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  1. #1
    Veteran Member Three Rings Sniper260687's Avatar
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    Probably the stupidest question yet.

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    Okay...Afternoon

    I searched numb steering but found nothing.

    Here is the question

    So after a year of owning my 14 S4 i never really liked the steering wheel feel and some of the body roll, i come from a BRZ and the way you connect with that car its beyond words, you know what the front wheels are doing with the steering wheel, so the stupid question is, how or what do i need to buy to make the S4 feel like the BRZ, sway bars? front and back strut bar? dare to say springs?

    if not mistaken the S4 has electric steering and the BRZ does not.

    Someone probably already asked this but i just really want my S4 to feel more connected.

  2. #2
    Veteran Member Three Rings
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    Sorry, but you're not going to be able to even get close, and could spend a lot of time and money trying. That amazingly granular lateral/grip feedback is just not ever going to be there. Electric assist aside, the front wheels are driven and have more than a ton of weight riding on them.

    If you like the steering on the BRZ, you should try an Elise or Alfa 4C. Both are absolutely amazing!
    Mein ist grau

  3. #3
    Veteran Member Four Rings Lensch09's Avatar
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    If you want your S4 to steer like your old BRZ did, sell it, and buy another BRZ.

    Suspension mods will help, but we are talking completely different chassis, style of car, weight class, etc.

    Now, if you want your BRZ to be as refined as an S4, or as fast in a straight line, good luck.
    -DL
    2022 RS5 Sportback - Navarra Blue

    Previously:
    2016 Audi S4 Prestige with tons of boltons -Build Thread - http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...016-S4-Ordered!
    2007 Audi A4 S-line Ti APR GT2871R
    1999 Audi A4 Avant (S4 replica)
    2000 Audi S4 Sedan (Stage III)
    1999.5 Audi A4 1.8TQM Sport (bolt-ons)

  4. #4
    Veteran Member Four Rings Dr GP's Avatar
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    Pre 2013 S4s had different non electrical steering. Drive one to see how you like it and trade back if that really is important to you. Not sure how hard it might be to retrofit the pre 2013 steering system into your car.

  5. #5
    Veteran Member Four Rings bhvrdr's Avatar
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    The a4/s4 has had at least electric power assistance aka servotronic since the b7 in 2005.5. A lot of feel changed after that getting only worse in 2013. That said there are even more disconnected feeling cars including a Benz I've had and my camaro. While it would be difficult and cost prohibitive to be able to change completely I do think a front sway bar (pair it with a rear) and an aluma kreuz will significantly improve turn-in

    Mike

    2018 Audi S5
    12.72 @ 108.85mph - 93 octane - +1565DA - Bone Stock
    11.68 @ 117mph - e30 octane - (-945DA) - jb4 only

    2013 Audi S5 DSG - Unitronic ECU & 034 TCU, 3.17pr
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    '10 A4 Avant - '13 S5 #1 -- '16 A6 -- '15 S4 -- '09 A4 -- '04 S4 -- '06 A4 -- '03 A4 -- '00 A4

  6. #6
    Veteran Member Three Rings Sniper260687's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bhvrdr View Post
    The a4/s4 has had at least electric power assistance aka servotronic since the b7 in 2005.5. A lot of feel changed after that getting only worse in 2013. That said there are even more disconnected feeling cars including a Benz I've had and my camaro. While it would be difficult and cost prohibitive to be able to change completely I do think a front sway bar (pair it with a rear) and an aluma kreuz will significantly improve turn-in

    Mike
    So what exactly will the sway bars do?

    When i bought the S4 all i was told was 3 must do, intake, exhaust, sway bars.

  7. #7
    Veteran Member Four Rings 14S4GWM's Avatar
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    Sways help eliminate the body roll, can't go wrong with them.

