a8 lowering

[Nick.m]

id like to lower my 3.0 tdi quarto sport and I see you can buy links to trick the car,s ride height sensors and ive also seen a post some where that it can be done by the cars computer, can any one give me advice on which is the best way to go

[rob1976]

Hi,

If its a D3 you should have a fairly low setting "Dynamic" which is the right set up for the suspension. Or "Sport"

There is a link on Youtube showing you how to get a little lower using VCDS. Think you can get an extrea 20mm

Is it sat on 17" or 18"? if so go for a set of 20" to fill the gap. Messing with the suspension set up is a bit risky, but it can be done if you have the right program.

[Nick.m]

yes its a d3, when I change settings on the suspension it doesn't lower the car and after reading a little in the hand book its says all it does is alter the stiffness of the suspension as with dynamic it says the faster you go the stiffer it gets,, its currently sat on 19,s but im hopeing to get a set of 20,s next week

[rob1976]

your right it does stiffen up the suspension, but it should lower and raise through the settings? if not have a vcds check, could be a relay fault, but you would also have a warning on your instrument panel?

[Crasher]

Basically you lie to the ECU about the height, telling it the car is higher than it actually is so the system compensates.

[Nick.m]

your right it does stiffen up the suspension, but it should lower and raise through the settings? if not have a vcds check, could be a relay fault, but you would also have a warning on your instrument panel?

well I cant seem to see any difference in height between the settings and theres deffinately no warning lights on the dash

[rob1976]

Ok,

VCDS check needed, the car should change height.

have you heard the suspension pump working? I would'nt like to say this, but if there is no change then faults would be showing? if not, someone could have removed the bulbs from the instrument panel. Its not uncommon for people to hide issues by removing the bulb.

As Crasher says: "Basically you lie to the ECU about the height, telling it the car is higher than it actually is so the system compensates"

You can not do this untill you investigate why it wont adjust in height. as VCDS is the tool to carry out the lowereing your after.

Must be someone local to you to carry out a scan?

[Nick.m]

the suspension definitely works , when I set it to raise it lifts it right up it maybe that the difference between the other 3 modes is very little and im not paying enough attention

[colindaleyc]

You need the lowering links mate you can get adjustable ones which cost a bit more but these links trick the cars ecu into thinking the cars ride height is much higher than it actually is?
I have my car sitting on 20" rims which is how I bought the car!! the only thing you need to think about (which I didn't) is I live in London which has ALOT of road humps everywhere and having the car lowered means crawling over bumps!! so unless where you live doesn't have bumps maybe lowering isn't the way to go

[Nick.m]

yeh I bought the adjustable lowering links and fitted them in under 15 mins,, also bought a set of 20 inch wheels too