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Info: AVO coilovers

Info: AVO coilovers

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RE: [gti-vr6] Coil-Over Suspensions Jay Saathoff <JaySmicrografx> Mon, 13 Jul 1998 15:26:08 -0500
RE: [gti-vr6] AVO - before you buy! Jay Saathoff <JaySmicrografx> Wed, 14 Oct 1998 17:07:29 -0500
Re: [gti-vr6] AVO coilovers for sale "Doug Brekke" <d_brekkehotmail> Sun, 18 Jul 1999 11:40:31 PDT



From gti-vr6-ownerdev.tivoli Mon Jul 13 19:36 CDT 1998
From: Jay Saathoff <JaySmicrografx>
To: gti-vr6dev.tivoli
Subject: RE: [gti-vr6] Coil-Over Suspensions
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 15:26:08 -0500
 
Ahem...

"There once was a guy with some dough,
who's car got coil-overs, AVO.
But right out of the box,
it spent three months on blocks.
Those piece of shit shocks sure do blow."

H&R, Koni, Spax, etc. would probably be good to look into.  Carrera is
also good, but valving is non-adjustable.  Neuspeed even markets a kit,
but I think they are produced by H&R.  I've heard good reviews of the
Ground Control conversion kit, which allows you to add ride-height
adjustment to a set of shocks.

Coil-overs are not a serious headache, it just depends on how exact you
want to get with the balancing.  After installation, took out my level
and tape measure.  I adjusted the front control arms to be level and
parallel to the ground, and adjusted the rears so that both sides of the
rear axle were equidistant from the upper suspension mounting points,
and there was no preload of either side due to axle twist.  Basically, I
made sure the car was level.  I didn't bother with adding the driver's
weight, because I carry a passenger at least as often as not.

My glove box contains an allen-wrench to loosen the perch set screws,
and a spanner to crank the perch up or down.  Have I had to use them
recently?  No.  Unless you plan to road race, change tire diameters, or
run dirt rallies often, coil-overs are most appreciated once -- during
install.  After you get everything balanced at the ride height you want,
most people just leave them set.  Once set, you can do seasonal
ride-height adjustments by cranking all four corners up/down the same #
of turns.

Performance gains depend alot on spring choice and ride height/valving
settings, but generally expect to get what you pay for (unless you paid
for AVO's, then expect to get what you pay for plus strange noises and
self-loosening valving.  As I told someone recently, AVO design/build
quality is crap, but they _perform_ well.  Does that make sense?).  With
my current settings, NASA keeps wanting to borrow my car whenever their
centrifuge is broken.

My $.02,

-- Jay Saathoff

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Dylan Gordon [SMTP:Dylan.Gordontrizechahn]
> Sent:	Monday, July 13, 1998 12:48 PM
> To:	gti-vr6dev.tivoli
> Subject:	[gti-vr6] Coil-Over Suspensions
> 
> Anyone have any opinions on coil-over suspensions? I've heard that the
> H&R
> coil-overs supposedly offer excellent ride (comparable to stock) with
> excellent handling (better than a non-coil-over setup?) as well, due
> to the
> fact that they have two springs.
> 
> Does anyone have any experience with coil-overs? Am I looking at a
> serious
> head-ache with corner balancing, etc., without much gain? Or is it
> really
> worthwhile in terms of ride quality, handling, and, most importantly,
> the
> ability to adjust ride height (I live in Canada, and jacking the car
> up 2
> inches in the winter would be a good thing)?
> 
> All opinions welcome.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Dylan
> 
> 
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From gti-vr6-ownerdev.tivoli Wed Oct 14 17:44 CDT 1998
From: Jay Saathoff <JaySmicrografx>
To: gti-vr6dev.tivoli
Subject: RE: [gti-vr6] AVO - before you buy!
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 17:07:29 -0500
 
For $550, I would say go for it -- but make sure they are in perfect shape:
*	The front piston rods should be the newer style, with shafts
significantly thicker than the rears.
*	Front shocks should have the white plastic rings around the base of
the rod to wipe away crud.
*	NO: scoring along the shafts, binding/sticking/lateral play, or
stripped/mangled threads.
*	Front adjuster knobs should allow at least 4 to 4.5 complete turns,
otherwise something is wrong.
*	No leaks around the front adjuster knobs, but some seepage around
the rear adjuster knobs is normal (so they say...).
*	Make sure the set screw in the spring hat is not too rusted,
stripped, or otherwise unusable.