    Heres your thread, lol
    http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-stupid-to-ask
    2014 S4 P+ Glacier White DSG/ EPL Stage 2 ECU/ TCU
    Black Optic/ B&O/ Sports Diff/ Carbon Atlas/ V1/ P3/ Carista/ ECS CF Intake/ ECS CF Diffuser
    Bilstein B8/ H&R OE Springs/ H&R 10-12mm Spacers/ Eurocode Sways
    C-Quartz/ Suntek PPF/ AWE Touring 102/ 034 X-Brace & Inserts/ / Akebono Pads/ CR-15/ VLED VX3 LED Fogs

  8. #8
    Veteran Member Three Rings Sniper260687's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 14S4GWM View Post
    Sways help eliminate the body roll, can't go wrong with them.

    Heres your thread, lol
    http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-stupid-to-ask
    Thank you for being helpful.

    Ill go that route. Any suggestion on brand?

  9. #9
    Veteran Member Four Rings 14S4GWM's Avatar
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    I went with Eurocode, lots of guys are running them. Some will say just get the rear, no need for front. I went with both and the CR-15 upper front bar from member U2nelson. He makes them, cheap and easy install.

    http://www.ecodetuning.com/store/aud...s4-s5-rs5.html

    http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...altime-Install
    2014 S4 P+ Glacier White DSG/ EPL Stage 2 ECU/ TCU
    Black Optic/ B&O/ Sports Diff/ Carbon Atlas/ V1/ P3/ Carista/ ECS CF Intake/ ECS CF Diffuser
    Bilstein B8/ H&R OE Springs/ H&R 10-12mm Spacers/ Eurocode Sways
    C-Quartz/ Suntek PPF/ AWE Touring 102/ 034 X-Brace & Inserts/ / Akebono Pads/ CR-15/ VLED VX3 LED Fogs

  10. #10
    Veteran Member Four Rings Tanner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sniper260687 View Post
    So after a year of owning my 14 S4 i never really liked the steering wheel feel and some of the body roll, i come from a BRZ and the way you connect with that car its beyond words, you know what the front wheels are doing with the steering wheel, so the stupid question is, how or what do i need to buy to make the S4 feel like the BRZ, sway bars? front and back strut bar? dare to say springs?
    I have a '10 S4 and a BRZ.

    They're like the most opposite cars on the spectrum. One's over 4000 lbs, the other is about 2800 lbs. Right there is the one thing that influences the handling of the S4 and you'll never be able to fix it (aside from Audi's traditional vague steering which to me isn't all that bad but no where as connected as the BRZ).
    Mike

  11. #11
    Veteran Member Four Rings LINDW4LL's Avatar
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    991 C2S, Stage 3 S4, E46 M3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sniper260687 View Post
    Thank you for being helpful.

    Ill go that route. Any suggestion on brand?
    Eurocode is the go-to for sway bars. Their Alu Kreuz stabilizer/chassis brace also makes steering response more direct.

    It will never feel like a BRZ, but all of the aforementioned items make for a very nice improvement
    -Hayden

    B9 Q5 | Brilliant Black
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    E46 M3 Cab | Steel Grey
    B5 S4 | Stage 3 SRM RS6 | gone

  12. #12
    I also went FRS to S4. I really miss that "becoming part of the car" aspect, but god damn the power difference is awesome. I just needed more than a decorative back seat as I climb the corporate ladder. Good luck, but I don't know if you'll ever be able to make the S4 feel 1200 pounds lighter.

  13. #13
    Veteran Member Four Rings will13k7's Avatar
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    I get a good amount of steering feel with my setup, but it's a b8 with its hydraulic steering, not a b8.5. I have the full EuroCode setup and PSS10 coilovers.

    Setting coilovers to a stiff setting really does a lot for how heavy the car feels too. Changing my coilovers from setting '5' to '7' makes the S4 feel like it lost 300lbs.

  14. #14
    Veteran Member Three Rings Sniper260687's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LINDW4LL View Post
    Eurocode is the go-to for sway bars. Their Alu Kreuz stabilizer/chassis brace also makes steering response more direct.

    It will never feel like a BRZ, but all of the aforementioned items make for a very nice improvement
    Very nice reply, thank you for that.

