Decide between H&R Sport Springs or H&R OE Sport Springs

[PDR Jack]

I bought my 2014 S4 about 6 months ago. Prior owner had installed ST coilovers, but he kept the stock springs & shocks which he gave to me.
Problem is that the car will bottom-out and scrape if I go over a decent-sized road dip. Doesn't scrape *bad*, but it still bothers me.
I'm told that scrapping the coilovers and changing to H&R Sport Springs will not only eliminate the scraping problem but will also improve the ride quality, so that's the route I've decide to go. I just can't make up my mind whether to go with the regular H&R Sport Springs or their "OE Sport Springs". I've seen pics from one guy that installed the OE Sport Springs on his and it looks pretty good. His sits higher than my car does right now. And I'm told that the regular Sport Springs would make my car sit only slightly higher than it does now on the coilovers (like maybe 1/2" higher). I am leaning towards the regular Sport Springs, because I like the way that ride height will look, but I'm just wondering whether it will completely eliminate the bottoming-out/scraping issue.

What say ye?

[DarrenOman]

I recently installed the H&R sport spring and really like the lower ride and firmness. I live in San Fran area and have not scrapped once.
The OE H&R spring is slightly lower than stock, but has the same softness, not firmer than stock.

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[v36sedan]

Sport. Never scrapped and if it was any higher I’m not sure it would even looked lowered.

[PDR Jack]

Thank you for the pics! Looks good! That looks just about like where my car sits now in the front and maybe 1/3-1/2" higher than mine currently sits in the back.
I'm in Dallas, TX and while there are really no hills here there are plenty of pot-holes and uneven pavement. I've never been to S.F. What are the streets like?

[DarrenOman]

Pretty flat for the most part. The ride has a slight bounce to it, i found the stock suspension too soft. I also installed Koni sport shocks with new dampers

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[dimonblr]

H&R OE Sport here.
I do not agree with above about OE Sport having same softness as stock. Ride is definitely harsher on the OE Sports.

As far as the drop goes, it is noticeably lower than stock but has not given me too much trouble on New England roads. This includes frost heaves in New Hampshire winter ski trips. Scraped only once on a significant speed bump in a commercial lot. I feel like if I was any lower, i'd be getting into trouble a lot with bumps and dips.

Overall, I am a fan of how it looks at this height and the clearance provided is sufficient for me. I wish they were softer.

[DarrenOman]

Dimon,

What size wheel spacers do you have

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[dimonblr]

Dimon,

What size wheel spacers do you have

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The photos above are S5 Peelers, no spacers.


I had previously installed the ECS Aggressive Flush kit (10mm & 12.5mm) with OEM S4 Peelers. The offset and poke combination wasn't to my liking and looked too flat for being that wide.

Here is a side shot of OE Sport springs on stock S4 Peelers with the above mentioned spacers. Hope this helps.

[DarrenOman]

Thanks, looks good.

Back to you Jack.

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[RyanJon]

I had h&r sports on for a few months and it completely ruined my car, they have far too high spring rate for uk roads which are terrible!

I literally couldn’t stand them so replaced them with kw v3’s. They’re too low for most people’s tastes on the highest setting but they’re far comfier than stock

[KRp220]

i have H&R Sport Springs mated with bilstein shocks and i find the ride to be too harsh, and as much as i love the look, i wish i went with OE's so i wasnt so low

[airjordan223]

I bought my 2014 S4 about 6 months ago. Prior owner had installed ST coilovers, but he kept the stock springs & shocks which he gave to me.
Problem is that the car will bottom-out and scrape if I go over a decent-sized road dip. Doesn't scrape *bad*, but it still bothers me.
I'm told that scrapping the coilovers and changing to H&R Sport Springs will not only eliminate the scraping problem but will also improve the ride quality, so that's the route I've decide to go. I just can't make up my mind whether to go with the regular H&R Sport Springs or their "OE Sport Springs". I've seen pics from one guy that installed the OE Sport Springs on his and it looks pretty good. His sits higher than my car does right now. And I'm told that the regular Sport Springs would make my car sit only slightly higher than it does now on the coilovers (like maybe 1/2" higher). I am leaning towards the regular Sport Springs, because I like the way that ride height will look, but I'm just wondering whether it will completely eliminate the bottoming-out/scraping issue.

What say ye?

What's your current fender to ground measurements?

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[PDR Jack]

What's your current fender to ground measurements?

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25-1/2" FTG.
I've even tried adjusting the coilovers higher, but it appears that I have them maxed-out in height (at least on the rears). I have heard about a sagging problem with ST coilovers in the rear and have heard that they will send you different coils to fix the issue, but for the time and effort it would be to change them or pay to have them changed I'd rather just switch to H&R springs.

