How can I soften up my suspension

[cnicolae]

Hi guys,

I have a bone stock S4 that my wife hates to ride in because the suspension is too stiff. Now that she's pregnant, I either have to get a new car or somehow soften up the ride for her. I don't want to sell it as it's paid off and have 12k miles on it!

What's the best possible way I can soften up the suspension? Do I just buy springs that are softer? Thanks for your help!

[Phil.Lmbrt]

Hi guys,

I have a bone stock S4 that my wife hates to ride in because the suspension is too stiff. Now that she's pregnant, I either have to get a new car or somehow soften up the ride for her. I don't want to sell it as it's paid off and have 12k miles on it!

What's the best possible way I can soften up the suspension? Do I just buy springs that are softer? Thanks for your help!

She finds it too stiff even in comfort? I'm not sure that softer springs do exist.. Air could be a solution, but it's quite expensive lol

[hilmar2k]

She finds it too stiff even in comfort? I'm not sure that softer springs do exist.. Air could be a solution, but it's quite expensive lol

He might not have adaptive suspension.

[theweebabyseamus]

Get an A4.

[hilmar2k]

18" wheels would help a little.

[Phil.Lmbrt]

He might not have adaptive suspension.

Says sports diff in his sig, so I figured he had it.. But yes, as you said, 18 inch wheels would help because of the higher sidewall

[MacFady]

[daytonas4]

make sure your tire pressure is not insane , keep it at 35 psi ,

[onlyaudis]

No way to make these cars ride like an old Cadillac, but some things can help. tire pressure as noted, 18's ride better than 19's. some tires also ride a lot better than others as well. if you have extreme high performance summer tires, ride quality takes a noticeable hit . I replaced the rear stock shocks with Konis on full soft, and it improved the ride noticeably on my car. Your butt notices the rear shocks more than the fronts as far as ride quality. rears are really easy to swap out as well..


https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surve...jsp?type=UHPAS

http://www.urotuning.com/Koni-Yellow...-1402sport.htm

[administerturbo]

Blizzaks until she has the baby! But yeah, 18" with a nice high quality all season performance tire is probably enough to take the edge off. Some progressive rate springs might be softer but I don't think I'd go down that rode yet.

[Gberg888]

LOL im sitting here picking what suspension i can get to make it stiffer and yall want it softer... buy an a4...

[cnicolae]

So I have the 19" with Continental Contact Pro DWS all seasons right now, I did think about downsizing to 18" wheels but I just bought these tires. I will try running lower PSI as suggested!

Regarding the Konis on full soft, I like the idea, but could I also do it for the front?

- - - Updated - - -

LOL im sitting here picking what suspension i can get to make it stiffer and yall want it softer... buy an a4...

So I need to buy a new car because I want to change the suspension? To that same logic, if you want stiffer, buy an M3 :)

[m1k3d3]

As others have mentioned you have a few options available:

Check/lower tire PSI
Remove any excess weight
If you have adaptive suspension make sure it's in 'comfort' mode
18" wheels with a soft tire (winter wheels are the softest, followed by all seasons, summers/track will be the most rough)
Air suspension, but it's expensive and can be bouncy.


The easiest solution would be to drive slower & avoid the bumps/pot holes

[hilmar2k]

So I have the 19" with Continental Contact Pro DWS all seasons right now, I did think about downsizing to 18" wheels but I just bought these tires. I will try running lower PSI as suggested!

My guess is that you could find someone with stock 18's that would be willing to trade you (plus a little cash your way) for your 19's. Hopefully you'll find someone with new tires.

[administerturbo]

I test drove a non ADS car with 18"s before I purchased my ADS car with 19". 18" was nice! I'm just vain.

[cnicolae]

That's good to know that going to 18" makes a big difference. I don't have ADS on my car sadly! But, I bought it for $35k and it had 3,200 miles on it (Yes, 3k miles, that's not a typo) :)

[Sepang_Daaang]

That's good to know that going to 18" makes a big difference. I don't have ADS on my car sadly! But, I bought it for $35k and it had 3,200 miles on it (Yes, 3k miles, that's not a typo) :)

Wow, great deal. Tell her ass to call Uber!

[MrFunk]

First world problems LOL.
If she's complaining about the ride being too harsh and it's 100% stock then I don't think any of the above mentioned things will "soften" it to a level where she would notice.
Does she not have her own car? Just drive in hers.
I love my wife and made her pregnancy as comfortable as possible for her but there's no way I'd sell my car because she didn't like the ride during pregnancy (she would also never suggest that to me either - especially with a paid for car). The baby will come quicker than you can blink and you'll wish you'd never sold the car - if you love it.

