How long does it take for springs to "settle?"

[Sgilbert]

Just got a set of H&R OE Sport springs installed over the weekend and they are absolutely fantastic. The car is so much more confident in the corners and body roll is pretty much gone. The ride is a bit firmer and hitting bigger bumps is definitely more pronounced, however, on well maintaned roads the combination of the firmer springs and generally smooth ride of the car itself is a great combination. I had seen some pictures of cars with H&R OE Sports and it seemed like the car rode a bit lower than mine does currently. How long does it take for springs to finally settle into the proper ride height?







By the way, Menzerna Power Lock is unbelievable. First time I used any of their products and I'm hooked.

[EErie B6]

there is a difference between "OE Sport" and "Sport". Sport springs sit just over 1/4" lower than OE Sport. Your car will never sit as low as one running Sport springs.

Edit: sorry, thought i saw 2 different things being compared.

I want to say i remember being told it takes about 1k miles for springs to settle.

[euroazfck]

R u just running springs on stock shocks? I'm thinking about the same set up but I hear mixed things on if it's bad 4 oem shocks, your car looks great btw!

[madmadS4]

I haven't perceived any settling at all, but then I haven't really measured it precisely. I was happy from day-1 with my H&R Sport Springs.

[richib86]

i dont judge the settling by mileage, a good week and a half to two weeks and they will be settled for the most part

[Sgilbert]

R u just running springs on stock shocks? I'm thinking about the same set up but I hear mixed things on if it's bad 4 oem shocks, your car looks great btw!

Thanks. I got the car with ADS so I was automatically out of the market for coil overs. I went back and forth about the wear issue but my mechanic said as long as I am not running absurdly stiff springs it shouldn't make a ton of difference. I guess you could argue that living in the northeast versus southern California or something is just as bad for your shocks. The handling difference is totally worth it. Just go for it!

[patinsd]

I have the same car as yours same color ,same rims and it’s going to be my next mod .
Do you have pics from the front and rear ? will love to see it .
H&R OE sport drop 1.2 if I am right .
I do not see a 1.2 drop here but it take time to settle .
How many miles have you done since dropping ?

[wwhan]

It should only take a week or two to completely settle. Most of the settling should occur in the first 20 miles or so. After a couple of weeks get it realigned.

[Ryan_T]

Could be the photo, but your rear looks really high. I don't remember mine being that high even on Day 1 with OE sports. Got more pics?

[Yeaayouu]

hmm...that drop looks a little off. sorry for the blunt comment but it looks stock. Maybe you should double check the springs that was installed.

[Yeaayouu]

Would it be possible that you ordered the S5 OE springs instead? I've seen numerous pictures of OE springs install on B8 S4s and they are all lower than your car. Please take a look at the part number of your springs and confirm to see if its the right set. The S5 springs are an inch drop as opposed to the S4's 1.2. Not only that , the S5 springs are meant to hold a heavier car so when used in a S4 it might not drop as low as the advertised inch.

[BDI]

^^^Werd. All the pics i've seen with the OE Sport Spring setup seem to be lower than yours.

[L0U]

that does look stock height. give it a week and take another picture for us.

[Sgilbert]

that does look stock height. give it a week and take another picture for us.

I also noticed that when I'm low on gas, the rear passenger side is over an inch higher than the driver's side rear. Something seems really wrong. There is way too much of a height change for an empty vs full gas tank. How much of a pain is this going to be to check the part # on the springs? Can I possibly do it without a lift?

[Ryan_T]

Check the ones your installer took out first.

[Sgilbert]

Check the ones your installer took out first.

Not sure I follow? How would looking at the stock springs help?

[Yeaayouu]

you could check the box that it came in and make sure that is the right part number.

[BDI]

Any updates on this?? I am planning on going with OE Sports as well but definitely want it lower than yours.

[adbender]

car looks so much better...

my springs settled most in the first on to two weeks but can take up to a months according to my mechanic.

dont worry about it seeming off this early on....at first, my front seemed higher than the back, and one side higher that the other when obsessing...

now...everything sits just perfect to me.

enjoy...but definitely take more care driveways and speed bumps.

[Sgilbert]

Would it be possible that you ordered the S5 OE springs instead? I've seen numerous pictures of OE springs install on B8 S4s and they are all lower than your car. Please take a look at the part number of your springs and confirm to see if its the right set. The S5 springs are an inch drop as opposed to the S4's 1.2. Not only that , the S5 springs are meant to hold a heavier car so when used in a S4 it might not drop as low as the advertised inch.

