Lowering springs on Factory Sport shocks. Long term Feedback?

[4A Play]

So I did do a search and found a few threads from guys who took Neuspeed/ H&R Race springs and put them on their OEM sport shocks and have had good results. I was just looking for anyone who has done this and if they would do it again if given the choice.

As guessed, Im a poor college student and really do not want to deal with cheap coilovers. I would much rather use some quality springs. I'll be the first to admit that Im not really looking for a high quality ride. Just better than a cheap CO kit and an improvement over stock.

Thoughts from anyone who has used aftermarket springs on Factory sport shocks?

Thanks!

[biketsai]

I did it!!!
It isnt that bad at all! Improved handling, less body roll, not as comfortable as stock, but its not bad at all.

[Seerlah]

FWIW, I will also be going this route more than likely in the summer time w/H&R race springs. Seems worth it for $200. And I saw a post a couple days of an individual whom said if he could do it all over again, he would have gone with sport springs. He cracked his oil pan rather bad. This can happen to anyone with a good enough drop, and a good investment might be a metal belly pan (do not know which brand name to run with or maybe construct one yourself).

[4A Play]

Good deal, I have a DO NOT ENTER sign waiting in the garage. So H&R race springs it is. That can be my X-mas present to myself for being so Jewish :)

FWIW, I will also be going this route more than likely in the summer time w/H&R race springs. Seems worth it for $200. And I saw a post a couple days of an individual whom said if he could do it all over again, he would have gone with sport springs. He cracked his oil pan rather bad. This can happen to anyone with a good enough drop, and a good investment might be a metal belly pan (do not know which brand name to run with or maybe construct one yourself).

I thought I heard somewhere that the 2.8 oil pan was better protected than the 1.8t? Or am I confusing the B5 with my MK3 days and the VR6/ 2.0 oil pans?

So H&R > Neuspeed.

Do I need to get a whole new alignment and all after the install? Im sure I wont have a problem with doing the springs myself but if whole tracking of the car gets wacked up Ill pay to have it done.

I guess I might as well replace all the sway bar bushings with poly units while Im down there since I can't afford $400 worth of sways.

[biketsai]

H&R FTW. And yes, you should get an alignment, but I suggest doing so a day or 2 after the install so the suspension is settled. Just dont make any long distance drives that may wear your tires down.

[1badg35]

wait so you guys dont have issues with the shortening the life of the stock shocks by using lowering springs? i though it was always a better bet to do both new shocks and springs as lowering springs on stock shocks will make them wear much quicker? I want to lower my TT225 but dont want to buy new shocks as i want to eventually do an airbag setup

[biketsai]

wait so you guys dont have issues with the shortening the life of the stock shocks by using lowering springs? i though it was always a better bet to do both new shocks and springs as lowering springs on stock shocks will make them wear much quicker? I want to lower my TT225 but dont want to buy new shocks as i want to eventually do an airbag setup

It does shorten the life, however who knows when they will go out? It is a different case for everybody. I had lowering springs on for like 10k and my shocks were still good, no leaks.

[4A Play]

So the best I can find is $224 for the H&R race springs. Who can do better for me?

Remember, tight college student budget :)

[anmagro]

Sort of OT, i believe i have the winter package. I know that the forum says that if the shocks are RED then i have sport suspention, but i took a gaze threw the wheel gap this morning and saw YELLOW on my springs. Does this meen i have the winter/regular suspention? I am in the same spot as some of you in the point that i have a small small budget, yet can not stand the whell gap any longer. I will most likley (weather i am sport shocks or not) going HR Sport Springs. I parked next to a BMW 325i and im so angry that it has almost no wheel gap and im a freakin 4X4. Another question, how will i be able to tell if my shocks are leaking? Do i have to take the tire off? Im at 112,000miles and i want to be sure that im not leakin before i buy the new springs.

[Naudi_Mat]

On a related question, which H&R springs would be best, the Race or the Sport?

[Seerlah]

Sort of OT, i believe i have the winter package. I know that the forum says that if the shocks are RED then i have sport suspention, but i took a gaze threw the wheel gap this morning and saw YELLOW on my springs.

Do you mean yellow shocks or springs? Sports suspension shocks are red and non-sport is black. I don't know about the winter package, but that usually just entails heated seats, mirrors, and headlight washer fluid. As for having yellow springs, they might be aftermarket ones. Upon closer inspection, you might want to see if there is a label on them which has the brand name.

And to Naudi Mat, it is about perferance. I myself am going to get race springs (until I have enough for coilovers), but that is for personal preferance. Other like the sports springs better. H&R sport springs will bring you to a ride height close to the stock sport height. But the ride quality should be better than the stock ones. I want the race for more of looks as I want 18" wheels with a nice wheel to fender gap.

And for those whom inquire about longevity, it is is basically a gamble. People can ride with race springs on thier stock sport struts for years and have no issues (and never encounter any). While another can have them sh*t the bed in a matter of months. But if that happens, simply upgrade the struts to Bilsteins or Konis (most popular ones).

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

On a related question, which H&R springs would be best, the Race or the Sport?

depends on what you want I have the H&R sports w/ Bilsteins sport shocks and rides great and handles great!!!

