Suspension question.

[Bballplayr9]

I plan on getting 18" wheels very soon and hear that my car will look even more like a monster truck with new wheels and stock suspension. So, I live in jersey where the roads suck, and i want to lower the car but really really do not want to compromise ride comfort. So what suspension and shocks setup will give me the most comfort, as close to stock as possible. In addition, i am not looking for a huge drop just a little more than sport suspension. Thanks

[AquattroZ]

oem sport, maybe with eibach springs?

[Bballplayr9]

where can i get oem sport setup?

[AquattroZ]

got mine on ebay used. Look in the classifieds, ebay, wreckers, etc... Or just take it to the dealer?

[AudiA4Turbo22]

coilovers would be best 100% adjustable in height perfect for winter/summer, and ride will be much better.

[Exanimas]

Or, do something like the ever-so-popular H&R spring + Bilstein shock combo. I've been in a car with it and IMO it rode better than my stock non-sport... and looked a lot better too.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^i have bilsteins/neuspeed races and they rock in aesthetics, ride isn't bad, but rubbing is.

[turboquattro068]

I'm putting my bilstein sport struts on, with my H&R race springs this wednesday.

I can sell you my stock OEM sport suspension for a decent price.

Also I have a question about the Bilstein sport struts. There is a clip on the bottom seems to adjust the mount so it can be stiffer maybe, or is it strickly to adjust for spring tension? I'm not sure and the directions are complicated because most are in a foriegn language.

[ApexIt]

From what I have read on the previous threads, the H&R Springs and Bilstein shocks produce a nice combo. Im looking for a nice drop that wont reduce the ride comfort too much, like the OP. I was considering just the shocks but read that the ride wont be nearly as good if i do the shocks too. Some of the roads here in MD really suck so im worried about harming the car with the setup. Does anyone have any experience with these or could maybe suggest a different setup?

Thanks

[infinitigor]

im on h&r/ bilstein. first 2 weeks were bouncy but after it settled it it road nice! don't forget to get an alignment, i got mine right after and 2 weeks after

[ApexIt]

im on h&r/ bilstein. first 2 weeks were bouncy but after it settled it it road nice! don't forget to get an alignment, i got mine right after and 2 weeks after

thats got to be quite a complement on the combo seeing as how you live in NYC (from my experience, most if not all roads in NYC are like........crap for the lack of a better word )

[infinitigor]

yeh i try to never drive in the city, there i have to drive like 10mph lol fukin cabbies always beepin me over there, but overall i can drive safely/ efficiently on 95% of roads

[ApexIt]

sounds good. the setup did give you a drop of about 1.5 inches right? Oh, and are you running 18s or 19s?

[infinitigor]

sounds good. the setup did give you a drop of about 1.5 inches right? Oh, and are you running 18s or 19s?

YEH, about 1.5inch drop, more in the front, im running 18's. thinking about putting some spacers on soon, and maybe going for 19's not quite sure how the ride quality will change.

[ApexIt]

thanks for the input man

[AudiA4_20T]

NJ roads are fine with coils

[UhOhQuattro]

yeh i try to never drive in the city, there i have to drive like 10mph lol fukin cabbies always beepin me over there, but overall i can drive safely/ efficiently on 95% of roads

Where at in NYC?

Screw the cabbies bro, drive as slow as you want haha.

Road terrorists

[ApexIt]

NJ roads are fine with coils

Ideally id get COs but thats a bit too expensive for me. I live down in MD and most of the roads are ok but Baltimore has some shitty roads and I drive in the city at least once a week so I was curious as how the combo worked on the shitty part.

[Boosted3.0]

I'm on HR everything down to the sways. Ride is awesome, I'm in PA near philly with terrible roads. Just swerve when you see holes and cracks and stuff. I've never bottomed out or bent/broke anything. You just have to change your driving style.

[ApexIt]

Ah, well i do that anyway so it doesnt seem like im going to have to change my driving style a whole lot more

[AudiA4_20T]

Ideally id get COs but thats a bit too expensive for me. I live down in MD and most of the roads are ok but Baltimore has some shitty roads and I drive in the city at least once a week so I was curious as how the combo worked on the shitty part.

I live in NJ and go to school in MD... I drove my car around dumped as hell for all of last year... just raise your car up to the level where its ok with you. Coils are expensive but very worth it. If you think thats expensive tho, engine building is a new thing. I'm pretty sure this is the last time I'm building an engine for myself for a LONG time

[ApexIt]

yeah, im not planning on doing too much with the engine now, maybe when I get out of college. I am planning on doing a +1 flash tho to boost hp a little.

[Jim@STaSIS]

i would recommend a matched spring / shock combo, as in a coilover. with an off-the-shelf spring / shock combo the damper valving isn't matched to the spring rate, so it's a total crapshoot as to whether or not it'll work. i've had many spring / shock combo's on several different cars and never been totally happy w/ them. i know of a shop that sells nice audi suspension.. ;-)

we have a few really nice options for the b6. we spend a LOT of time trying different rates + valving so that you don't have to.

[JayStang]

Here is a great review thread for the Eibach Pro-Kit setup. I have the same concerns with crappy roads living in Boston. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I think I will eventually go with theses. It's the exact ride hit I'm looking for.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212516

[Alex/AWE]

So, I live in jersey where the roads suck, and i want to lower the car but really really do not want to compromise ride comfort.

Im looking for a nice drop that wont reduce the ride comfort too much, like the OP.

What constitutes a good suspension is completely subjective. What I think is a sporty, comfortable, daily driveable suspension set up could be a harsh, uncomfortable, track day suspension to you.

My advice to both of you, do some research on your desired suspension set up, whether it is springs, a spring/shock combo or coilovers, and find a local Audizine member with that same suspension. Contact them and get a ride around town. Go over nice pavement, the rough stuff, train tracks and whatever else there may be.

This will allow you to see how the suspension really feels and if it is right for you.

[grimlock]

What constitutes a good suspension is completely subjective. What I think is a sporty, comfortable, daily driveable suspension set up could be a harsh, uncomfortable, track day suspension to you.

My advice to both of you, do some research on your desired suspension set up, whether it is springs, a spring/shock combo or coilovers, and find a local Audizine member with that same suspension. Contact them and get a ride around town. Go over nice pavement, the rough stuff, train tracks and whatever else there may be.

This will allow you to see how the suspension really feels and if it is right for you.

I agree 100% with Alex on this one. I went from from stock non-sport suspension to Stasis StreetSports and to me initially the ride quality felt way too harsh. However, other people had stated that they feel the StreetSports have "OEM-like ride quality". Now that I've gotten use to them it's not bad at all, but it is very subjective. A lot of it depends on what you're used to and what you can tolerate. In the end though, I think you should look at getting a proper setup, at least something that you can tweak if you are not happy with the default settings. If you just get springs you may end up not being happy and swapping them out in the long run anyways. Good luck

[ApexIt]

Here is a great review thread for the Eibach Pro-Kit setup. I have the same concerns with crappy roads living in Boston. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I think I will eventually go with theses. It's the exact ride hit I'm looking for.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212516

That link was verry helpful. I remember reading that thread a while ago but didnt pay too much attention at the time. One thing that I noticed was that the OP of that thread (Audiadi) said that that combo dropped his car by about 3/4 of an inch. Assuming that drop was from stock, then his ridehight should have been about 26.25inches (if im correct the stock height is right at about 27). Later on he mentioned that its 25.25 all around so im not sure which is true. Still tho, that is a nice stance. Not too aggreassive but not 4x4 stock. (the pictures that he posted later on seem to have the wheels tucked in a little more than the first one that he posted, imo.