Completed: DIY DRC removal/swap with Koni Yellow Sports....

[4.2Crew]

Checked with Tirerack and they don't carry them anymore.


-MG

I just went to TireRack's website and found them in stock????...

Go to: TireRack.com > Suspension > Audi > 2003 > A6 4.2

Look down the results page for Koni Sport...

Fronts (82-2516sport) are in stock @ $181 ea
Rears (82-2526sport) less than 3 available @ $166 ea







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[mik15]

as expected, my DRC has failed again, less than 10 months since it was replaced, it can be done again on warranty but i've rather move on from the oil demon...so, how is the Koni set up so far? still happy with it? any issues you've noticed or anything that really bothers you? This is would be the way for me too if your opinion is positive!

[4.2Crew]

...so, how is the Koni set up so far? still happy with it? any issues you've noticed or anything that really bothers you? This is would be the way for me too if your opinion is positive!

I like the set-up for several reasons... Adjustability, robust, maint free, ride quality, cost etc. Don't know your situation or driving style/habits. But I would do it again in a heart-beat...

[mik15]

so you have no regrets for not choosing PSS9 or KW? the car is a daily drive for me and i do not intend to track it, maybe i'll do it a couple of times just to see how it is, but other than that nothing more, and yes, i want it comfortable for my daily use! So, looks like this is the way for me too...how many miles now have you done since you've got this set up?

[4.2Crew]

No regrets. I've never tried the PSS9's or KW's so cannot compare or comment. Have about 6k miles on the set-up.

[lswing]

4.2, I've got about 1,500 miles on mine so far, doing pretty good. I've been feeling a bit more bounce now that they are softening up a bit, minor, but I'm also running on the full soft setting. Maybe next time I have the car apart I'll go one step further for a tighter return, seems like the spring is getting away from the strut just a bit. If I had extra cash I would be tempted for something with more adjustments, but this is a really solid setup for the price, thanks again for getting me to put these on!

[Mudguts]

Weird - When you plug in RS6 these items don't come up. Also, I gave the sales rep the part numbers and he couldnt find them.

Anyways, I just ordered them for $710.75 shipped along with new snows.

Thanks,
M

[Greg341]

Weird - When you plug in RS6 these items don't come up. Also, I gave the sales rep the part numbers and he couldnt find them.

Anyways, I just ordered them for $710.75 shipped along with new snows.

Thanks,
M

Mudguts, did you install your Konis yet?

I installed them over the weekend with stock springs and sways (a very time-consuming job). I've not driven the car much, just a couple of trips to town but so far so good. At slower speeds the ride seems very similar to the DRC but no clunking or whatever sound that thing makes which drove me absolutely crazy. I'll be on the interstate Thursday and am excited to see how she handles at higher speeds.

Kudos to 4.2Crew for all of his information, that was a HUGE help. The older I get the more I have come to appreciate a bit smoother ride so I'm afraid coil overs would have been too stiff for me. I almost bought the Koni FSD's but decided against it. I agree with 4.2 that they may not hold up over time and I don't want to do this again if I don't have to!

[4.2Crew]

Glad to hear it all worked out for you... This is a big job! Not necessarily difficult, but time consuming. It's the perfect set-up for my daily driving style----hopefully, your's as well!

[Greg341]

I would agree, not terribly difficult but just a lot of steps. The most difficult part for me was pulling them out and putting the new ones in. I don't have a lift so I was operating from the ground. A good set of pry bars helped a ton. That and one of the rear Konis was stripped where the allen goes so tightening it down was a blast!

[Mudguts]

Mudguts, did you install your Konis yet?

I installed them over the weekend with stock springs and sways (a very time-consuming job). I've not driven the car much, just a couple of trips to town but so far so good. At slower speeds the ride seems very similar to the DRC but no clunking or whatever sound that thing makes which drove me absolutely crazy. I'll be on the interstate Thursday and am excited to see how she handles at higher speeds.

Kudos to 4.2Crew for all of his information, that was a HUGE help. The older I get the more I have come to appreciate a bit smoother ride so I'm afraid coil overs would have been too stiff for me. I almost bought the Koni FSD's but decided against it. I agree with 4.2 that they may not hold up over time and I don't want to do this again if I don't have to!