+1 all day. I just got a chance to check the springs and they were stamped with 29061 (S5) instead of the 50361-55 part number that is the correct number for the S4. You were 100% correct that these are indeed S5 springs, however I did correctly order the S4 springs. No idea how this happened as the invoice and the box label all stated 50361-55. Its not dangerous to drive around on S5 springs is it? I'm going to try and get this resolved by Monday but I just want to make sure I don't have anything serious to worry about if I drive it until then. Thanks again.

[Michael S.]

So long as the springs fit the perches (they obviously do) there should be no ill effects of driving the car... I would, however, want H&R to reimburse me the labor costs to have them changed!

Mike

[Ryan_T]

My OE used to be stamped 29061

[Tifosi]

Two weeks. Wait for two weeks then have an alignment done on the car.

[adbender]

I installed 50361-55

Yeaayouu...you are like Columbo!

[Yeaayouu]

HAHA! Thanks...I think I just had a lucky guess....

[S4Tokyo]

+1 all day. I just got a chance to check the springs and they were stamped with 29061 (S5) instead of the 50361-55 part number that is the correct number for the S4. You were 100% correct that these are indeed S5 springs, however I did correctly order the S4 springs. No idea how this happened as the invoice and the box label all stated 50361-55. Its not dangerous to drive around on S5 springs is it? I'm going to try and get this resolved by Monday but I just want to make sure I don't have anything serious to worry about if I drive it until then. Thanks again.

I've replaced spring w/H&R's..the box label clearly states use for S4 and A4 & S5 'Cabriolet' i.e. latter is V6 V's Sedan which is V8.

Part no. called out is 29061. The claimed drop was 30mm, so far that seems to be what it's holding up to. i.e. don't believe that Spring 29061 is incorrect for S4.

I do recall in my earlier research that H&R EU catalogue and NA catalogue seemed to call out different part no.s for same S4 B8 vehicle w/same drop 30mm V's 1.2". Go figure :-(

[Yeaayouu]

+1 all day. I just got a chance to check the springs and they were stamped with 29061 (S5) instead of the 50361-55 part number that is the correct number for the S4. You were 100% correct that these are indeed S5 springs, however I did correctly order the S4 springs. No idea how this happened as the invoice and the box label all stated 50361-55. Its not dangerous to drive around on S5 springs is it? I'm going to try and get this resolved by Monday but I just want to make sure I don't have anything serious to worry about if I drive it until then. Thanks again.

I think the S5 springs should be ok. It might be a little stiffer due the S5 being heavier. You should be fine driving it around but you should let whoever order your springs know that it was a mistake. Good Luck to ya!

[Sgilbert]

So I called H&R, the part number for the S5 and S4 are EXACTLY the same. The springs are exactly the same even though the S4 gets a 1.2" drop and the S5 gets a 1.0" drop. How on earth could my mechanic have installed these incorrectly? The rear height is absurd and compared to other OE Sport pictures I've seen, my ride height is at least an inch higher than I would expect. If the part is correct, what else could be the culprit?

[S4Tokyo]

So I called H&R, the part number for the S5 and S4 are EXACTLY the same. The springs are exactly the same even though the S4 gets a 1.2" drop and the S5 gets a 1.0" drop. How on earth could my mechanic have installed these incorrectly? The rear height is absurd and compared to other OE Sport pictures I've seen, my ride height is at least an inch higher than I would expect. If the part is correct, what else could be the culprit?

A daft suggestion - not sure if already eliminated - but any chance the mechanic put FR springs (stiffer) on rear and the rears on front? Your front would have dropped 'very' low by now if that was case ....not just rear high, so I guess that is daft suggestion. Took a few 'spring' pics of my own install, will check and see if anything stands out as potential mis-assy issue? :-(

Follow up :
Have several photo's - a few that might be useful 'reference'? - but no AZ member space available to upload. If you PM me an email address I can send if you wish?

[Yeaayouu]

So I called H&R, the part number for the S5 and S4 are EXACTLY the same. The springs are exactly the same even though the S4 gets a 1.2" drop and the S5 gets a 1.0" drop. How on earth could my mechanic have installed these incorrectly? The rear height is absurd and compared to other OE Sport pictures I've seen, my ride height is at least an inch higher than I would expect. If the part is correct, what else could be the culprit?

Hello, I don't understand. It clearly states that the S4 OE spring part number is 50361-55 on the website while the S5 part number is 29061-1. I just had my OE springs installed yesterday. I can try and post a pic as well or maybe you can give me ur email and I can send it to you.

[quality_sound]

Hello, I don't understand. It clearly states that the S4 OE spring part number is 50361-55 on the website while the S5 part number is 29061-1. I just had my OE springs installed yesterday. I can try and post a pic as well or maybe you can give me ur email and I can send it to you.

Those are the KIT numbers. The PART numbers on the springs may vary.

[funkdamaja]

I just received my OE Sports from ECS. The box is labeled 50361-55, but each of the springs is labeled 29061.