AVO'S Damper settings

[dukeenfield]

Hi,I am just fitting AVO'S Dampers on my 350i and I wondered if anybody knows what the best setting to set front dampers on (I think there's 22 clicks settings on dampers).Also I have just fitted new hard springs from R.T.Racing

[leorest]

When I fitted mine a while ago, I started with them adjusted by feel to be like the old ones I took off, and then made small adjustments after driving. It would probably be worth while learning about suspension settings in more depth so you know what to look for. I don't know of a good book to suggest. Hopefully someone else will speak up
Leo

[wee man]

I have just had the same set up fitted to my car. Avo's and RT springs. I was told as a guide 7 clicks on the front and 5 on the rear to start with, then drive it and adjust to suit.
Hope to have the car back next week so we will see.
Good Luck.

[dukeenfield]

Hi,Thanks for help,would that be screwing out 5 clicks from the hardest setting or from the softest setting,thanks Ken.

[wee man]

Hi Ken,
Start by turning the knurled knob anticlockwise all the way.
Then +'ve clicks Clockwise. Seven on the front and five at the rear. Then drive your favourite roads and see how it feels. More +'ve clicks the harder (more damped) it will become.
Hoping to have my car back Thursday, so I will be doing the same myself this weekend.
Here's hoping for dry weather.
Simon.

[dukeenfield]

Hi Simon,I will try that,I still got to put back springs on yet,thanks for help,

[islander]

Put AVO's on the front with the existing standard springs at Christmas and have them at 10 clicks from the soft end of the dial, what a difference it has made to the front end - I now have a very pointy wedge!!!

There should be 25 clicks in total, they are a real pain to try and adjust with my big fingers!

[rev-erend]

The fronts are a pain with any fingers.. nicely designed - NOT !

[dukeenfield]

I am just fitting rear avo's dampers now,but there's a aluminium slotted collar at top of damper for top of spring to fit in and as far as I can see you don't need it,as spring fits up to chassie.Has any body else had this problem.

[sevans]

dukeenfield said:

I am just fitting rear avo's dampers now,but there's a aluminium slotted collar at top of damper for top of spring to fit in and as far as I can see you don't need it,as spring fits up to chassie.Has any body else had this problem.

Yep, I think your right mine came with these and they are still in a box somewhere.

[dukeenfield]

Thanks for letting me know,its funny the new springs from R.T. Racing are shorter than the old one's?,thanks Ken.

[djc1001]

dukeenfield said:

Thanks for letting me know,its funny the new springs from R.T. Racing are shorter than the old one's?,thanks Ken.

Harder springs are usually shorter but don't compress as much when fitted.
My new RT front springs where quite a bit shorter but raised the ride height slightly.

[D1 MAD]

Greetings, I have been reading this thread with much interest as I am considering doing quite the opposite and binning my front and rear Avo's for softer 'standard ' items. I have had my 350i for 5 years now, it came with the Avo's fitted and I have experimented with just about every combination of setting possible, I've even tried all these settings with slight variatins in tyre pressure. My conclusion is the springs are just too hard for anything except very, very smooth roads. Even on the softest setting most of the movement seems to be the give in the tyres!! Do Avo's come with various spring ratings? Could mine just be too stiff?

[NHyde]

On my AVO's , they are set 12 on the front , 16 on the rears .

Mind you , I don't have many fillings left , but I can tell you exactly where they fell out

[GreenV8S]

D1 MAD said:

Do Avo's come with various spring ratings?

Do you have coilover springs all round? If so, the springs are readily available for around £15 a corner. As far as I know AVOs work on the 'one size fits all' valving principle so you don't need to change the dampers or get them revalved, they have enough adjustment range to accomodate a wide variety of spring rates. (Unfortunately this does mean the adjustment is very coarse.)

[D1 MAD]

Thanks for that, at £15 a corner sounds like I might be able to transform the car for only £60ish and some quality time in the garage! Thats got to be worth a try!! Any recomendations of where to buy and what spring rating to go for please? Cheers.

[GreenV8S]

Before you get too carried away, bear in mind that at least some wedges use separate coil springs on the front rather than coil overs, and replacing these is a different kettle of fish (and nothing to do with the AVOs). However Steve Heath (shpub) has adapted these to coilover on his 520 wedge, and may be able to help you do the same if you ask nicely.

>> Edited by GreenV8S on Sunday 6th February 00:46

[clasabro]

I have hands like dinner plates too. I also have a pair of snipe nose pliers which will reach the adjuster from underneath just needs a bit of care to feel the clicks.