If I were you I woudn't mess with new suspension or tires etc. Try letting some air out of em but I doubt that will do much.
I'd suggest just avoid having her ride in the car.

[rand0mher0]

Just buy someone's second hand A4 suspension and throw it in there.

[onlyaudis]

Just buy someone's second hand A4 suspension and throw it in there.

that won't work well. our cars are way heavier

[onlyaudis]

So I have the 19" with Continental Contact Pro DWS all seasons right now, I did think about downsizing to 18" wheels but I just bought these tires. I will try running lower PSI as suggested!

Regarding the Konis on full soft, I like the idea, but could I also do it for the front?

- - - Updated - - -



So I need to buy a new car because I want to change the suspension? To that same logic, if you want stiffer, buy an M3 :)

full soft Konis on the fronts helped as well. much more $$$ / time to do the fronts though, alignment needed,etc. . so I'd try the rears first. Trust me on this, I am super sensitive to ride quality and didn't even like what the big rear sway bar did to my car (went back to stock) My car also cornered noticeably better afterwards--the Konis just control the car better with the stock springs than the OE shocks do. shocks have a huge affect on ride quality, probbaly more than springs unless you changed them in an extreme way.

[Opiate]

Air suspension isn't a solution. I have an Accuair setup and it's a little stiffer than stock. Lowering the tire pressure helped. Staying tuned for other suggestions.

[JD S4]

lower tire PSI on 18s

[Morritse]

Lol wut. Stock suspension is pretty soft. Have you tried like a memory foam pad on her seat? Explore the cheap options first.

[TexasDfwS4]

I agree 18in will do it. I had both an S4 with 18s and 19s the 18s were much better. Also us all seasons.

[JD S4]

Could also consider new wife. WIth baby onboard, it's going to be get more expensive soon.

(don't at me)

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

Hi guys,

I have a bone stock S4 that my wife hates to ride in because the suspension is too stiff. Now that she's pregnant, I either have to get a new car or somehow soften up the ride for her. I don't want to sell it as it's paid off and have 12k miles on it!

What's the best possible way I can soften up the suspension? Do I just buy springs that are softer? Thanks for your help!

Tires. Bigger, squishier, less fun!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[Dr GP]

make sure your tire pressure is not insane , keep it at 35 psi ,

Run tire pressure @32 psi for a more compliant ride.You will decrease tread life a little but ride will be more compliant. Easiest and cheapest way to resolve the problem. Also 18" wheels with all season tires wil help

[TappaNuKegga]

To summarize: Get 18" wheels + all-seasons, A4 springs, and a pillow under her butt. Done. Doesn't get much softer than that!

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[adkmooserider]

What does she drive for some perspective on her frame of reference

[tar]

Trade in car for a m3. Shes gonna complain anyways might as well justify said complaining.

[Senseless]

I agree 18in will do it. I had both an S4 with 18s and 19s the 18s were much better. Also us all seasons.

I have 18's and don't see any need for 19's. I've never thought, "I wish the handling was better".

[TappaNuKegga]

I have 18's and don't see any need for 19's. I've never thought, "I wish the handling was better".

Well I'd say 90% of the reason people opt for 19s is for the look, not improved driving feel. There's no contest regarding looks in my opinion.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[RyanJon]

Kw street comfort coil overs could be an option

[TappaNuKegga]

Kw street comfort coil overs could be an option

Street comforts are harsher than stock suspension, unfortunately.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[RyanJon]

My stock suspension was harsher than the V3’s I’m currently running so I don’t know how that works out.

Have you ridden in a car running street comforts?

[doughboy17]

Run tire pressure @32 psi for a more compliant ride.You will decrease tread life a little but ride will be more compliant. Easiest and cheapest way to resolve the problem. Also 18" wheels with all season tires wil help

^This plus a pillow under her butt (maybe 34-35psi). You are very accommodating.

[97B518TQM]

I can’t believe no one has suggested the obvious; trade her in, the wife that is. :)

Just kidding. I know how they get when pregnant, and rightfully so. I don’t think you can do much though.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[Lbsigman]

Before I got my S4, and before the S4 was an e92 M3, I drove a 2004 Silverado 2500HD leveled so it rode harsher than stock. Thank god my wife got use to it and actually enjoyed the rough ride...

[JeriQo]

- - - Updated - - -

Hi guys,

I have a bone stock S4 that my wife hates to ride in because the suspension is too stiff. Now that she's pregnant, I either have to get a new car or somehow soften up the ride for her. I don't want to sell it as it's paid off and have 12k miles on it!

What's the best possible way I can soften up the suspension? Do I just buy springs that are softer? Thanks for your help!

i have an a4 with 32k miles. wanna trade?