Shock Stiffness

[meistah]

Sorry for the vague title. In researching I've read that the ride harshness is primarily determined by the stiffness of the shock (correct me if I'm wrong). I haven't found any threads that answer my question.

I want to upgrade my suspension ('04 b6 a4 sport suspension). It is mostly for comfort and aesthetics (slight drop would be nice) increased handling is just a bonus, so I wont be going with an adjustable CO setup. Ideally I would like something a bit more comfortable than the standard sport suspension as I find it to be a bit harsh (although that could just be due to old suspension)

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated, or if someone could just tell me the difference in stiffness between certain shocks I'm sure I could come to my own conclusions. I know that bilstien shocks tend to be rather stiff, but I'm not sure how other shocks scale to that.

[cleaver]

Most folks will probably suggest you go with Koni FSD's, and I'd agree. I tried them and hated them, for the exact reasons you'll probably like them - they were too soft for my tastes. I went with Bilsteins and love 'em. I favor handling over aesthetics, and needed something stiffer. I stayed with stock springs, but if you're looking for a mild drop (over sport - big drop over non-sport), pair FSD's with Eibach springs.

[meistah]

Awesome, that's the answer I was looking for. So regardless of them being a bit soft they would still technically be an upgrade from oem sport performance wise?

[EBG 18T]

Look at either the Koni FSD or the Koni Sports. If you are really looking for ride compliance with OEM Sport springs both of those will work well. The Bilstein Sports will feel firmer in comparison.