Suspensions

[Awwwjeez]

Hey fellas I'm about as new as they come to modifying cars and I'm looking for opinions on suspensions. The main options I'm looking at are Koni, H & R and Tein. I'm open to other options as well.

I checked Stasis but upon looking at their kit its a Koni kit so why not go to the source.

Two people I'm aware of run H & R and seem pretty satisfied with it.

Lastly, the guy doing the work for me suggests going with Tein. He wants me to run the Tein Super Street. My roommate has a Tein suspension on his 3000GT and loves them but I'd never heard anyone using them other than him.

Additionally I'm looking at sway bars. Eibach, H & R and Hotchkis.

Hotchkis is front and rear where as the other two are front only.

Again any other options I'm open to.

[AudiBoy808]

My suggestion would be H&R C/O and maybe the Eibach swaybars. Another swaybar option is Neuspeed. I think Jess and HIS4 run Vogtland C/O that's another option too. I'm not sure what one I'm going with yet but I need to do that soon too.

[Crass!]

I had H&R coilovers on my Jetta for 3 years. They were stiff but not too much - very streetable.

[808a41.8t]

I've had both hnr as well as konis.h and r rides a little stiffer but doesn't go as low which is what I wanted...

[HIstateS8]

I have had H&R on 2 of my previous Audis. I can't complain they are very comfortable on the lowest setting (which is how it should be), however every so often on some of their kits, the fronts tend to blow out on H&R COs. That's why they have the warranty that comes with it. I've never used Tiens, but I have not heard anything bad about them. There are other companies like KW which have 3 different set ups of COs to choose from, FK COs which are decent for the price, and Vogtlands which make the springs for majority of all the suspension companies and not bad on the price either I might add. Ask Jesse he's running those on his S4. What ever you choose you can't go wrong they are all reputable companies.

As far as sway bars go, you can't go wrong with Hotchkis either. But then again you don't need to replace the front sway bar anyway on your S4, you just need to replace the rear. The B5 S4 already comes with a tower strut bar welded into the fire wall and the front sway bar is as big as they come.

Right now, I'm also looking for a suspension set up as well and looking into getting an air (bag) ride/CO suspension set up. Just to try something different it's a bit more costly than COs but they handle just as good if not better, depending on the company and set up. I hope this helps and good luck with your decision.

[Jesse S.]

^^ This guy is the H&R connoisseur.

I think it comes down to personal preference.

I'm sure whichever one you get will be good for you S.

[boostinmr2]

Whatever you choose should be fine. I ride on H&R and my gf rides on Teins. Of the two - I say my H&Rs ride better and make less noise than her setup by far. If I had to do it again, I would have bought the Stasis Motorsports and skipped all the mumbo jumbo with the others. Neuspeed rear bar I also have - makes me wish I had gotten Hotchkis - the car still sways too much for my taste. Stiffening up just the back (with one bar) just isn't the same as doing it on all corners.

[HIS4]

I assume you're talking about Stasis Streetsports since you say they are just Konis. I had streetsports prior to having the Vogtland GTs installed. I think the GTs ride a lot better than the streetsports did and it worth the extra $300 in cost. Jesse has regular Vogtlands not GTs so his springs are a little softer. I'm not really sure how noticeable the difference is though.

[Chard]

Stasis Streetsports are revalved Koni Coilovers...not quite the same as a regular set from Koni.

Anything above that (Track or Motor) are adjustable and include custom spring rates. It's a very different ballpark when you're comparing them to other off-the-shelf coilover kits.

As for swaybars, I have heard many good things about Hotchkiss. Personally, I went with the Neuspeed 19mm rear swaybar set on stiff. My car came with the sport package which has a front sway bar equal in size to Neuspeed's. Since our cars tend to naturally understeer, you might want to try out a rear swaybar first.

I have a B5 1.8tq with Stasis Tracksports 550/650, Neuspeed 19 mm rear bar, and CPP front control arms suspension-wise. With my setup, the car is pretty neutral in handling.

[HIS4]

Streetsports are not revalved Konis. They are an off-the-shelf Koni coilover kit. Only the tracksports and the old motorsports used custom valved Koni dampers. The new motorsports use the Ohlin dampers. My streetsports came in a factory sealed Koni box and even Stasis told me they are drop shipped to the customer directly from Koni.