THANK YOU to all that have replied so far! Great pics! Very helpful!!!
I was originally leaning towards the regular SSs, but now I'm leaning more towards the OEs.

Please keep the replies coming though!

[airjordan223]

I have OE Sports and the front is 25 5/8 and rear is 25 7/8IMG_20190720_234227_337.jpeg

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[PDR Jack]

I have OE Sports and the front is 25 5/8 and rear is 25 7/8IMG_20190720_234227_337.jpeg

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That looks about perfect. Are you happy with the way it rides/handles?

[airjordan223]

That looks about perfect. Are you happy with the way it rides/handles?

Very happy. Slightly stiffer than stock, but not something any passenger would notice.

The OE sports naming is spot on. Those that know the car can tell its slightly lowered, non-car people don't know it's lowered but know it looks better.

[TEB]

H&R Sports:

[Coderedpl]

Following this as I'm actually genuinely considering the super sports

[darkrock]

OE sports here. Perfect ride height in my opinion. Any lower would be too low. Ride is definitely more bouncy than stock. Pic is with ecs 10mm spacers front 12.5 rear20200530_111910.jpeg

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[PDR Jack]

OE sports here. Perfect ride height in my opinion. Any lower would be too low. Ride is definitely more bouncy than stock.

I tend to agree darkrock. To me the OE version looks like the "correct" ride-height.
When you say the ride is more bouncy than stock, is that in a good way or bad way? I don't really care for the way mine rides right now on these ST coil-overs. It handles/turns like it's on rails, but you feel every single pebble in the road. There's this street I drive on every single day which has 12-foot pavement sections that are slightly uneven. At the seam of each segment the following segment is slightly lower by maybe 1/2", and when I drive over them it's cer-clunk cer-clunk cer-clunk cer-clunk. Gets annoying. My hope in changing over to H&R's is that the ride will soften slightly but still retain a lot of the "handles/turns like it's on rails" aspect (and, of course, eliminate the bottoming-out/scraping issue all-together).

[darkrock]

Its hard to say. Its just slightly more bouncy than stock. Not really too stiff tho. Not uncomfortable at all like some harsh suspensions I've experienced

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[dimonblr]

I tend to agree darkrock. To me the OE version looks like the "correct" ride-height.
When you say the ride is more bouncy than stock, is that in a good way or bad way? I don't really care for the way mine rides right now on these ST coil-overs. It handles/turns like it's on rails, but you feel every single pebble in the road. There's this street I drive on every single day which has 12-foot pavement sections that are slightly uneven. At the seam of each segment the following segment is slightly lower by maybe 1/2", and when I drive over them it's cer-clunk cer-clunk cer-clunk cer-clunk. Gets annoying. My hope in changing over to H&R's is that the ride will soften slightly but still retain a lot of the "handles/turns like it's on rails" aspect (and, of course, eliminate the bottoming-out/scraping issue all-together).

My guess is that you will continue to feel the uneven sections in a similar way. I do not know how the ST rides, but it might actually be a smoother experience over H&R springs alone because the ST unit although stiff, is calibrated in harmony with regard to the spring/shock unit.

I would describe the ride on H&R OE Sport springs like this - When going over a bump on stock suspension you feel one single bounce as you drive over it. On the OE Sports, I feel that for every bump there is at least one additional rebounding bounce which follows the bump caused by the spring rate. This of course depends on the size of the bump. It isn't terrible and I am of course talking about significant bumps, not small imperfections in the road.

When I just put the springs in I looked past this completely because I was enjoying the looks and handling improvements too much to pay any attention to the added discomfort. However, two years later I now personally am getting a bit tired of the extra bounciness and am shopping around for some high end adjustable coilovers as a next step. I will likely keep the same ride height though.

[B8S42011]

I have the sports on mine. Stance is spot on perfect in my opinion.4E496FBD-E401-4FE4-A69B-22A5E147AB1D.jpg


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[richsnipe]

My guess is that you will continue to feel the uneven sections in a similar way. I do not know how the ST rides, but it might actually be a smoother experience over H&R springs alone because the ST unit although stiff, is calibrated in harmony with regard to the spring/shock unit.

I would describe the ride on H&R OE Sport springs like this - When going over a bump on stock suspension you feel one single bounce as you drive over it. On the OE Sports, I feel that for every bump there is at least one additional rebounding bounce which follows the bump caused by the spring rate. This of course depends on the size of the bump. It isn't terrible and I am of course talking about significant bumps, not small imperfections in the road.

When I just put the springs in I looked past this completely because I was enjoying the looks and handling improvements too much to pay any attention to the added discomfort. However, two years later I now personally am getting a bit tired of the extra bounciness and am shopping around for some high end adjustable coilovers as a next step. I will likely keep the same ride height though.

