Dropping B7 to S-line ride height, can I swap the coils only?

[lockeed]

I have a 2008 A4 S-line but if I understood correctly, I have the S-line without the dropped suspension! (Anyone can clear that up for me that would be great).

I should get my 19" RS4 wheels later this week and I was wondering, how I could drop the car to "s-line" ride height without breaking the bank! If I can find a set of real s-line coils, can I just swap them out?

BTW, I don't want my suspension to be any stiffer or sportier, just want it lower. I had a sport package B8 in the past and found it a little bit on the hard side...

Thanks!

[seandon_792]

All 2008 A4s had the sline "appearance" but not all were true slines (3 spoke steering wheel, lower ride height, slightly longer grille, etc.)
As far as dropping it you'll just need a set of the springs. It will change the driving characteristics since the spring is a tad stiffer and the spring rate is not matched exactly to the shock so travel is reduced slightly.

[Okedokey]

Yeah, not a good idea to just change the springs. You need matched sets to ensure proper function.

[oVeRdOsE]

on real sline shock (red), no problems. I know few people who get the h&r springs, and the shocks holding it just right. And this on many km.
This been said, it might and probably will reduce the shocks life. But it won't be drastic.

The h&r didn't really drop the rear of my car. It just equalize the front gap to the rear gap. So at the end, the rear drop is minimal, and the front is about 1''. I measure it.

spring here, cad : http://www.essexdistributors.com/
new shocks : rockauto.com . you can go koni.

[lockeed]

As usual, thanks for the info guys. FYI: In the summer, it'll be on 19s and I'll probably use it for about 2000 miles. In winter, it'll be back on the stock 17s and drive probably 2000 miles too overall, for a total of 4K miles/year. (It's a third car) So not a lot of millage. So I'm not worrying about wearing the stock shocks prematurely too much... just want the ride height to drop a little bit so the car doesn't look odd on 19s...

[oVeRdOsE]

As usual, thanks for the info guys. FYI: In the summer, it'll be on 19s and I'll probably use it for about 2000 miles. In winter, it'll be back on the stock 17s and drive probably 2000 miles too overall, for a total of 4K miles/year. (It's a third car) So not a lot of millage. So I'm not worrying about wearing the stock shocks prematurely too much... just want the ride height to drop a little bit so the car doesn't look odd on 19s...

if you have the real s-line , I don't think it will look so odd on 19s.

Here on 18s

before h&r :




after h&r :

[lockeed]

As stated earlier, I have the S-line without the dropped suspension. Car just has the S appearance package. So I assume I have standard shocks and ride height.

Couple pics:

[oVeRdOsE]

oh, my bad. miss this one.

So, I can't judge on the non-sline suspension. You can wait for audizine member to comment on that one. normally, vw/audi shock are well selected, and can hold the additional compression.

I just take a look on rockauto, they seems to be out of stock on Bilstein yellow shocks. But they carry KYB, and back in the days, on nissans, kyb were the cheap solution with shorter springs.

Best option imho : call salvage yards or PM Axis for used red s-line shocks. They are very strong. 95 000km of pot holes on mine, car is not bouncy at all.

And like mentioned previously, best option for new springs : essex.


* ps : yeah, 19s on normal suspension will look a bit weird.

[seandon_792]

So with the sline springs your car will look more like this:


I still have the stock sline springs laying around here somewhere if you're interested.

[Axis]

As stated earlier, I have the S-line without the dropped suspension. Car just has the S appearance package. So I assume I have standard shocks and ride height.

If I may, thats an SE. Sline appearance and Y spoke 17".

You seem to be on the stock suspension according to your Tiguan stance (Even on a non Sline you could of had the sport suspension since its an "À la carte" option).

If you dont drive much you could only put springs but the ride quality wont be optimal. I would try to source a low milleage sport shock set. I just found one for my B6 avant with 100Kkm on them and paid 120$ cad. Or go the Bilstein sport way which is what I have on my B7 sedan, these coupled with H&R sport springs is a perfect match imo.

You can check Essex Distributions, they're the Bilstein/H&R official Canadian distributor.