Race springs will lower you a lil more and have a slighter harsh ride.

[flynnr]

everyone who is considering should take some before pics, so we can see some before/after action on this... if im only planning on keeping the car a few years this sounds like a good option (if it looks good)

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

B5 wheel/supension thread:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...50#post3158150

[4A Play]

thanks, but I was looking for people who are running race springs on stock sport shocks and what problems they have had.

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

ah, just kinda skimmed through sorry!

[NorCal1.8T]

Okay, when i first bought my car, it had non-sport suspension. I didnt have money at the time because of school, so i ended up buying HR Race springs, never used for a steal,$80!!! I was unsure about putting the race springs on with non-sport shocks because i recieved advice from a lot of people that its bad to do so. It is i admit, your control arms and such parts start wearing down quicker, but hey i was willing to take a risk, i was going for looks. Year and a half-ago i put them on with non-sport shocks and 20K+ miles and potholes later, everything is still intact, no leaks. So far so good, but i estimate in the next 10K the shocks will start leaking. Now, this is on non-sport. You have sport suspension, putting neuspeed race springs on, you should be fine, better off than me. I plan on replacing the non-sport with sport in the spring if i have time. I suggest you do it, its a quick and cheap fix for looks, maybe later down the road when you make some good money you can get coilovers.

[biketsai]

no problems whatsoever- just go slow over speed bumps

[a4rings]

I have had neuspeed race springs on my sport shocks for the last 25-30k miles and i really feel that the setup felt great at first but after this many miles it feels kinda mushy now but i dont think the shocks are leaking. so all in all, i think you should just do it right the first time and get both shocks and springs because if the stock strut blows then you are going to have to do the whole pain in the ass install all over again

[nrowensby]

...because if the stock strut blows then you are going to have to do the whole pain in the ass install all over again

I have changed my springs twice... the second time only took about 2.5 hours and didn't think it was much of a pain at all... Just my $0.02

[slopoke]

anybody have a pic of H&R SPORT springs on OEM Sport Struts?

[Naudi_Mat]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm just going back and fourth on if I want to go with the H&R Race springs, or if I wanna save my money and just get the Stassis SS coilover set in the spring. I was just looking for some opinions on which would be the best route.

I feel like just waiting out the winter and getting coilovers in the spring with my tax return.

[docurley]

I was running Sport shock with H&R race springs for over 2.5 years with no issues at all stiffer but not uncomfortable. Much better hander ling I even went on a 1000 mile round trip from the UK to Austria cover different roads throughout the trip and I never once complained about the ride quality.

The other half was with me when I did the trip and she never said a word about the car only the bloody Pee stops which in some cases the toilets just had a hole.... yuck.

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

They make H&R race springs for fwd right? Ive only seen em for quattro so far.

[docurley]

Seems like you are correct no Race springs for FWD only AWD

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

damn! Frontrasher's dont get to enjoy too much

[4A Play]

Seems like you are correct no Race springs for FWD only AWD

If Doc, ran H&Rs on his B5 with sport shocks and says it was a good idea Im doing it. That just made up my mind.

Did you replace anything when you did the install? Bushings? New Alignment?

[Seerlah]

I don't know if someone already stated it, but an alignment will be necessary as the camber will change. I know another said to wait for the springs to settle in before getting an alignment though. That would be the better route.

[kingtr]

Sort of OT, i believe i have the winter package. I know that the forum says that if the shocks are RED then i have sport suspention, but i took a gaze threw the wheel gap this morning and saw YELLOW on my springs. Does this meen i have the winter/regular suspention? I am in the same spot as some of you in the point that i have a small small budget, yet can not stand the whell gap any longer. I will most likley (weather i am sport shocks or not) going HR Sport Springs. I parked next to a BMW 325i and im so angry that it has almost no wheel gap and im a freakin 4X4. Another question, how will i be able to tell if my shocks are leaking? Do i have to take the tire off? Im at 112,000miles and i want to be sure that im not leakin before i buy the new springs.

Winter package and Sport are mutually exclusive, I have both (I assume many/most do)

They are talking about using OEM sport springs, which are shorter than your black non-sports. Using the shocks YOU HAVE (or any other black OEM shocks) with race springs will not work. The expected ride height simply differs so much (horrible match). I am quite confident the shocks would be blown very quickly (you have added 2 inches (give or take --> however far car drops from current stance) of compression to the stock shocks (just to be at homeostasis)).

You need to buy someones used sport shocks or aftermarket sport shocks (new or used).

[kaka10]

Seems like you are correct no Race springs for FWD only AWD

i have FWD so which ones should i look into buying? i wanted the H&R Race springs and i have sport suspension.

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

get the grooved bilsteins with h&r sport springs from awe for 650 + 50 to groove em!

[somebody5788]

So the best I can find is $224 for the H&R race springs. Who can do better for me?

Remember, tight college student budget :)

Is that shipped? I can get them for about that shipped to you although at 0 profit. I have a wholesale account w/ Tire Rack.

[anmagro]

Whats the lowest price for sport springs online? Im thinkin about doin shocks at a later date, how much are shocks alone gonna run me? Anybody got links for me? Thanks.