Harsh Ride

[hiwasss]

The ride is getting a bit rough for my kid's sake, 10 months old, is there something I can install to get it a bit less bumpy? I'm running 18" Blizzak currently and will take it out in April everything is stock.

[GeoJoe]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...oilover-review

[mr shickadance]

you could fit the ADS shocks into your system and VAG it into working. That would prolly offer the most comfort possible with the S4, otherwise, you are looking at aftermakret suspension, which will lower the car even at the highest setting and provide possibly a bumpier ride.

[Dr GP]

Simple fix. Take some air out of your tires. I run 39 PSi with the 19" tires front and rear. I would first try 36 psi and adjust down as low as 32 psi if necessary. HOWEVER, I have found the ride on my car to be very compliant especially as compared with the ride on 18" tires on my B6 S4. Also you don't want to switch to 19"wheels and tires because they will be less compliant than an 18"tire. FYI, you will get more tread wear with lower pressure. Back In the day, I had an 85 Corvette with the Z51 suspension. It was like driving a buckboard. Lowered the pressure and got a huge improvement . Actually got 15k miles on the OEM Gatorbacks. Replaced them with Dunlops and the ride was completely different. So the type and brand of tire can also affect the ride quality.

[RudyH]

If you are looking to maintain stock ride height, not sure how many miles you have on your current shocks, but the cheapest option :

http://www.eurosporttuning.com/autop...pension=Shocks

I have these but I am lowered. I don't have the manual handy but you can adjust them to the softest setting. Not sure how to compare it to stock though as I didn't go this route to compare.

[jimrobbington]

What makes you think the ride is too harsh for your baby? I drove my infant around in a stage 2 A4 slammed on coilovers. He didn't seem to mind. It's the turns that makes them throw up. Lol

[mr shickadance]

Simple fix. Take some air out of your tires. I run 39 PSi with the 19" tires front and rear. I would first try 36 psi and adjust down as low as 32 psi if necessary. HOWEVER, I have found the ride on my car to be very compliant especially as compared with the ride on 18" tires on my B6 S4. Also you don't want to switch to 19"wheels and tires because they will be less compliant than an 18"tire. FYI, you will get more tread wear with lower pressure. Back In the day, I had an 85 Corvette with the Z51 suspension. It was like driving a buckboard. Lowered the pressure and got a huge improvement . Actually got 15k miles on the OEM Gatorbacks. Replaced them with Dunlops and the ride was completely different. So the type and brand of tire can also affect the ride quality.

I would advise against dropping the tire pressure from the manufacturer suggested rate. Especially going as low as 32PSI, you are asking for trouble, increased treadwear, decreased handling, etc.

You are already on 18's so I would imagine you have a decent sidewall which is helping as much as it can.

[hiwasss]

What makes you think the ride is too harsh for your baby? I drove my infant around in a stage 2 A4 slammed on coilovers. He didn't seem to mind. It's the turns that makes them throw up. Lol

Roads around here are horrendous and unfortunately the little guy vomits if he's on the car for longer than 45 minutes. It feels like every small bumps are magnified and the struts are not shot, according to the dealership.

[jimrobbington]

Roads around here are horrendous and unfortunately the little guy vomits if he's on the car for longer than 45 minutes. It feels like every small bumps are magnified and the struts are not shot, according to the dealership.

I'm thinking that a slight change in comfort is not going to change that. My son threw up no matter what car we were in, or who was driving how. I think your money will better be spent on seat protection and cleaning products until he/she outgrows this phase. You can end up spending a lot of money on suspension, and likely, will still get puke in your car.

[mojangles69]

http://www.askdrsears.com/news/sears...carsick-infant

Try using benadryl before taking your baby out on drives longer than 30 minutes.

This might also help, Neat 'n Cozy puking poncho! "It won't stop the puking...but it will stop the cleaning!"

http://hyenacart.com/KidCozy/mt/2429/64047/Neat-n-Cozy

[The Fat Kid]

Roads around here are horrendous and unfortunately the little guy vomits if he's on the car for longer than 45 minutes. It feels like every small bumps are magnified and the struts are not shot, according to the dealership.

Yeah, that sounds more like an issue with the baby, not the car... I found the back seat of the S4 to be really comfortable.

We got lucky in that our kid does not get sick in the car, but does get PISSED if he is in the car seat too long; he WAILED for the last hour on the trip to/from PA for Christmas.

[torinalth]

i'd highly recommend against using any kind of pharmacological intervention for a 10 month old, especially since diphenhydramine is not recommended for children under 2 due to its greater chance of overdose related CNS effects. Dramamine is not recommended under 2 as well, if it is a real issue call your pediatrician and ask for their advice. But like others noted, changing the shocks or suspension will do nothing for the child. it is the overall movement that can make the kid better or worse (worse in your case), so the child needs to either grow out of it, get used to it (through repetition), or be treated for an underlying condition. also note that it might not even be the movement, but the sounds the car transmits, the smell of the interior, or your own driving behavior in general. I wouldn't spend money changing things that will do very little..... or worse, be outgrown by the kid as he ages.

