rotors - Hbars - clear corners - Hella smoked tails - gutted precats

  7. #43
    Registered User Brav's Avatar
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    I was told I could still get DRC. I wont do it.
    03 RS6 | Daytona Gray on black | KW V3 | Rotiform 19x10 Wheels | REVO ECU | MTM TCU | 170k miles and counting..
    "Some people play hard to get... I play hard to want."

  8. #44
    Registered User 4everRS's Avatar
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    You mean you can get it fixed under the recall on Audi's dime still?
    Quote Originally Posted by Brav View Post
    I was told I could still get DRC. I wont do it.
    Avus Silver RS6 - Viper Stage 2 ECU/TCU - Water/Meth Injection - Frozen Rotors - Hbars - clear corners - Hella smoked tails - gutted precats

  9. #45
    Registered User Brav's Avatar
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    Thats what I was told..
    03 RS6 | Daytona Gray on black | KW V3 | Rotiform 19x10 Wheels | REVO ECU | MTM TCU | 170k miles and counting..
    "Some people play hard to get... I play hard to want."

  10. #46
    Registered User Innovator's Avatar
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    I had both PSS9s, and KWs. They both made the car ride like a hay wagon. Soo.. I got some used complete strut units off of an A6 for needed parts, with new Bilstein Sport struts, new mounts and H&R springs for an A6 4.2, H&R front and rear Bar, and I'm loving it. It really rides like stock. I had the struts grooved to fine tune the height. I could have saved a boat load of money if I just did the last thing first!

  11. #47
    Registered User ben916's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brav View Post
    Please tell me Audi is paying for the KWs.
    If so, I would be interesting in this information
    SOLD - 03 RS6 Avus (905355)
    Current - 03 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 double cab - the YETI, lifted, winched, snorkeled, lockered, skidded, geared

  12. #48
    Registered User Brav's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Innovator View Post
    I had both PSS9s, and KWs. They both made the car ride like a hay wagon. Soo.. I got some used complete strut units off of an A6 for needed parts, with new Bilstein Sport struts, new mounts and H&R springs for an A6 4.2, H&R front and rear Bar, and I'm loving it. It really rides like stock. I had the struts grooved to fine tune the height. I could have saved a boat load of money if I just did the last thing first!
    So what was your total cost and time investment?
    03 RS6 | Daytona Gray on black | KW V3 | Rotiform 19x10 Wheels | REVO ECU | MTM TCU | 170k miles and counting..
    "Some people play hard to get... I play hard to want."

  13. #49
    Registered User micdee's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brav View Post
    Please tell me Audi is paying for the KWs.
    Nope, I have to pay the 2100 euro's myself; this has to do with the fact that according to the Audi dealer there has been no recall for the DRC in the Netherlands.
    The car was checked in the Audi system and all recalls for this car should show up, and it doesnt matter if the recall was initiated by Audi 7 years earlier, when there would have been a recall and my car hadnt gone in for it, I could have it done now (comprendé??). There are no recalls recorded for the RS6 in the Netherlands.

    But I will try to get at least a small portion back from the Audi dealer that did the buyers check for me.
    the mechanic then said to me I had only 1 strut showing some vage oil leakage (sweating we call this in Dutch) and this was normal for struts of this age and no problem.
    Lateron when I explained this to a different Audi specialist, he told me this was NOT OK for these struts.

    With the deassambling of the right front strut we found out that there was a cut of 7mm in the flex hose, so I had no pressure in the entire DRC system.

    I am very pleased with the KW set, always better then no suspension of course...
    Only thing I do not understand and have to check with KW supplier is that after adjusting the initial rideheight during the assembly the rear lowered 3cm!! and the front 1cm (average)
    As where KW indicates that during the first months the set would settle and could lower between 0,5 - 1 cm. So this puzzles me why the rear of the avant lowered 300% more?
    Anyone of the KW drivers experienced the same????

  14. #50
    Registered User Innovator's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brav View Post
    So what was your total cost and time investment?

    Well, my cost will be slightly less than yours, plus I do the work at my shop. If you go to Tireracks website, they have everything you need. Should cost around a grand for everything. We charge 500 for the install, including the alignment. This is a better option IMO than any coil-over hay-wagon setup.

  15. #51
    Registered User Innovator's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by micdee View Post
    Nope, I have to pay the 2100 euro's myself; this has to do with the fact that according to the Audi dealer there has been no recall for the DRC in the Netherlands.
    The car was checked in the Audi system and all recalls for this car should show up, and it doesnt matter if the recall was initiated by Audi 7 years earlier, when there would have been a recall and my car hadnt gone in for it, I could have it done now (comprendé??). There are no recalls recorded for the RS6 in the Netherlands.

    But I will try to get at least a small portion back from the Audi dealer that did the buyers check for me.
    the mechanic then said to me I had only 1 strut showing some vage oil leakage (sweating we call this in Dutch) and this was normal for struts of this age and no problem.
    Lateron when I explained this to a different Audi specialist, he told me this was NOT OK for these struts.

    With the deassambling of the right front strut we found out that there was a cut of 7mm in the flex hose, so I had no pressure in the entire DRC system.

    I am very pleased with the KW set, always better then no suspension of course...
    Only thing I do not understand and have to check with KW supplier is that after adjusting the initial rideheight during the assembly the rear lowered 3cm!! and the front 1cm (average)
    As where KW indicates that during the first months the set would settle and could lower between 0,5 - 1 cm. So this puzzles me why the rear of the avant lowered 300% more?
    Anyone of the KW drivers experienced the same????
    YES! that kept happening to me with both the PSS9s and the KWs. Those little coils aren't up to the task of supporting our Beasts... You will have to tweak it several times before it stabilizes. That is why I am against using a coil over setup unless racing is a priority, and ride comfort is not.

  16. #52
    Registered User MaxRS6's Avatar
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    ^^- I've had no issues with the KWs. It has maintained the same ride height for approx. 3 years without issue and is rock solid. Ride comfort is not my main priority. It is great having the various options and an end user can select the system that is right for their individual needs/wants.
    210K miles rolled

  17. #53
    Registered User Innovator's Avatar
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    I had no issues either, aside from the rear sagging a little. I just hated how the car rode with them.

  18. #54
    Registered User Brav's Avatar
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    It depends on when you measured it.. if you did it just after lowering the car off the lift, it will be very high. You should drive it around pretty hard for a few miles, then bring it back, then measure for the baseline "post install.". THEN after driving a long while, your settling should only be 1cm or so.
    03 RS6 | Daytona Gray on black | KW V3 | Rotiform 19x10 Wheels | REVO ECU | MTM TCU | 170k miles and counting..
    "Some people play hard to get... I play hard to want."

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