Coilovers or springs with struts?

[chrislmorris]

Looking to drop my 2013 S4 a bit, but trying to decide between coilovers, or short springs with performance shocks/struts.

Opinions?

[Jay@JXB]

I started with H&R Sport with Bilstein Sport shocks. Very good option for street use, cuts down on body roll a lot and still rides very nicely.

Since I autocross and track my car a ton though I threw on Bilstein PSS10 coils this year. Turned into an absolute monster on the track. With coils set at 10/10 dampening it's backbreaking on the street. My girlfriend complains about her boobs hurting every time we hit a bump. However with dampening all the way down at 1 it actually rides really nice. The shocks feel about the same over small bumps and rough pavement but the springs are certainly stiffer, giving you that "tossing you around" feeling when you go over dips and pavement transitions in intersections. The H&R Sports never did that.

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[MrFunk]

I'm very happy with my HR OE springs and Bilstein B8 Sport shocks. Before that I only had the OE springs with OEM shocks and it was quite bouncy and un-composed. I cannot compare it to coils as I've actually never driven a B8 S4 with coils but for road use I think the ride and performance of the suspension as I have it is perfectly dialed in - I do have several other suspension and frame upgrades though which all add to the ride... I won't ever adjust my suspension so the need for adjustable coils is pointless to me... and the risk of them (coils) rusting in this climate also was a deterring factor.

[ChoyV]

Go with the coilover since the labor charge will be the same.

[40ventiller]

Springs - fixed height. Coilovers are adjustable.
I see post like "I can lower for summer, raise for winter". Unless you know how to corner balance and have equipment to do so, you're better off with springs. Manufacturer already did the legwork testing them.

Coilovers usually have dampers that are matched perfectly to springs it came with. You have to find good dampers to match your set of springs. To me, this is where the coilovers outshine springs.

Damper (valving) adjustability is not an issue for street and occasional track since you can get adjustable struts/shocks for springs as well. Tunable dampers are must haves for serious track use, but only if you have the knowledge and experience to do so. Remember that Formula One teams use driver + telemetry + engineers + mechanics to adjust suspension. Even then the setup is still a compromise for any given track.

You also have to maintain coilovers. Those threads attract dirt.

My $0.02.



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[Rocket Tech]

If your budget allows look into something like the Bilstein ride control b16 setup. On comfort it's more comfortable than stock and in sport it's plenty stiff for canyon driving. I don't track my car however. There's no need to corner balance with coilovers, most people would never be able to tell or care for street driving.

[40ventiller]

If your budget allows look into something like the Bilstein ride control b16 setup. On comfort it's more comfortable than stock and in sport it's plenty stiff for canyon driving. I don't track my car however. There's no need to corner balance with coilovers, most people would never be able to tell or care for street driving.

Basically, you just play with adjustable valving once ride height is set like a spring + adjustable damper combo. Only difference is push button if you have electronic ride control.

[blingaling]

I have springs, they perform better than stock but not as good as coils. For the price i love em and i dont plan on going to coils. For the price difference cant beat it. But depends what your budget allows. I preferred my money to go more toward other things.


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[mmm def]

H&R OE springs on Bilstein sport dampers. Very composed, smooth ride. Super happy with it. I'm a set it and forget it guy plus I was never going to adjust the height so this works for me.

[Rocket Tech]

Basically, you just play with adjustable valving once ride height is set like a spring + adjustable damper combo. Only difference is push button if you have electronic ride control.

Kind of - the b16 kit has a predefined comfort and sport valve setting. I used to run koni adjustables but found myself constantly tweaking and never being quite happy with where I was at. The settings Bilstein have selected for this kit are great.

[40ventiller]

Kind of - the b16 kit has a predefined comfort and sport valve setting. I used to run koni adjustables but found myself constantly tweaking and never being quite happy with where I was at. The settings Bilstein have selected for this kit are great.

It must be a pain adjusting Konis. Don't you have to remove struts/shocks to make adjustments? I think Bilsteins are better in that department.

[o1turbo30v]

Bilstein Sport Shocks with Eibach springs (called a b12 kit), install and forget, no maintance, very good ride quality.

[mmm def]

It must be a pain adjusting Konis. Don't you have to remove struts/shocks to make adjustments? I think Bilsteins are better in that department.

That's correct

[SDV325]

I see post like "I can lower for summer, raise for winter".

I chuckled at this as well. I ran coilovers (Teins and PSS9's) on my Impreza GC8 for 7 -8 years, not once did i raise or lower it for a Canadian winter lol. Heck i barely changed the dampening with the exception of track or auto-x days.

We all have the best intentions for stuff like that haha

[Habber]

Are you guys ever concerned about premature wear on the bushings or other parts? I'm dying to lower but read a lot about other parts wearing out ahead of time.

[Rocket Tech]

It must be a pain adjusting Konis. Don't you have to remove struts/shocks to make adjustments? I think Bilsteins are better in that department.

I ran them on my mustang, the adjustments were on the top of the shock and at the bottom, no need to remove. I imagine the adjustment is pretty similar to the pss10s if I'm remembering correctly.

I was realistic about how much adjusting I would do given my history with the konis. Single push button from the inside of the car is the way to go!

[40ventiller]

I ran them on my mustang, the adjustments were on the top of the shock and at the bottom, no need to remove. I imagine the adjustment is pretty similar to the pss10s if I'm remembering correctly.

I was realistic about how much adjusting I would do given my history with the konis. Single push button from the inside of the car is the way to go!

You can't access from top on Audi B8s both front and rear. PSS10s have adjustment on bottom. Dampers are actually inverted inside tube.

[LINDW4LL]

The large majority of people with coilovers will never adjust their ride height after setting it initially. A quality shock/spring setup can be just as good. If you have no need to adjust ride height, then it simply comes down to the price difference between two comparable setups (coilovers vs springs/shocks)

[eurotic]

Are you guys ever concerned about premature wear on the bushings or other parts? I'm dying to lower but read a lot about other parts wearing out ahead of time.

I've heard the same thing and some of that can be mitigated. Control are bushings are the best example. Control are bolts should be tightened with the arms at ride height so when the car is at rest there is no tension/ twist on the bushing. When you lower the car and don't adjust that, it's like the car is sitting with the suspension in compression and there is tension on the bushings. They need to be reset to their new normal resting position.

Shocks are the same if you just install springs as the shock will be under more compression even when at rest.