Stasis Streetsports are revalved Koni Coilovers...not quite the same as a regular set from Koni.

Anything above that (Track or Motor) are adjustable and include custom spring rates. It's a very different ballpark when you're comparing them to other off-the-shelf coilover kits.

As for swaybars, I have heard many good things about Hotchkiss. Personally, I went with the Neuspeed 19mm rear swaybar set on stiff. My car came with the sport package which has a front sway bar equal in size to Neuspeed's. Since our cars tend to naturally understeer, you might want to try out a rear swaybar first.

I have a B5 1.8tq with Stasis Tracksports 550/650, Neuspeed 19 mm rear bar, and CPP front control arms suspension-wise. With my setup, the car is pretty neutral in handling.

[boostinmr2]

Streetsports are not revalved Konis. They are an off-the-shelf Koni coilover kit. Only the tracksports and the old motorsports used custom valved Koni dampers. The new motorsports use the Ohlin dampers. My streetsports came in a factory sealed Koni box and even Stasis told me they are drop shipped to the customer directly from Koni.

The old school motorsports you're talking about haven't been around for about 4 years now...

[AudiA4T]

Streetsports are not revalved Konis. They are an off-the-shelf Koni coilover kit. Only the tracksports and the old motorsports used custom valved Koni dampers. The new motorsports use the Ohlin dampers. My streetsports came in a factory sealed Koni box and even Stasis told me they are drop shipped to the customer directly from Koni.

I used the streetsports coilovers on my B6A4 and they were pretty stiff. As far as the konis, I could have sworn they just change the shock oil -- like drill it, drain it, then put in their oil, then weld it back up. When i purchased my stasis SS CO, it had a weld where i assumed they changed the oil... but then again, this was my assumption.

[HIstateS8]

Damn, Bryan where the heck have you been?

[Chard]

you're right, they only set the rebound and height. i could have sworn they had koni use their valving when they first came out, but i guess they are just off-the-shelf koni coilovers being sold by stasis. oh well, that makes me feel better about my track sports at least.

oh yeah, make sure to get subframe mounting brackets with your rear swaybar. the subframe tends to crack without them. they should be included with new kits, but just in case you decide to go with a used one, watch out for that.

[Awwwjeez]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback It's really helped me out. I'm going to be off island for a couple weeks so I have some time to think about this and read up on the items you've all suggested. I'll let you know what I go with as far as coilovers but I think I'm going to go with the Hotchkis swaybars. I just ordered 17" BBS RG-R wheels and Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires. Those will be on when I get home. I'm pretty stoked about that. Again, thanks for all the suggestions and info.

[AudiA4T]

Damn, Bryan where the heck have you been?

haha.. wassup brandon. well, i don't have the audi no more and i was going to buy another one BUT i got a job offer in cali for an aerospace company. So to make the story short, i'm just chilling/hangin around with my gf until i leave and then i'll be able to get another one. hopefully a B8 haha.. we'll see. but anyways, i leave in august. i still have some B6 stuff for sale haha.. maybe i should post it up coz i have no use for it. how's the new car??? i seen you one time leaving for school, you look pretty gangsta man!!!

[Awwwjeez]

I just got an email from Startupracing.com the Vogtland GTs I ordered are finally in and on their way to me. I should have them here in a couple days and hopefully on sometime this weekend.

[rusky]

So for the S4, the Koni GB they got going would not be a good choice for $893 + shipping? I know people say if you get Stassis, get the TS and not the SS C/O. So if the SS is the same as the stock Koni's, then I shouldn't get that one?

[Jesse S.]

Depends on what you want out of the coilovers.

Are you going to be tracking the car a lot?

Auto-X?

1/4 mile racing?

If you're going to be doing a lot of spirited driving Streetsports are going to be too soft for you.

If you're just doing highway driving then go ahead and go with the Koni Group Buy coilovers.

[Chard]

I have Stasis Tracksports if you want to get a ride and feel how it is. I opted to go with 550 front, 650 rear (linear lbs/in) springs which is a bit stiffer than originally recommended for the 1.8tq, but I was tracking at the time and it made sense. It's not a harsh ride by any means, but it's a bit stiffer than off-the-shelf setups.