[drbuggy66]

I feel your pain hiwass.
My wife gets carsick whenever I get a little spirited in my driving or on longer trips with the s4. My kids love it and luckily no throwing up from them in the s4.
I used to get the same complaint from my wife in my e92 M3 as well.
The only way I fixed that was to get a Suburban and keep the s4 for myself!
Coming from e46 and e92 M3's... the S4 is much softer when compared to the M3's.
As for pre-medicating... please check with your pediatrician 1st. Med's will just hide the symptoms... there could be an underlying problem not yet identified. (Vestibular/Neurologic etc...)
Good luck and keep us posted.

[4wheelpilot]

I would advise against dropping the tire pressure from the manufacturer suggested rate. Especially going as low as 32PSI, you are asking for trouble, increased treadwear, decreased handling, etc.

You are already on 18's so I would imagine you have a decent sidewall which is helping as much as it can.

I started a thread on "correct tire pressures..." since the psi on the door sticker and in the owner's manual can be very different.
Look at your owner's manual and use the AUDI recommended psi based on tire size and load.
For example, on my 2014 S4 with 18" all season tires, with a normal load, the owner's manual has written 36 F and 32 R!!!
And I drive with a normal load every day. So I keep the psi 36 F and 32 R.
After my last service, the dealer set them at 44 psi all around!!! Above even the recommended 41 psi for a heavily loaded car.
Totally wrong...made for a rough ride, reduces grip and would eventually cause uneven tire wear.
Based on the replies to my post, I suspect Audi is encouraged by the DOT and/or their attorneys to post psi with max load on the door sticker to offer protection in case the driver has a max load.
Adjusting your tire pressures is an inexpensive way to find out if it will make the ride smoother for your child.
Good luck.

[Fourcircle]

I've tried LOTS of different tires and IMHO the tires can and do make a huge difference in the car's ride. Suggest switching to a softer sidewall tire that runs smooth. You'll be surprised how much of a difference in comfort this makes. First pick is Michelin's Pilot Super Sports. They are summer tires and are warrantied to last 30K miles. They run smooth as silk and are very forgiving in terms of harshness. An added bonus is they also handle phenomenally well. I'm running these on my S4 with stock suspension and the car rides as comfortably as my Mercedes E350 did. If it is an all season you want, go with Continental's DWS 06 tire. Is is a plush riding tire warrantied for 45 or 50K miles. Won't run as smooth at speed as the Michelin, but it is very plush. Buy from a shop that gives a 30 day money back or swap out if you don't like. Stick with either of these two and you'll be fine.

post thought - are you sure one of your rear tires isn't out of round or out of balance that might be giving the little one the upset tummy? A little vibration for 45 minutes would be hard to bear for anyone.

[Dr GP]

I started a thread on "correct tire pressures..." since the psi on the door sticker and in the owner's manual can be very different.
Look at your owner's manual and use the AUDI recommended psi based on tire size and load.
For example, on my 2014 S4 with 18" all season tires, with a normal load, the owner's manual has written 36 F and 32 R!!!
And I drive with a normal load every day. So I keep the psi 36 F and 32 R.
After my last service, the dealer set them at 44 psi all around!!! Above even the recommended 41 psi for a heavily loaded car.
Totally wrong...made for a rough ride, reduces grip and would eventually cause uneven tire wear.
Based on the replies to my post, I suspect Audi is encouraged by the DOT and/or their attorneys to post psi with max load on the door sticker to offer protection in case the driver has a max load.
Adjusting your tire pressures is an inexpensive way to find out if it will make the ride smoother for your child.
Good luck.

Thanks for the confirmation of my suggestion. It is a solution that can be easily reversed. Try it. IF doesn't improve your issue,put more air back in the tires. Doesn't get any easier.

[jlaudio]

All i know is my Bridgestone Potenza RE090 AS become hard as a rock in temps below 40 degrees and anytime i hit a pothole it's a giant thud sound. Its hugely noticeable when the tires are cold and its cold out. When the temps start nearing 60 or above, they become much more livable and comfortable. They have 3 years and about 17k miles on them, not sure if that matters.

I'll be swapping for DWS 06's in about another month or so. In my experience tires make a huge difference in how the car handles minor bumps and road imperfections. What type of tires OP?

[hiwasss]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'll check with the pediatrician and just wait it out. I take it very easy when the little guy is in the car, no sudden movements and taking my time when switching lanes and turning.

[mr shickadance]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'll check with the pediatrician and just wait it out. I take it very easy when the little guy is in the car, no sudden movements and taking my time when switching lanes and turning.

my wife gets car sick, but cracking the window helps her tremendously.

[S4'ed]

Toyota Camry?

[Braknglases07]

35psi all the way around is plenty they are extra load tires. No need for 41-44 psi the dealer pumped them up after i told them not to and i noticed it by just the ride home. Thought i was driving a sherman tank!! lol