Height reference :

B6 Avant on Rev Motoring Springs and oem sport shocks :





B7 Sedan on H&R Sport and Bilstein Sport:





Sorry for the iPotato pictures. H&R advertise a 1.6-1.7" inch drop while Rev Motoring advertise a 1.2" drop. The Rev Motoring lower the car a tad more even if advertised otherwise.

[KingWulfgar]

So with the sline springs your car will look more like this:


I still have the stock sline springs laying around here somewhere if you're interested.

What wheels are those? I really like them.

[Axis]

What wheels are those? I really like them.

OEM Sline wheels.

[seandon_792]

What wheels are those? I really like them.

Just the stock Audi rs6 wheels that came on some of the slines. 18x8 not sure about offset
Here's a better picture:

[KingWulfgar]

Just the stock Audi rs6 wheels that came on some of the slines. 18x8 not sure about offset
Here's a better picture:

Thanks! Might add those to my short list if I can even find them anywhere.

[seandon_792]

Thanks! Might add those to my short list if I can even find them anywhere.

No problem! You can easily find some with a quick google/eBay search for Audi rs6 wheels. Pricing depends on if you want reps or the real deal.

[lockeed]

The fact is I'll mostly use the car in winter, and being in eastern Quebec where we measure snow by the yards, I don't want to drop the car too low. Plus, I don't like the look of over dropped cars in general.

I could get by with the stock s-line ride height but I'm questioning if I should just try the 19s on and see how it looks first. I've love to be at stock height for winter when there's 20"of snow on my driveway!

Side note, I found a set of S-line coils on kijiji Canada for not much $, but they aren't red. Should they all be red?

[oVeRdOsE]

-coils are black for s-line. ( can't tell the visual difference tho)
-shocks are red.

for snow, mine doing just fine. If you can get a metal skid plate, that would be the best. the oem plastic one, will be lost in the snow ;)

From what I see, op you should do :

- keep oem shock until they die
- use those s-line springs
- buy B5 shock perch, it will drop the front from 0.5'', and help on the leveled look.

the perch is the plate where the spring sit. You can get it new, or used in a scrap yard for peanuts :
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...ch/8d0412103b/


@ Axis, wow, the avant is neat. Since I can't post in your avant tread, I have to say it here ! love the wheels

[Axis]

@lockeed : Coils wont be red, only the shocks will (Spring are color coded but I dont recall the color code of the Sport coils). Lots of standard springs sold as Slines because they came off a 2008 that had the same suspension you do. If you buy used coil springs, kame sure that they came off a car with sport suspension. Btw, I drive both my cars in Quebec at that height, never got stuck, not even once. Maybe its because of the studded Nokian Hakapelita 7??

@seandon_792 : Your wheels are Sline wheels made by Ronal, not RS6's. Sline's are 18X8ET43, RS6's are 19X9ET29 and only available in Europe. Pretty sure the NA version of 19" is from the C6 A6 and shares the same width and offset as the 18" version.

@oVeRdOsE : Post all you want my friend, I <3 you

[lockeed]

My bad for the color, didn't realized they were referring to the shocks only and not the coils.

@oVeRdOsE - thanks for the info, I'll looks this up.

[Charles.waite]

Dude, 19s are going to look awful at stock non-sport ride height. Its going to be major donk status and look awful. As previously stated, judging by your phots, you're 100% non-sport suspension. You can absolutely just swap the springs, but you'll cut down on the lifetime of the shocks. And personally, it doesn't make any sense to buy new OEM shocks, Bilstein Sports are cheaper and better. I'm sure someone around here still has their Sport springs lying around they'd be willing to let go for cheap though.

[lockeed]

Now I'm wondering, since I'll be there, should I order replacement shocks as well...

germanparts.ca have a great deal on replacement Bilstein shocks for the sport suspension # 134$/each cad
https://order.germanparts.ca/product...pe=APPLICATION

[Charles.waite]

If you're going to do shocks and springs you should look into the Bilstein B12 setup. It's not coilovers but just a matched shock and spring setup. Very reasonably priced and supposed to handle great and ride well without dumping the car too low for everyday use.

