Review: H&R OE Sport Springs
Before going any further, let me just say that I'm far from the most experienced reviewer in terms of any suspension product. I haven't had the opportunity to experience the myriad of options like Eibach's springs, coilovers from the likes of KW, Bilstein or H&R, or even H&R's own more aggressive springs. What I have driven is my own 2009 A4 2.0T Quattro Sedan with the S-Line package, and the same vehicle equipped with my latest acquisition and the focus of this review: H&R's "OE Sport Springs".
Based on relatively consistent information, the S-Line package (in the USA) has the same suspension as "Sport Package" equipped cars, and lowers the stance by 20mm (just over 3/4" for the metrically challenged). Based on empirical evidence, that seems accurate. I'm not certain why, but the concept of modifying the suspension of a car I drive regularly always seemed foreign to me. I've participated in various car forums and always hear about folks upgrading their springs, getting 'cup kits', coilovers, etc. I figured I was the smart one - getting the sport suspension on any car I've ordered to avoid this complicated upgrade. After all, the factory offers a sport suspension... can I really improve on that without ruining the ride quality? I've always had my doubts, and I'm not really sure why.
Anthony recently posted some photos of his car with the H&R OE Sport Springs and followed with a positive review. At the same time, Alex from AWE mentioned that they were having a sale on these springs, pricing them well below any other online retailer I could find. Having read that review, seen the photos, and found a local shop with very reasonable labor rates, I calculated the odds of being dissatisfied and the financial loss if I had to sell the springs, and finally placed an order. Then I waited a week for a drop shipment from H&R and was filled with hope and self-doubt. I'm certain that the worst feeling for any enthusiast is that trepidation felt between the time you click "Place Order" and when the big brown truck finally arrives. It seems to forever, no matter what shipping option you select.
A few days ago, and only a few days after my order was placed, my H&R OE Sport Springs arrived. I called Diego at AMS Autowerks and confirmed his availability for the next morning. Diego has received some stellar reviews on Audizine's NYC regional forum, and I went to bed that night hoping they were well earned. To be completely honest, the idea of someone potentially mucking up a car that performs so well scared me a bit. Was I making a terrible mistake?
The installation at AMS went smoothly. Diego really knows his way around these cars and made the job look easy in less than two hours (including some distractions). A quick test drive, payment, and I was out the door riding on new springs. My very first observation while driving back toward the highway was, "Thank God - it still feels and drives like my car." Maybe that sounds crazy, but I wasn't looking for any huge transformation. These springs are a meant to be a subtle upgrade, mainly to give the car a lowered stance. And in that moment, I was just happy to feel my car driving in a familiar way (albeit on unfamiliar roads). On that drive home I was definitely struck my some improvements in the handling, including a really impressive and controlled four-wheel drift on an exit ramp in Secaucus that locals probably know all too well. But it wasn't until Monday that I really began to formulate my opinions on this upgrade.
It's now Monday night (technically Tuesday morning after 1AM) and I drove out to Long Island today on very familiar roads. I know the locations of potholes that need to be avoided, bumps that can't be avoided, and jarring road imperfections that I hope will one-day be addressed. Of course they won't -- this is New York. But at least I know the speeds to take them without damaging my car or my dental fillings. Today was a really eye-opening experience. I had already come to the conclusion over the weekend that the handling is improved with these new springs. I expected some loss in ride quality. I anticipated that those little road imperfections would become more significant, and I hoped it wouldn't be too much of a change.
As I exited the 59th Street Bridge (lower level) and merged to the right onto Bridge Plaza South, I slowed slightly. Between 27th Street and 28th Street, the road surface is all concrete slabs, and there are gaps between them wide enough to put your fist through. I've never found a good speed to take these. Today I drove over them as usual, clenching my jaw slightly as I anticipated the "ba bang, ba bang, ba bang" which would clearly be quite a bit worse. To my incredible surprise, it wasn't worse. In fact, it was better - a LOT better! Driving down Van Dam Street, I'm almost ashamed to admit I aimed for a pothole. It's a shallow one on the right side that doesn't "need" to be avoided. It's not a car swallowing chasm... just an annoyance that I've learned to avoid. I hit it square at 25 MPH and was again amazed at the suspension's reaction. It's not like I didn't hit the pothole, but it's a little like I was driving a Lincoln Towncar. Okay, I exaggerate. But the point is, the car is now handling minor and rather significant road imperfections FAR better than previously.
Hitting the LIE, I was fortunate to not hit any traffic today and got to put the car through its paces a bit. One of my main complaints with the stock S-Line suspension was that it's a little floaty, particularly after quick lane changes. That is, after changing lanes and straightening out, the chassis has a tendency to rock slightly back and forth before settling. I did a few quick lane changes to compare and that's an area that's certainly improved. It's not gone, but I suspect an upgraded rear anti-roll bar may help mitigate what little float remains.
Another surprise was the reduction in squat and dive. I hadn't really thought previously about how much the car moves forward and back in response to acceleration and deceleration. It didn't exactly bother me, but the car actually feels faster now. I realize it's not - but accelerating from a stop, the car doesn't squat back nearly as much as before, and I feel like I'm just accelerating right away instead of after squatting. It's a much more confidence inspiring feeling as well! Hard braking is similar. As I arrived at my destination with no traffic behind me, I braked hard before making a 90 degree right turn into the parking lot. The car just braked. It didn't consider braking, then dive forward, and then brake - it just did it quickly and without drama. I really like that!
So was Mom wrong? Did I find a quality product without spending much money? I think I did! In fairness, I followed Anthony's lead, so credit where credit's due. Is this as good an upgrade as coilovers? I doubt it. For one, the springs are not height adjustable, and while the achieved height is very nice, I'd prefer a little more drop up front. That level of adjustment just isn't possible with a spring upgrade. Coilovers are well known for handling small road imperfections very well, so I look forward to making that upgrade at some point down the road. After all, with the NYC roads, you can never handle bad roads too well. In the mean time, I managed to improve the look of the car, improve the handling, and improve the ride... and I did it on a parts budget of about 1/4 that of entry-level coilovers. I'm a happy camper!
H&R OE Sport Springs
Part # 29061-1
List Price: $439, AWE Sale Price: $256 + $13.98 S&H
AMS Motorwerks Installation: $200
Measurements:
Top of wheel well to ground (STOCK):
Front: 26 7/8"
Rear: 27"
Top of wheel well to ground (H&R OE Sport):
Front: 26 1/4"
Rear: 26 1/8"
Deltas:
Front: Lowered by 5/8" (or ~ 1 3/8" from "stock" non-sport suspension)
Rear: Lowered by 7/8" (or ~ 1 5/8" from "stock" non-sport suspension)
Front Spoiler is lowered by 3/8"
Final Thoughts:
I noticed in Anthony's review that his car appears to have been lowered by 1" up front, and 3/4" in the rear. As a result his drop looks a little better to my eye, but it's really splitting hairs. It's also difficult to judge photos where one car is black and the other is white. Is it possible that there are manufacturing variations between the springs? Is there anything else that could be causing my fronts to be about 1/4" to 3/8" higher than anticipated? Or my rears to be lower than expected? H&R calls these springs 1.2" lower than stock, but I think 1.5" would be a better approximation.
- Jason
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Originally Posted by aznpxdd
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