Shock options for 1BE suspension

[MNavant]

Time for new shocks and struts for my 2018 A4 manual with 1BE suspension. Ride quality is a top priority due to the terrible roads in MN. Options look like Bilstein B4, Koni Special Active and Koni Yellow (I think Bilstein B6 will ride too rough).

Anyone have experience with any of those set ups on a B9? I had Special Actives on a B7 with 1BE springs and it rode well but had some weird behavior, mostly in mid corner bumps. I felt like they probably would have been great with the comfort springs but might have been a tad soft for the 1BE. On the B9 koni has two part numbers for the 49 vs 53mm, but idk if the valving is different.

Thanks

[Nillious]

If you liked the way it rode stock rock auto sells the OEM Sachs obviously not with Audi part number but at a fraction of the cost. I'm 99% sure all 1BE will need the 49mm. 16 and early 17s could have 1BE with 53mm but all 18s should have 49s

[MNavant]

I thought the oe on the B9 was Monroe? I thought about Sachs but outside of rock auto they don't seem to be available and the zf aftermarket catalog online doesn't explain if they are for comfort or sport suspension.

[Smac770]

Monroe is normally the OEM for the 1BA standard dampers. Sachs is normally the OEM for the sports dampers (1BE for A model, 1BD for S model). It appears Audi used both for the B9.0 1BE rear dampers, though. Back to just Sachs for B9.5.

As for the fronts, it appears that's what the 53 to 49 change in Jul '16 was about, when the 1BE damper changed from Monroe and the 1BA strut fork size to Sachs and the 1BD strut fork size.
original 1BE strut 8W0 413 031 AK by Monroe: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276369895108
later 1BE strut 8W0 413 031 BA by Sachs: https://www.ebay.com/itm/334813790034
Keep in mind that these represent the middle axle load code tier. Without you saying what your actual axle PR codes are, we can't talk the specifically relevant front dampers for your 1BE suspension PR code vehicle.

Bilstein B4 are twin-tube designs like the OE dampers (though seems Sachs OE dampers for B9 went monotube?). Bilstein B6 and B8 are monotube designs. I have B6 on my B8 1BA A4. There's nothing too rough about it. I assume you're thinking of B8 dampers, which are shorter and intended for aftermarket lowering springs. Personally, if I had a B9 without adaptive, I'd be trying the B6 DampTronic.

On the Sachs struts, 318141 vs 318142, you need to know your front axle PR code to know which to get. ...141 for if you had damper rev AT (codes 0JA-0JE), ...142 if you had damper rev AK or AK (codes 0JF and up).

[Nillious]

I bought Bilstein B4 for sport suspension and they are monotube.

[Smac770]

I bought Bilstein B4 for sport suspension and they are monotube.

Interesting, it does appear that B9 MLB evo was generally monotube rather than twintube (like B8 MLB) from the factory. That Bilstein's B4 OE substitute would be the same design basis as OE is not a surprise. But that would seem to muddy the B6 advantage over B4 on a B9, given how much more expensive B6 are.

[Nillious]

I thought the same thing. I converted to sport suspension from comfort suspension. I can say that they control the Factory sport springs very well and really would see no reason for B6 on stock sport springs. . The front I had to get the the 53mm sport dampers even though my car was not within the build date as all comfort suspension came with 53mm forks.

[MNavant]

Personally, if I had a B9 without adaptive, I'd be trying the B6 DampTronic.
.

Isn't the Damptronic for cars WITH adaptive suspension?

[Smac770]

Isn't the Damptronic for cars WITH adaptive suspension?

True, I was getting it swapped with iRC (B16 iRC vs B16 DT). Without adaptive from the factory, you're stuck staying non-adaptive, or consider retrofitting the adaptive damping version of the chassis control module (and the level sensors).

And seems there's both B4 DT and B6 DT for the B9 now. Oddly, they don't list the B6 DT for any B9 newer than MY21.