Avant Coilovers to Avoid Rear Sag/Softness

[zzzz05725]

Hi all,
I bought my car bagged and want to switch to coilovers. I mostly want ST, but all I’m reading about is rear sagging from ST/KW owners. There is a thread that recommends Vogtland B8 avant coilovers also on here for softness reasons. If anyone is running avant coilovers (of any kind) on an S4 please let me know why you chose to, what you’re running, and how you like it!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[A.C.]

I’m running ST-X coilovers and happy with the ride and comfort. What I recommend is if you are going to purchase a set ask for Avant springs for the rear. Here’s a pic of mine. Not the greatest pic. Please don’t shoot the photographer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zzzz05725]

Thanks for the response. For clarification do you have avant springs in the rear?


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[A.C.]

Thanks for the response. For clarification do you have avant springs in the rear?


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

Sure do.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zzzz05725]

Nice, glad to hear you’re happy with the ride


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[zzzz05725]

Phil at KW said they can’t swap in Avant springs in the rear since the kit comes boxed from Germany, but the rear springs are the only difference between the A4 Avant kit and the S4 kit. Planning to pull the trigger on an A4 Avant kit tomorrow!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[A.C.]

Phil at KW said they can’t swap in Avant springs in the rear since the kit comes boxed from Germany, but the rear springs are the only difference between the A4 Avant kit and the S4 kit. Planning to pull the trigger on an A4 Avant kit tomorrow!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

Excellent! Post some pics when you have a moment


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zzzz05725]

Excellent! Post some pics when you have a moment


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ordered from ECS yesterday and they ship within 10 days, if everything goes well I hope to have updates in 2-3 weeks and eventually a long term review!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[303 Spartan]

I’m running ST-X coilovers and happy with the ride and comfort. What I recommend is if you are going to purchase a set ask for Avant springs for the rear. Here’s a pic of mine. Not the greatest pic. Please don’t shoot the photographer

This pic makes the rear look like it's still sagging by about 1"-1.5", compared to the front.

[A.C.]

This pic makes the rear look like it's still sagging by about 1"-1.5", compared to the front.

I need to have the suspension dialed in and aligned. I tried to do it myself because the person who initially installed the components had a reverse rake appearance. So obviously I didn’t take it back for realignment. But honestly I don’t have any sagging in my opinion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[303 Spartan]

I need to have the suspension dialed in and aligned. I tried to do it myself because the person who initially installed the components had a reverse rake appearance. So obviously I didn’t take it back for realignment. But honestly I don’t have any sagging in my opinion.

Makes sense. Pics seem to exacerbated fender gaps in one way or another, anyway. And I should say that in the above pic, the rear looks perfect. Sagging would be an overstatement. The front just looks a little high.

[mcjim]

I think that stance looks perfect, my .02


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[A.C.]

I think that stance looks perfect, my .02


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you sir!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[A.C.]

Another side shot with my cousins 550i




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zzzz05725]

Another side shot with my cousins 550i




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Very nice, I’m excited. Hopefully this works out well and becomes the “trend to avoid sag” that gives future buyers confidence in ST/KW coilovers again. There are some brutal pictures on AZ of the 7003 rear springs that still come with the sedan coilovers


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[zzzz05725]

A4 Avant ST X coilovers are finally on with confirmed 1034 rear springs! Rears all the way up and its still not anywhere near stock height, but I have at least a finger gap right now. Should the rear spring be this compressed in the middle? IMG_6401.JPG


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[zzzz05725]

Just for future readers, I would like to say I am happy with the ride and have not experienced any sag at this time. I will stay subscribed to the thread in case questions or discussions come up, or if something changes


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[AerotusX]

The sagging won't happen right away. It will take a year or longer to notice. I had my KW HAS for over 3 years now. The rears were sagging very gradually and I had to raise the springs each year until I'm at max height and can't raise any more. It's a little disappointing because I still need to raise it about 0.1-0.2" more to avoid rubbing on large dips. Hope the Avant version don't have the same issue.

[Silver Streakin]

For people that aren't aware, there is a factory spacer on the rear spring on some cars. It's a 13mm plastic spacer that sits on the top of the upper rubber spring pad. PN 8K0-512-141-G

Some cars have it, some don't, and it could explain why some people will have their rear spring perch maxed out while others like me do not.

[waxingmoon]

Hey any update on this now that a fair amount of time has passed? Thinking about pulling the trigger on a set of the these ST Avant coils myself , soon. Wondering if the ride is still decent and if you’d had any rear sagging issues?

[waxingmoon]

Anymore update on this from OP or anyone else running the ST X kit? Leaning towards either these or the H&R/ bilstein combo which seems to be pretty popular. Hoping to knock one of these out soon as the whether breaks here in Northeast Ohio.

[romanrnd]

Anymore update on this from OP or anyone else running the ST X kit? Leaning towards either these or the H&R/ bilstein combo which seems to be pretty popular. Hoping to knock one of these out soon as the whether breaks here in Northeast Ohio.

