S3 Rear shocks ?

[Blue 30]

Hi Guys...
1. Are these standard S3 rear shock absorbers ?
2. Are bushes only available ?
3. Could the rear springs be reused on adjustable platform shocks (such as AVO, as whats on the front)
But see the state of those front bushes, new ones now obtained from AVO.
TerryB

[phillpot]

Blue 30 said:

Are these standard S3 rear shock absorbers ?

Look like it to me

Blue 30 said:

Are bushes only available ?

Probably

Blue 30 said:

Could the rear springs be reused on adjustable platform shocks (such as AVO, as whats on the front)

Don't see why not?

Blue 30 said:

new ones now obtained from AVO.

Mine did that!

Unless they have radically improved them don't waste your money, get their spherical joint kit (imho)

[TVRees]

Blue 30 said:

Hi Guys...
1. Are these standard S3 rear shock absorbers ?

These look like originals to me. I just took mine off and they looked pretty much the same. If you can scrape off some of the muck on the main body under the spring, you should find KONI 802618 stamped into the body, if they are original.

Blue 30 said:

But see the state of those front bushes, new ones now obtained from AVO.

Probably due to inferior bush material (cheap polyurethane grade) and too soft.

Are they the same bushes on the front and the back ?
When you get the new bushes for the front, see if they fit the back too.

[v8s4me]

Blue 30 said:

....
2. Are bushes only available ?

Are they Koni's. If so then probably not. I couldn't get any when I had my Koni's reconditioned last year. Worth checking around though in case things have changed. Let me know if you find a source please.

[TVRees]

v8s4me said:

Let me know if you find a source please.

I know it probably doesn't help you GB guys, but I had my complete front and rear KONI originals refurbished at a KONI service centre in Budapest last year, including new bushes. Nice job too and all for approx. £24 + vat per shock.

Karaszy

I can ask for prices for just the bushes if anyone is interested.

[Blue 30]

Hi Guys... Blimey, that was fast !
I have owned the car since 7/15, drove it 3 times, then parked it up until 11/15. Yes, I knew the chassis was 'shot'. 11/15 is when I separated the body from the chassis. I have been beavering away in my garage repairing the chassis since (some week nights & the odd Sat/Sun morning).
Which is now coming towards an end, soon to get blasted clean, then I can repaint it & commence the rebuild.
Forward planning has now set in, so I'm looking to what needs replacing, or can be refurb'd.
The Avo's are only on the front, & had those kn**kered bushes but otherwise look in good condition. New AVO bushes already purchased, so I'll try them for now, but thanks for the upgrade info. I will keep my eye on them. I have bought Superflex poly bushes for everything suspension wise at the front. And..... Wait for it !
The rear trailing arms are pretty new looking with their rubber bushes too. So those must have been changed going by all the horror stories & photos I have seen. So they stay as original. But as you can see, the rear shocks are in a pretty shocking state (excuse the pun).
I am tempted to fit AVO's on the rear, if only to match the fronts (your comments welcome).
Hence why I asked about keeping the springs. But these rears do work, so maybe if I can find bushes for these rears they can stay too. Keep the replies coming...
TerryB.

[v8s4me]

TVRees said:

... Karaszy I can ask for prices for just the bushes if anyone is interested.

That's worth knowing. I have a spare set of Koni's in reserve which need refurbishing. Last year I paid £123.00 to have 2 dampers refurbished by a Koni service centre here in the UK. That was leaving the original bushes in place. So less than that to have all 4 done with new bushes might be worth the postage.

Mind you, the original bushes are good for 50,000 miles plus, so there's no rush.

[Blue 30]

Now I have (I think) decided on fitting new Gaz adjustable platform shocks on the rear.
And being as the rebuild is having a Blue theme....
Rally Design do a nice line in Blue Coil-Over springs !
I can see from the Wiki, that the rating reqd is between 300-375 for a 2.9 S3.
And I'm assuming they are 2.25" springs.... But what is the 'Free Length' required ??
As I cant pick until I know that !!
TerryB.

[Blue 30]

Wot !!
No one knows the free length of S springs (the rears in my case) ?
I can't believe that !!
Come on you experts...
TerryB

[v8s4me]

See the entry at Wednesday 12th March 2014

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

These springs had done circa 40K miles but what's the chances of the S3 being different?