I picked up the Konis last week and am debating the DIY install... Anyone know where to find a detailed step-by-step of the procedure and what tools are required?

Many thanks,
MG

[4.2Crew]

I picked up the Konis last week and am debating the DIY install... Anyone know where to find a detailed step-by-step of the procedure and what tools are required?

Many thanks,
MG

Without knowing your experience level, it is difficult to help determine if it's a DIY... It is a big, messy all-day DIY job to go from DRC to Koni's/oem springs. If you've never done strut-type suspension work on Audi's/VW's, find assistance or outsource. Compressing springs can be very dangerous if not done correctly. Plus, there are procedures like removing the upright pinch-bolt that can be a real bitch even with the right tools, techniques and experience.

Tools required:
complete set of metric wrenches and sockets
torque wrench
spring compressor
hydraulic jack
jack stands (if not using a lift)
pry bar
container to catch stinky DRC juice
beer

Tools desired:
lift
pneumatics (impact gun and wrench)
paint pen to mark/index strut-spring components prior to disassembly for ease of reassembly alignment
experienced helper
Southern Comfort

You can research this site for suspension procedural write-ups, but nothing will be step-wise exact to the RS6:

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel.html

Good luck!...

[Greg341]

I picked up the Konis last week and am debating the DIY install... Anyone know where to find a detailed step-by-step of the procedure and what tools are required?

Many thanks,
MG

I used this but it's not very thorough.

http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php...wtopic&t=81926

It discusses installing PSS9s so it was enough to help me navigate through but there's a lot more steps than mentioned. I don't think 4.2 missed anything...I did find that a crescent wrench comes in handy and I didn't remove the DRC lines, just capped them and zip tied the rears up so they wouldn't flop around. I'll remove them eventually. I rented the spring compressor from O'Reillys. They let me have it free for as long as I wanted it...they've got a good crew here where I live.

If you've got a little extra cash, I'd have someone else do it. I spread it out over 3-days so I didn't loose my mind but I'm not sure if it was worth the money I saved...I suppose it was. It wasn't as bad as changing out the plastic pipe in the oil cooler!

If you decide to tackle it and get stuck, I'll do my best to help!

[mik15]

4.2Crew - since you took out the struts and you know how it looks, could you please tell me if for changing the front upper strut mounts i need to compress the spring?

[4.2Crew]

....could you please tell me if for changing the front upper strut mounts i need to compress the spring?

Unfortunately, yes... But, with an pneumatic impact gun and spring compressors, it only adds an additional 5 minutes per side to the process.

[780z]

Thanks all for a very informative thread, I am currently at war with Audi UK as they claim the DRC issue is not safety related.......LOL....... My car has only done 24,000 miles and had a replacement DRC system fitted just over 5 years ago immediately before I bought it under warranty which did not make any difference, It has been stored for about 5 years now and I have finally decided to get it sorted out one way or the other.
I have been looking into sensibly priced DRC replacements of late and concluded that the very same part numbers used by you guys would be the way to go coupled with the standard springs, I am encouraged by your findings as Koni's have always worked for me especially in my 944 turbo S which for me has the best suspension of any car I have ever driven.

[Mudguts]

Swapped in Koni's following 4.2Crew's recipe on Monday, so only about half a tank of gas on the new suspension.

First impressions:
- The ride height is slightly lower than stock without tucking the wheels resulting in a slightly sporter look
- No more unidentified suspension noises (USN's) from the DRC from normal driving conditions
- Corners like a champ (car has H-bars) with good turn-in and very flat
- Install cost me $425 at a local shop.

I'll provide more feedback at the end of November.

Happy Halloween,
MG

[4.2Crew]

Congrats, MG!... Isn't it amazing how much quieter and "planted" the car is now?... Especially when hitting bumps at speed and askew?

Just for the record, do you recall the rebound settings and is the rear perch setting on the high or low groove?

Con'on now... You know the deal! Pics! We need pics!