    Ill go that route as well.

    Not sure why other people cant do the same and be helpful instead of saying "Go back to a BRZ".

  15. #15
    Veteran Member Three Rings Sniper260687's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Drunktank View Post
    I also went FRS to S4. I really miss that "becoming part of the car" aspect, but god damn the power difference is awesome. I just needed more than a decorative back seat as I climb the corporate ladder. Good luck, but I don't know if you'll ever be able to make the S4 feel 1200 pounds lighter.
    Ha yea the power was a nice change, however i had my BRZ turbocharge still not as powerful as the S4 but fun car regardless, unfortunately cheaply made

  16. #16
    Senior Member Three Rings
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    Assuming you have already changed tires from stock. If not do it now. In addition to the mods already listed you should look into the CR-15 Strut Brace sold by u2nelson:
    http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ictures-inside

  17. #17
    Veteran Member Three Rings Sniper260687's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lamprey View Post
    Assuming you have already changed tires from stock. If not do it now. In addition to the mods already listed you should look into the CR-15 Strut Brace sold by u2nelson:
    http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ictures-inside
    I have yes, did not like the stock tires at all.

  18. #18
    Veteran Member Four Rings Tanner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sniper260687 View Post
    Ha yea the power was a nice change, however i had my BRZ turbocharge still not as powerful as the S4 but fun car regardless, unfortunately cheaply made
    Well for the price of the BRZ/FRS, you get what you pay for, it was never built for refinement but rather to deliver as much fun as possible even at slow speeds. Both cars are great and excels in certain areas, but not in both.

    I actually just took a coworker's 295whp BRZ (with suspension, exhaust, 18s wheels), geeze, it has all the boy racers sounds... turbo spooling up, the blow-off valve, the pops and snarls from the exhaust. I actually liked it. Took it out for a quick spin but chose to obey the speed limit on the highway, good thing as there was a radar trap. :)

    It's definitely a different way of power delivery, not the typical flat torque curve on Audi's forced-induction engines and the immediate torque with the supercharged engine.. The BRZ was quite fun actually ... I should not have driven that.... LOL. But reliability would be questionable if it's tracked a lot like what our BRZ goes through. Or did.
    Mike

  19. #19
    Veteran Member Three Rings 968Reckless's Avatar
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    Probably the stupidest question yet.

    Coilovers, sways, cr15 bar, alu kreuz.

    Get those and report back. I've never been in the brz but with just the addition of the cr15 I felt a noticeable improvement in the front end.
    @martino_motorsport

  20. #20
    Veteran Member Three Rings Sniper260687's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tanner View Post
    Well for the price of the BRZ/FRS, you get what you pay for, it was never built for refinement but rather to deliver as much fun as possible even at slow speeds. Both cars are great and excels in certain areas, but not in both.

    I actually just took a coworker's 295whp BRZ (with suspension, exhaust, 18s wheels), geeze, it has all the boy racers sounds... turbo spooling up, the blow-off valve, the pops and snarls from the exhaust. I actually liked it. Took it out for a quick spin but chose to obey the speed limit on the highway, good thing as there was a radar trap. :)

    It's definitely a different way of power delivery, not the typical flat torque curve on Audi's forced-induction engines and the immediate torque with the supercharged engine.. The BRZ was quite fun actually ... I should not have driven that.... LOL. But reliability would be questionable if it's tracked a lot like what our BRZ goes through. Or did.
    Funny story, i had a 2011 STI 400 to the wheels, i went to the dealer in 2013 with my GF to have her oil changed for her outback, saw a white BRZ for sale and i asked for a test drive not thinking anything of it, dealer gave me the keys and told me to "GO'' long story short i traded in my STI for that BRZm they way that damn car felt and drove blew me away, did not care about the lack of power.

    Actually my BRZ was around 320ish, similar mods, fun to drive but like i sad cheaply made, interior had rattles and what not, im the biggest interior whore so thats why i got bored with it.

    Great car, might pick a used one later on to just have it lol

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