If you do buy them:
*	When installing the fronts, tighten the first nut (holds the strut
bearing to the shaft) as tight as possible, short of gettin' jiggy with the
vice-grips.
*	After setting the ride height, cram some grease into the set screw
hole, to keep the elements out.
*	Install the rears with the adjuster knobs facing forward, otherwise
your rear brake calipers will hinder adjustment.
*	Prepare to keep them clean, reset the front adjustment knobs
periodically (they sometimes loosen over several weeks), and tell your
passengers the clunking noises are normal.

ALSO:
If those springs are too stiff for you, I have 4 extra springs to fit Avo's,
and will sell them cheap: Eibach ERS,  two 200# and two 250#.

Have fun,
Jay Saathoff

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	VW Motorsport [SMTP:KWX8MARISTB.MARIST]
> Sent:	Wednesday, October 14, 1998 9:39 AM
> To:	gti-vr6dev.tivoli
> Subject:	[gti-vr6] avo
> 
> 
> 
> i have just been presented with the option of buying a set of avo
> coilovers...oh by the way i decided to hold off from buying rims
> yet...and these avo's are from a friend or a friend's car...
> he will supply me with 4 sets of avo's all with different internals,
> and 3 sets of front springs,400,350,300lb and 2 sets of rear springs..
> he is getting rid of this for some unknown reason...they are used.
> but in excellent condition/...i am going to look at them tomarrow
> and want to know the story behind the avo setup...
> what to look for,..if anyone has them, how are they...
> and are they worth let's say $550 for all of the stuff he's including?
> 
> 
> ## DAN ##........
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From gti-vr6-ownerccsi Sun Jul 18 14:35 CDT 1999
From: "Doug Brekke" <d_brekkehotmail>
To: gti-vr6cobra.ccsi
Subject: Re: [gti-vr6] AVO coilovers for sale
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 11:40:31 PDT
 
Thanks for the inquiry.  Yes, the struts are rebound and compression 
adjustable, ranging from full race, wheel-bending  stiff to a comfortably 
sporting ride.  I like them about 2/3 stiff.  I have been involved with AVO 
since they first entered the U.S. market a few years back, and Euro Sport 
Accesories prototyped the VR6 application on my Jetta. The first generation 
versions were hard to adjust, and many others had experiences with 
blown/bent struts.  The second generation, nickel-plated versions cured the 
problems, and I've had no trouble with them in the year-and-a-half that I've 
used them.  AVOs are quite popular in the U.K., and if you pick up any issue 
of Performance VW or The Golf, you're likely to see several cars with AVOs 
fitted.  Granted, H&Rs they are not, but for $575 there's no competition.  
IMHO, the AVOs are every bit as good as my buddies' cars with H&Rs when the 
road is smooth, but the H&Rs are better in adverse conditions.
-Doug

>From: EuroVR6aol
>To: d_brekkehotmail
>Subject: Re: [gti-vr6] AVO coilovers for sale
>Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 10:12:25 EDT
>
>Hello,  well I am looking for coilovers.  I have experience with H&R and Im
>convinced they are the best set up on the market.  I don't know much about
>AVO's but I know you price seems pretty good.  I have heard a few bad 
>things
>about em but nothing real specific.  I know your trying to sell em so it
>would be silly to bad mouth em.  Just curious if they have been trouble 
>free
>and whatnot.  Also are the struts adjustable as well as ride height.  Thank
>you for the info, also if you have a Phone # that I could reach you at so 
>we
>can talk about a deal.  Thank you.
>
>Michael London
>99 A3 GTI VR6....."Stomp das pedal to der medal."
>EuroVR6aol
>USAF IMT RC-135S Cobra Ball
>45 Reconnaissance Squadron
>Offutt AFB, NE.


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