Lower on a low budget

[aaron1085]

I am not big spender, but of course have aspirations for my car...

I have a 2004 1.8T A4 Tiptronic, AWD...

Looking to lower it 3/4 of inch or so but not break the bank. I like the ride of it now, definitely do not want it too stiff, but a little lower and solid ya know?!

suggestions, websites, ...???

[italian a4 1032]

just get springs and shocks

[aaron1085]

good idea.... suggestions? pricing ideas? place to buy?

[Nilya]

I've bought billstein shocks and h&r springs from tirerack for $900.00

[cjonesgo]

shocks- bilstiens from shockwarehouse.com used to be $411 shipped. should be around that price.

springs- almost always some in the classifieds. usually 150-200 sometimes cheaper.

[PCYC]

for 900 get coilovers stasis street sports

[passatkid]

Just take the springs out, cheap and easy.

[BNZ TOY]

shocks- bilstiens from shockwarehouse.com used to be $411 shipped. should be around that price.

springs- almost always some in the classifieds. usually 150-200 sometimes cheaper.

^^ great setup on a budget (got my H&Rs for 150 and new bilsteins for 422 shipped).

Install can be a bit pricey though.

[aaron1085]

excellent, that was the information i was looking for... you guys find shocks usually used or new?

what kind of ride quality and drop can i expect with the H&R springs and Bilistien shocks?

[PCYC]

dude wait for stratmospheres Vmax coilovers for 650...if you want to go really cheap

[Undisputed]

I was gonna say the same thing. Get them at the intro price and run when they come out and you'll be good to go. Coilovers>springs

[aaron1085]

im down for low pricing, honestly though, i dont plan on changing ride height, i want one height and set it and forget it kind of thing...so...

back to my other question. With H&R Springs and Bilistien Shocks (or other springs/shocks for argument sake) what can I get for pricing, height and RIDE QUALITY

[aaaudiprotein]

Uf u are on a low budget- find used, if in the middle-buy new... If u feel like a baller-buy a GOOD set of coils.

[italian a4 1032]

h and r springs are 250
shocks were 411 before not sure if they still are like other people already said
neuspeeds sport springs are cheaper there 200
a guy on here that lives near me doublezero bought the same setup used and he said there better then stock
try namotorsports.net they tell you how much the drop is

[aaaudiprotein]

I think NS much stiffer than HR

[Coyote USP]

OK, I've been thinking about a slight drop on the USP, could I just switch out my stock springs for the H&R's or do I really need to get the shocks too? Also on a tiiiiiiiiiight budget.

[SeKKeY]

cut your springs JDM style

secondhand coilovers or spring/strut set

[OCMI_Teddy]

You'll burn through your stock shocks quicker if you go with lower springs. From the non-sport suspension you drop about ~1.7

Here's a thread to look at
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...rings+bilstein

Aaron you have pm

[BSIXER]

You'll burn through your stock shocks quicker if you go with lower springs. From the non-sport suspension you drop about ~1.7

Here's a thread to look at
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...rings+bilstein

Aaron you have pm

Please explain how stock shocks will burn up quicker with lower springs???

[OCMI_Teddy]

a buddy of mine explained it to me a while ago while I was looking to lower my car, I'll ask him tonight about it and forward the details to here.

[ThatGuyAlex]

I've bought billstein shocks and h&r springs from tirerack for $900.00

Dude you can get coilovers for that much. Are you nutz?

[4Rings3Liters]

Please explain how stock shocks will burn up quicker with lower springs???

Plain and simple, lowering springs cause a lot of stress on shocks and the stock A4 shocks weren't made to handle it.

[OCMI_Teddy]

Plain and simple, lowering springs cause a lot of stress on shocks and the stock A4 shocks weren't made to handle it.

That's what i thought it was I just didn't want look like an idiot without any evidence

[PCYC]

Ok really, if you want the Hand R and bilsteen set up is pretty low. Sounds like you want daily driver so you might want to be a little higher. So i would get the VMAXX they you have the best of both worlds for 50 extra bucks

[aaron1085]

Well said... I do want daily driver ride height and quality, but ya know, the perfect amount of wheel gap. I run 17's in the winter and 19's in the summer...

[ms4cd]

I have a set of Eibach pro kit springs for a b6 1.8t quattro for sale. PM me if interested.