Are you on stock shocks? If so that would explain the bounciness you are experiencing. The stock shocks always wear out on the HR OE from what I read. I currently also have the HR OE springs but installed the Bilstein B8 shocks with it. Ride is good, but a stiffer, but not jarring.
My previous B5 A4 had Stasis (Koni) coilovers and road better than the current setup. If I did it again I probably would go a similar route as the B5 for a little more money.

IMG_1057.JPGIMG_1052.JPG




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[S4nikator]

I also went with H & R Sports... I love the ride, stance and cornering.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vaSb7iVSfCezE7wu8

[PDR Jack]

I've decided to go with OE Sports.
Now the question is will the stock shocks be fine with them or should I really get some aftermarket shocks installed at the same time I do the springs?
The prior owner put approximately between 25K-30K miles on the stock shocks before installing the ST coilovers.

[airjordan223]

If you're pulling coilovers already I would just get some Bilsteins and put those on. I wouldn't spend the time pulling the coilovers out to put 30k mile used stock dampers back on.

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[DarrenOman]

Shocks are rated to last for approx 60k miles, so you could put the old ones on for 35k plus miles.
I installed Koni sport shocks and like the quality of the ride.

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[jerseyboosted91]

Are you on stock shocks? If so that would explain the bounciness you are experiencing. The stock shocks always wear out on the HR OE from what I read. I currently also have the HR OE springs but installed the Bilstein B8 shocks with it. Ride is good, but a stiffer, but not jarring.
My previous B5 A4 had Stasis (Koni) coilovers and road better than the current setup. If I did it again I probably would go a similar route as the B5 for a little more money.

IMG_1057.JPGIMG_1052.JPG




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I was going to go this route as well. My commute is 74 miles round trip all highway so The ride comfort is more important to me versus the drop of the car. Apparently my rear shock is leaking so I was going to go with the Bilsteins. Since you’ve had them on for a while, what do you think as of right now?

I’m in between HR OE springs and bilstein shocks versus just going with coils.


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[B5Dreaming]

The photos above are S5 Peelers, no spacers.


I had previously installed the ECS Aggressive Flush kit (10mm & 12.5mm) with OEM S4 Peelers. The offset and poke combination wasn't to my liking and looked too flat for being that wide.

Here is a side shot of OE Sport springs on stock S4 Peelers with the above mentioned spacers. Hope this helps.

Wow. Repeatedly I've seen the S5 peelers with no spacers and a small drop look like the perfect setup. And I love that color!

I'm on the S4 peelers with the ECS aggressive kit, stock height. I keep considering the OE springs but don't want to prematurely wear out my shocks. It looks a bit odd without a drop. Time to start saving for coils.

[PDR Jack]

I'm on the S4 peelers with the ECS aggressive kit, stock height.

I'm glad you posted that pic. Thank you! I've been wondering what stock-height looked like.

[B5Dreaming]

Here are two more:

[PDR Jack]

Even better pics. Thanks again =)
They don't look bad at the stock height, but they definitely look sexier slightly lowered. It was/is a tough call for me to decide whether to go with the OE Sports or just Sports. Such a minimal difference between the two (of only about .3 inches).

[dimonblr]

Some more closeup examples of a drop on H&R OE Sport.

[jonesclp]

Thanks for that. Looks like I am going that route for springs.


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[PDR Jack]

Some more closeup examples of a drop on H&R OE Sport.
<pics snipped out of quote>

Thanks a TON for those dimonblr!
I was literally about to pull the trigger and order my springs today, and although I was ~90% sure I wanted the OE version there was still an inkling of doubt about OE Sport -vs- regular Sport. Your pics have erased that last bit of doubt. I'm 100% OE now!

[dimonblr]

Thanks a TON for those dimonblr!
I was literally about to pull the trigger and order my springs today, and although I was ~90% sure I wanted the OE version there was still an inkling of doubt about OE Sport -vs- regular Sport. Your pics have erased that last bit of doubt. I'm 100% OE now!

Glad these were useful!

[BillyS4]

H&R Sports for me... Perfect ride. Love the stance 20200620_205633.jpeg

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[airjordan223]

Here's another OE Sport sideshot

20200614_195103.jpg

[PDR Jack]

Here's another OE Sport sideshot

20200614_195103.jpg

AWESOME pic! THANKS!
Ya know what's funny - I mis-read what you had typed, so when I clicked the picture, in my head I thought I was looking at a pic of regular Sport Springs on it and I though to myself "fuck, that looks like the perfect height! I need to call the place I ordered my OEs from last night and see if I can cancel my order 'cuz I'm undecided once again."

Then I clicked back to the post and correctly read that those were OE Sports!
Yay! More confirmation that I chose correctly for what I'm aiming for. =)