Oppo, learn me on coilovers

"razorbeamteam" (razorbeamteam) 07/28/2017 at 00:31 • Filed to: None

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Glamour shot

So, at 10 years old the A4 is getting a little long in the tooth. However, it is still a fantastic car even by today’s standards. It is optioned out, has plenty of pep, is comfortable over lots of highway miles (which is most of the driving I do anyway), and still looks good enough to pass as a nice car. It’s a solid whip for sure, and at 70k miles, it’s still got a lot of life left in her. Everything works, and aside from the resonateor rusting out last winter, it’s had 0 issues since I’ve owned it.

But... I’m getting slightly bored with it. It’s a fun car and all, but not exactly a high performer even with the 3.2. It has a super heavy sway bar in the rear, which has done a good job of neutralizing the understeer that Audis are famous for. It still dips hard in turns and has noticeable body roll in hard cornering.

I don’t take it to the track but that’s not out of the question. I guess I just want it to feel more fun to drive without riding around in a faux race car.

So I’m wondering if coilovers are worth the trouble. I don’t want to ruin the ride and make it unbearable on long drives. I routinely drive down to Kentucky, which is about 8 hours, and I don’t want to be feeling every bump. I know nothing about coilovers at all, so take me to school oppo.

6691 zapS > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 00:41

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http://automotivethinker.com/suspension/linear-vs-progressive-rate-springs/

jkm7680 > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 00:52

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It’ll improve the handling for sure. But cheap ones suck. I put Racelands on my ‘97 A4 and it rode and sounded like a conestenoga wagon over bumps.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 01:04

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Springs go bounce, but you can control the bounce so it has less or more bouncy bounce. Inside the bouncy thing there tube filled with lube, that lube helps the bounce. There might be clickity thing on the lube tube, that can farther control the bounce.

razorbeamteam > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 07/28/2017 at 01:10

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Ohhh got it

Sovande > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 07:07

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Lowering springs and shocks and struts made for said lowering springs may be a better choice, especially for a daily driver. I had coils on my car and at first I thought it would be fine and that I could deal with the hard ride since the car handled like it was on rails. After feeling my man boobs jiggle around over every road imperfection I finally made the switch to lowering springs. They help with handling, help with looks and I don’t have to wear a bra. It’s also disconcerting when you hit a bump hard enough that your wipers come one. Of course, if you spend big money you may be able to get coils that are both compliant and low.

Read up in the forums about which combos of springs and shocks people seem to like and them maybe ask someone local if you can go for a ride?

Aaron M - MasoFiST > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 08:51

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The problem with coilovers is that there are a lot of cheap ones, and without exception they all suck for daily driving. The only cheap-ish ones I can think of that are ok ride quality-wise are Suspension Techniques...ST coilovers are basically a KW design...but they aren’t stainless hardware, so you either have to remove them in winter or expect your adjusters to rust together after one season.

Basically the low end for decent coilovers are the Tire Rack specials, which are either KW Variant 1s or whatever Bilstein calls their coilover system. Both of these will run around $1500 or so. If you were to just get Bilstein shocks (not even lowering springs, just shocks/struts), you’d spend maybe $400-500 and your handling would improve noticeably. If you did want to then get lowering springs (an additional $3-400 for decent ones), the Bilsteins would be stiff enough to compensate. But if you didn’t feel like lowering the car? You’d still get most of the handling improvement with fewer of the downsides.

Textured Soy Protein > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 08:55

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I would skip coilovers and instead do performance shocks and springs along with replacing rubber bits including shock mounts and any bushings that are serviceable.

The advantage coilovers provide over performance shocks and springs is their adjustable ride height and (sometimes) other adjustments like damping, camber, etc. But they often have stiff linear-rate racing style springs and similarly stiff shocks, both of which aren’t necessarily desirable for a street car.

Koni FSD shocks and Eibach Pro Kit springs will do the best job of maintaining ride quality while lowering the car a moderate amount and improving handling. There are other options if you want to go more aggressive but there is a trade-off in ride harshness.

razorbeamteam > Sovande 07/28/2017 at 09:14

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Thanks, that’s some good info. You pretty much confirmed what I thought. It’s probably not worth it for this car. My girlfriend drives it for work too and so do I. I don’t know how I’d feel living that #stancelyfe with my boss in the car or something. Maybe one day though.

I try to spend as little time on forums as I can. This is the exact type of question that would get a million “USE THE SEARCH n00b!” responses, one of the many reasons Oppo is the best.

razorbeamteam > Aaron M - MasoFiST 07/28/2017 at 09:16

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Hmm, you think shocks would improve handling on their own without getting new springs? That would be ideal as I’m not keen on the idea of lowering the car.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 09:42

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Shocks are what’s going to improve the response curve for steering inputs and will also provide some stiffness. You’re going to have more body roll than you otherwise would if you lowered the car, but still likely less than if you left the stock shocks there. There is an eventual point where you need stiffer springs for the stiffer shocks to work...you will not reach it on a daily driver. If you do want to tighten it up yet further, you can replace the springs. And if you’re doing the work yourself, it’s completely reasonable to replace the shocks, drive the car for a while and see how it feels, then go ahead and do the springs later if you still want them. Coils are all or nothing, and cheap coils are either non-adjustable or only height adjustable which does nothing for stiffness.

Also, at 70k your shocks, if not broken, are tired. Replacing them with even OEM-like units will likely improve your handling.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 10:07

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Wow 70k for an 07 a4?

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 10:15

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Look into a Bilstein shock upgrade (B4, B6HD, B8) and find a lowering spring from H&R or Eibach to pair with it. I did this on my M3 with the B12 Pro kit (B6HD shocks w/ Eibach springs) and it got rid of the body roll that I hated and it improved ride quality over our rough New England roads. Coilovers IMO are pointless on a pure street car, too many negatives for limited gains.

razorbeamteam > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 07/28/2017 at 10:22

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True, our roads in Chicago are in third-world condition, I’m not trying to rattle my teeth out.

Sovande > razorbeamteam 07/28/2017 at 11:41

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Yeah, forums can really suck the fun right out of it. If you just cruise through and try to find info sometimes it’s better. I would imagine there is some solution to lower and still comfortable. I run a pretty mild drop with Eibach springs and Koni FSDs and it is basically stock comfort with some added firmness. You may be able to get away with just new shocks and struts and get improved handling. It’s always a compromise, as I am sure you are aware.