[bmags88]

Just cut the springs..............I'm just kidding!! Don't do that!

[Splattj]

Do you have the factory sport package already? If not, you can always pick up someone's used USP setup. Then spend the extra money on swaybars!

[BSIXER]

Plain and simple, lowering springs cause a lot of stress on shocks and the stock A4 shocks weren't made to handle it.

How? Lower spring mean less suspension travel/less shock travel=shocks working less??? How is that more stress on shocks?

Oh yeah, been on my eibachs and stock shocks for 2+ years with no problems or suspension issues.

[durfA4]

it is actually more stress because the shorter spring has a higher rate say 500lbs at 3 inches where the stock is 250 pounds at 5 inches of travel. these are just guess. so you have more potential energy in each compression, the spring pushes back on the shock faster. the job of the shock is absorb the energy from the spring to make the ride smoother. so what happens it that the piston only moves 3 inches instead of 5 inches does that faster that its seals were designed to handle. so the seals will wear out and then a blown shock has fluid all over your suspension.

Sport shocks are closer to the aftermarket springs but the spring rate is still higher causing more wear on the seals.

short answer yes you can buy springs and use them on factory shocks sport or standard, but you will eventually wear out the shock faster than it was designed and you have to do the same work to replace the springs as you do with the shocks so do it all at once and have the piece of mind that comes with doing something right the first time.

[b6onboost]

With shorter springs the the valve in the shock body sits at a lower position. Lowering springs are normally stiffer too, so the shock must do MORE work absorbing the bumps. All of this overworks the stock shock. They wear out quicker than normal.

Eibachs are a very conservative drop, and has the closest spring rate to stock, which is why eibachs and stock shocks are a decent combo. But the life of the shock still decreases.

How? Lower spring mean less suspension travel/less shock travel=shocks working less??? How is that more stress on shocks?

Oh yeah, been on my eibachs and stock shocks for 2+ years with no problems or suspension issues.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

h&R Sports on stock shocks will be fine

i got my neuspeed race/bilstein adjustable perch setup for $350 not a typical price but oh well haha.

[BSIXER]

With shorter springs the the valve in the shock body sits at a lower position. Lowering springs are normally stiffer too, so the shock must do MORE work absorbing the bumps. All of this overworks the stock shock. They wear out quicker than normal.

Eibachs are a very conservative drop, and has the closest spring rate to stock, which is why eibachs and stock shocks are a decent combo. But the life of the shock still decreases.

I guess I see your point, kinda...a stiffer spring means less tension on the shock and more tension on the spring=stiffer ride IMO.

I use to work for a custom offroad gig here in PHX and we were a national distributor and waranty outlet for Rancho Shocks. The only time that shocks went bad is when they either bottomed out or over extended for long periods of time.

[aaron1085]

so maybe the eibach springs will be nice..what kind of drop from stock? Maybe I could still get away with rocking stock struts..

[BSIXER]

Eibach Reviews/pics
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ght=Eibach+Pro

[Alex/AWE]

Well said... I do want daily driver ride height and quality, but ya know, the perfect amount of wheel gap. I run 17's in the winter and 19's in the summer.

To give you an idea of the stance of an H&R/Bilstein combo:



Heres my suggestion to you. Do some research and figure out what setup you want. When you have one in mind, try to find a local A4 owner who has it and have them drive you around for a while. This way you can get some real firsthand experience as to how it feels. A sporty yet comfortable suspension to one person is a harsh track day only suspension to someone else and vice versa.

There are plenty of good suggestions in this thread and I have my preference, H&R Springs/Bilstein Shocks, but in the end its going to be on your car. You need to make sure you'll be happy with it.

[aaaudiprotein]

Maybe I could still get away with rocking stock struts..

I understand, i was basically in the same boat. But you would end up paying more later on... Check this out... You buy springs now, 4-5 months after or so your shocks go bad, than you will have to pay another $200-$300 to replace your shocks + the cost of shocks. Unless you DIY of course :)

[aaaudiprotein]

Are u Sport btw?

[aaron1085]

i THINK i am OEM all the way, don't believe i am sport....

[AfriKa1.8]

Shox.com is selling the Eibach Pro System kit (Pro Dampers and Springs) for only $505.00.

Link: Eibach Audi A4 Aplications @ Shox.com