Difference between springs and coilovers?

[Robb12]

I'm new to learning all about my A4 and I'm looking into slamming it a bit, not too much though, its a DD and there are plenty of pot holes, dips and bumps here in Utah. Anyway, as I was looking into buying some coilovers, I noticed some sport springs (H&R in particular), so I was just wondering what the difference would be in purchasing some sport springs rather than a full coilover set. Thanks in advance gang!

By the way sorry if this is another one of my stupid questions, I'm still learning

[rocky.ca]

springs lower the car a set amount and do not come with shocks, coilovers come with shocks and springs and you can adjust the ride height

[Robb12]

So would you say its a bad idea to purchase springs? I do understand I might as well buy new shocks as well but, cant I just keep the stock shocks with new springs and it'll be fine?

[Toyotatech]

Yes you could but it would be a harsher ride. You can buy bilstein sport struts to adjust ride height with lowering springs. Usually lowering spring provide a better/softer ride and coilovers are more performance oriented with a firmer ride.

[Rhinop21]

People say your shocks blow out with springs. Ive had my vogtland springs for about 8 months now with no problems/issues. no alignment either.

[flyromeo3]

coilovers are a lot stiffer compared to your regular shock and spring setup.
You can adjust ride height to suit your needs. The spring and shock ( coilovers ) are designed to work together as opposed to mix and matching shocks & springs.

[Robb12]

Well I might just go with some springs then, anyone know any reliable companies? I hear H&R is good.

[kingtr]

I had vogtlands on my last car and I really really liked them. Paired with bilstein shocks. Check out purems.com.

[Robb12]

Would it be an absolutely horrible idea to combine vogtland or H&R springs with stock shocks?

[Toyotatech]

By using stock struts with race springsthe strut is out of it's efficiency zone. By lowering a car 2 inches the compression stroke has less travel and the rebound will not be stiff enough to counter act it causing a bouncier ride than factory, reduce performance and posibly cause the struts to leak. Yes it would be drivable. Bilstien sport struts are made for lowered cars giving the correct compression and rebound.

[JumboBlack1.8]

Get coilovers if you can afford them.....I run KW Variant 3 coils, and they're great....they have height, rebound, and dampening adjustability, so I can set my ride height, and the stiffness of the shock itself....but most coilovers just have height adjustability. With shocks and springs, you are stuck with whatever ride height the springs were designed for....so if you want adjustability, coilovers are ur best bet

V3's are pricey (around $2k the last time I checked), but they are def worth every penny

[Mike@PureMS]

Running aftermarket springs like H&R or Vogtlands on stock shocks may work ok when the shocks are new. However if the shocks are old and have a lot of miles, then the ride will just be harsh and pretty poor with the lower springs.
If you're paying for the labor, it's worth the effort to change the shocks at the same time. You'll save a few pennies down the road with the installation labor.

Feel free to email or call if you have any questions. We carry both H&R and Vogtland springs and have lots of experience with the Audi's.

[bbkid43]

I would suggest koni coils. they can be had for pretty cheap as far as coilovers go....i picked up a new set with a free rear sway bar for about a grand. the ride is very very nice and the performance is good too. probably not the best coilover for track driving but i find them perfect for the street.

i live in mn and love having the coilovers so i can lower them during the summer and raise them during the winter. If you can afford coils, i would get them. they are definatly worth the money

[calvin1.8t]

if you dont have much money and want a respectable street car get springs but if your looking to build a race car that grips corners at 50 mph then get coilovers. you can adjust everything with them. there worth the extra cash but springs do make a difference in the handles. i got a stock suspension still and it handles amazingly.

[GetBoosted84]

if you dont have much money and want a respectable street car get springs but if your looking to build a race car that grips corners at 50 mph then get coilovers. you can adjust everything with them. there worth the extra cash but springs do make a difference in the handles. i got a stock suspension still and it handles amazingly.

Is this a joke? Coilovers are not just for race cars and for the record a stock A4 suspension does not handle anywhere close to amazing. Sorry to burst your bubble man.

[Kyle H]

if you dont have much money and want a respectable street car get springs but if your looking to build a race car that grips corners at 50 mph then get coilovers. you can adjust everything with them. there worth the extra cash but springs do make a difference in the handles. i got a stock suspension still and it handles amazingly.

I'm not going to touch this, all I'll say is please, do your research before you give advice.


This link is a great discussion on springs vs. coilovers (more near the bottom of the first and second pages).

[JumboBlack1.8]

noobs are dangerous

[pologk04]

Another noob here, but I'm looking for advice instead of offering it. I've been searching around the zine forums today as I'm getting ready to do something about my stock sport suspension. I've seen some people with H&R race or sport springs on their stock sport suspension shocks. Obviously this is a cheap way to change the ride height and could possibly lead to some problems down the road.

What are the chances I would run into problems if I put race springs on my stock suspension? How much would my ride quality suffer? AWE Tuning says the race springs lower the 2.8q 1.9" in the front and 1.5" in the back. I can't imagine this is accurate since it doesn't specify the engine type. Anyone have a closer guess to how much it would lower my car?

[speedydragon]

Another noob here, but I'm looking for advice instead of offering it. I've been searching around the zine forums today as I'm getting ready to do something about my stock sport suspension. I've seen some people with H&R race or sport springs on their stock sport suspension shocks. Obviously this is a cheap way to change the ride height and could possibly lead to some problems down the road.

What are the chances I would run into problems if I put race springs on my stock suspension? How much would my ride quality suffer? AWE Tuning says the race springs lower the 2.8q 1.9" in the front and 1.5" in the back. I can't imagine this is accurate since it doesn't specify the engine type. Anyone have a closer guess to how much it would lower my car?

If I recall correctly, A4s with sport suspesion are already around .75in lower than stock A4s. And websites usually advertise their lowering specs based on stock A4 suspension, so in reality, race prings will probably lower you car about 1.2in and 1in in the back.

[maxspeed]

noobs are dangerous

x2, you should read some of the life threatining shit i read on a pharmochemistry forum