[lockeed]

Just found a set of OEM coils and shocks for a 3.2 B7 avant. Wonder if they would fit the 2.0T ??

[Axis]

^^Spring rate is going to be too high for the front if your car is a 4cyl. Shocks will work but it looks like one is leaking.

[lockeed]

Got cha

[yeoj112689]

If you lower it with springs alone it will work fine, for a few months until your stock shocks give in and you will have a shitty ride. Go coilovers :D worth it. If I get my car back (got hit by a semi) after they total it I could probably sell you a set cheap.

If not I would still advise a full matched set so you do not overextend the range of the shock.

[oVeRdOsE]

If you lower it with springs alone it will work fine, for a few months until your stock shocks give in and you will have a shitty ride. Go coilovers :D worth it. If I get my car back (got hit by a semi) after they total it I could probably sell you a set cheap.

If not I would still advise a full matched set so you do not overextend the range of the shock.

coil overs in quebec are really a bad idea :

- they need to be approved by the really competent province officials. if not = illegal suspension and they get your car off the road. (I don't think there's a lot of brand approved already)
(and they really look at this since this summer, I know few people who get they car inspected for suspensions)
- with no maintenance the coil over will seize (salt + calcium in winter)

[lockeed]

Good point and I don't want to invest 1K into a car that I'll use probably less than 5000km a year if I'm lucky. So S-line coils would work just fine for now, unless I find a complete used coil/shock kit for a decent price.

[Charles.waite]

If it's more of a winter beater, by all means just find some s-line springs and toss them in. They'll be a bit of a compromise in ride quality, maybe a tad bouncy but they'll work just fine.

I know everyone says "coilovers or bust" but lots of people don't care about adjusting them "just so". I know I don't. I just want a bit lower than s-line (and to get rid of the reverse rake) and never have to worry about it again. Shocks and springs have noting to break, nothing to seize, and nothing to get out of adjustment. Install them and don't think about them for another 75k miles.

[lockeed]

What he said

[yeoj112689]

If it's more of a winter beater, by all means just find some s-line springs and toss them in. They'll be a bit of a compromise in ride quality, maybe a tad bouncy but they'll work just fine.

I know everyone says "coilovers or bust" but lots of people don't care about adjusting them "just so". I know I don't. I just want a bit lower than s-line (and to get rid of the reverse rake) and never have to worry about it again. Shocks and springs have noting to break, nothing to seize, and nothing to get out of adjustment. Install them and don't think about them for another 75k miles.

Coil-overs or static setup work I just meant to get a set of shocks and springs meant for each other or else they will wear down fast if overextending the shock. I like coil-overs because you can adjust them but static matching setup works too.

[adam044]

I literally couldn't give my S Line suspension away once I got coilovers at the beginning of the year. Sold the springs for about $100 and threw out the struts after a few months with no interest. Just look in the classifieds, chances are something will come up when someone changes to coilovers.

Personally if you're going to be running 19's I'd go with coilovers so it doesn't look like you're driving a monster truck. ST's are $800 ish.

- - - Updated - - -

Dude, 19s are going to look awful at stock non-sport ride height. Its going to be major donk status and look awful. As previously stated, judging by your phots, you're 100% non-sport suspension. You can absolutely just swap the springs, but you'll cut down on the lifetime of the shocks. And personally, it doesn't make any sense to buy new OEM shocks, Bilstein Sports are cheaper and better. I'm sure someone around here still has their Sport springs lying around they'd be willing to let go for cheap though.

This.

[Okedokey]

I have a full set of shocks and springs sline (sports suspension). You can have them if you pay for shipping.

[lockeed]

I have a full set of shocks and springs sline (sports suspension). You can have them if you pay for shipping.

PMd

[Okedokey]

PM replied.

[lockeed]

Anyone can confirm these are indeed S-line sport suspension coils - which the double white line and single green line?

[AudiKilla]

If you buy the stock sport springs, I would just get these:
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES3031023/

Better than used shocks. I did the same 2 weeks ago and from Montreal too