I just recently installed Vogtland B8 avant coilovers on my b8 s4. Huge improvement in the ride. Can't comment on longevity yet but I've heard they're great and basically cheaper KWs. I picked up the B8 avant set for right around $700 shipped from AJ USA. Not sure if the deal is still going on though..

[waxingmoon]

Really? I’ll have to add those to the list of setups to check out. I remember back when I had my b5 a lot of guys were running the Vogtlands with good results but seems like I don’t hear as much about them on this platform. Sounds like You got a killer deal on them.

[weave]

im running the avant version of KW V1, i wanted long term reliability of stainless and avoid the whole seized ajustement issues regarding heavy salt roads and harsh winters plus life-time warranty. Having 4 croners ajustability is just much better to fine tune your stance but can bit a headache for some users. This version works for A7 and A5 so rear springs are fairly stiffer but you wont have sag problems with these. I have mine for about 12 months I only touched them once after the install/break-in period. Combined with the 034 rear sway the handling is spot-on for my taste no body-roll to speak of and no more noise diving. Confort is compromised on bad pavement but has to be expected.

[waxingmoon]

Yea I’m here in the Midwest so the road salt is definitely a concern for us down here as well. That’s one thing that’s attractive about the KW setups being made from stainless and probably justifies the extra cost. Read some older threads about some people having sag issues with some of these brands and started getting cold feet about the whole thing. I appreciate the feedback from you guys running the Avant setups , which seems to pretty much alleviate those problems. Thinking I’ll be making this leap soon, now I just need to figure out which one lol, you guys gave me a lot to think about.

[zzzz05725]

I sold the car after a year but did not notice a change in rear height. Even with ST avant kit, max rear height was 1 finger gap at the most. There is no way I would advise getting the sedan kit. If I were to do it again I might even get an avant kit with the rear spacers added since I do like a finger gap. Ride was always great.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[youdame]

Jumping back on this old thread...

i installed Bilstein B16 coilovers on my 2013 B8 RS4 avant, and now i am experiencing sagging overall, especially at the back.

Am looking to replace the springs and want a bit of advice. What do you think will go well in terms of replacing my underrated sagging B16 springs?

- KW HAS (avant version)
- ST height adjustable (avant version)
- H&R Sport (lowering of 15-20mm)
- H&R Sport lowered (lowering of 25-30mm)

Obviously all avant specific versions; the B8 RS4 weighs in at almost 1800kg so it's definitely on the heavy side!

Any advice appreciated

[ModItNow]

My KW's were sagging in the rear after a while so I replaced the springs and that fixed the issue. You could try spring spacers in the back to raise the height up or get replacement springs from Bilstein.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Audizine Forum mobile app

[AerotusX]

I have KW HAS and it sagged in the rear. If I had to do it again, I would look somewhere else.

[RendyR]

I had horrible sagging way back in 2012 with BC Racing BR coilovers.
After changing to 12k springs, I finally got 14k springs with matching 14k dampers and I'm happy with that setup and the damping set to 2 clicks below max.

If you would like to just upgrade the springs, (BC Racing uses Swift springs BTW) or if you want to match the shocks (BC Racings recommendations and I concur) here the invoice for what I got.
Note that I'm running 20x10 AG wheels and I still rub for less than a millesecond on washboard roads.

Item # Description Qty
62-160-14 BC Racing North America \ Parts \ Springs - BC Racing Spring 62-160-14kg
Note: currently have br series on car 2
4425015744R02125M10 BC Racing North America \ Parts \ Dampers - BR Series Rear Damper 4425015744R02125M10
Note: currently have br series on car

[youdame]

My KW's were sagging in the rear after a while so I replaced the springs and that fixed the issue. You could try spring spacers in the back to raise the height up or get replacement springs from Bilstein.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Audizine Forum mobile app

Update on this: I contacted Bilstein and asked for replacement springs for the B16 kit, this time not for the A4, but for the A7. After digging around a bit, I found that the rear springs for the A7 are the same size as that for the A4, albeit beefier. About 8% thicker in wire diameter, with additional 200kg permissible weight load on the rear axle.

Production time is 3-4 weeks, can’t wait! As you can see, the sagging is serious!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[peterpark0]

Did you guys replace your lower rear springs pads? I'm assuming no, but doing this would give you some additional height. Worn out rubber spring pads can compress and deteriorate over time.

I got the KW HAS avant kit for my S5. I replaced all the nuts, bolts, spring pads, strut mounts, etc. I'm very OCD.

My rears are at their lowest setting and I still have a finger gap, sometimes 2 depending on the surface, gas level and stuff in the trunk. It's very temperamental. A little higher than what I wanted, but the ride is amazing!

I'm thinking of switching to the non-avant springs just to go lower. (I'm guessing the s5 has less weight in the rear to sag the springs)

20210702_174110.jpg20210707_133536.jpg