Softest struts option for B8.5

[Nillious]

I'm going to be do all new control arms and struts soon. Car has 95k on it and all sorts of pops, clunks and strange creaking up front. The factory struts are still in place and feel like they are too stiff but at the same time, do not control rebound. Even going slow over speed bumps the front end feels like it has no rebound control. I think the car feels over sprung on all four corners, Overall the ride is horrible. We also have a 2016 GLI with same mileage and it feels like a firm but very controlled ride. Everything is not harsh and dampened well compared to the Audi. In the S4 every imperfection in the road feels so harsh. I'm not concerned with handling as I don't track the car or push it to its limits on the street. What is the softest option for the B8.5. Is it possible to do A4 springs and struts? I know its an S car but I think its a little ridiculous how it rides. Everything is so harsh. I have a the 18 inch wheels on touring tires as well. Suspension and drivetrain is 100% stock and original.

[Corydms7]

I just did KYB struts off rock auto. Exactly like oem ride.

[Smac770]

When you talk about the factory suspension options for type 8K (B8 A4), you have:

1BP, +23mm, allroad suspension
1BR, +13mm, rough roads suspension
1BA, +0mm, standard suspension
1BE, -20mm sport suspension for A models
1BD, -20mm S sport suspension for S models
1BV, -30mm "s-line" quattro Gmbh suspension, we didn't see that here; do not confuse it with "s-line" branded parts we did get here, like the seats, the steering wheel, the exterior, etc.

As an S4, you have the 1BD S sport suspension. 1BE and 1BD use different dampers, but use the same springs and anti-roll bars. I don't think just changing to 1BE dampers would do much if you consider 1BD really harsh. Going to 1BA would certainly be softer; you'd need to change springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars (along with minor parts like the bump stops and protective caps, etc). You'll also see a 20mm lift in the chassis. But you could take it up a notch with a +33mm lift with the 1BR components. Same springs as 1BA, but softer ARB and different dampers (probably just to implement the 13mm lift).

https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4.../a4q/2015-736/

As for aftermarket, no idea what you could expect with just third-party dampers while still riding on those sport springs and sport ARB. I don't know anyone who makes a comfort aftermarket suspension; they are all sport targeted.

[13s4grey]

If you can swing the PSS10 coilovers, i'd go with that. They're amazing all round. With the dampening set low, they ride amazing as well.

[Nillious]

Ive come to realize that a lot of the harshness is not the suspension stiffness or softness, but the fact that its shot. My ball joints and all my bushings up front are dead. Lots of pops and clunks and uncontrolled movement. I just received a Meyle HD front end kit today and now I just need some struts. This is the strut that comes up for the B8 A4 with sport suspension (1BE). Is there any reason it will not work in place of the factory damper with the 1BD suspension? https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein...19-171616~bil/

I plan to keep this car only a year or two more so I dont want to dump a lot of money into it with coilovers ect.. I just want a decent controlled ride without paying 250+ per strut. If its a little softer than stock, thats ok. I dont push it in the corners.

[Corydms7]

Rock auto says the KYB struts for my car are also listed under the A4 “sport suspension” but is stock suspension on our S4. Pretty much rode the same as my old struts in terms of stiffness.

Ive come to realize that a lot of the harshness is not the suspension stiffness or softness, but the fact that its shot. My ball joints and all my bushings up front are dead. Lots of pops and clunks and uncontrolled movement. I just received a Meyle HD front end kit today and now I just need some struts. This is the strut that comes up for the B8 A4 with sport suspension (1BE). Is there any reason it will not work in place of the factory damper with the 1BD suspension? https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein...19-171616~bil/

I plan to keep this car only a year or two more so I dont want to dump a lot of money into it with coilovers ect.. I just want a decent controlled ride without paying 250+ per strut. If its a little softer than stock, thats ok. I dont push it in the corners.

[Nillious]

Just to update this thread, I ended up going with Bilstein B4s. These with the new control arms I'm blown away with the ride. It is quiet and smooth. Everything is controlled yet plush feeling over bumps. I went with part number 19171616 listed as A4 with sport suspension. They are only 63 bucks each on rock auto. There is no B4 option listed for the S4 but they do fit no issues. I'm going to install the B4s in the rear as well probably in the next couple weeks.

[romanrnd]

Been looking into shocks and would also like to keep the ride as close to stock as possible. I'm on 034 springs. Do the B4s raise the car at all? Trying to keep the lower ride height.

[Nillious]

The front did raise up about a quarter inch but my control arm bushings were toast. My front used to be lower than the rear. You could see my old bushings that the strut fork bolted to was smashed down. The new one sits perfectly centered. I measured and all four corners are right at 27. I have 245 40 18s on factory wheels.

[Dynobruh]

Did your front end up ever dropping?

[Nillious]

Yes. It ended up dropping about a quarter inch.

[mlondon]

Reviving this older thread....

When you talk about the factory suspension options for type 8K (B8 A4), you have:

1BP, +23mm, allroad suspension
1BR, +13mm, rough roads suspension
1BA, +0mm, standard suspension
1BE, -20mm sport suspension for A models
1BD, -20mm S sport suspension for S models
1BV, -30mm "s-line" quattro Gmbh suspension, we didn't see that here; do not confuse it with "s-line" branded parts we did get here, like the seats, the steering wheel, the exterior, etc.

I have a 2014 A4 B8.5 - S-Line Prestige

Front struts need replacing. When I bought the car was living in an urban area with good roads, but now out in the country with tons of rough roads and potholes. I don't care about keeping the low-hung S-Line clearance. And I'm only going to be using the car another year or so, so like others on this thread, dont want to sink a lot of $$$.

- Can I put Standard or Rough Road Struts on the Front without also replacing the rear?

- My mechanic says that my control arms are worn, but steering is still pretty tight and tires are wearing evenly. Replacing those is a much more expensive job. All I care about is smoothing out the rough roads and potholes. Will the control arms make much of a difference?

[Smac770]

Control arms won't make a difference to ride feel. They are there to keep the wheels where they belong, not respond to bumps and dips.

You should normally change the dampers in conjunction with the springs, as the two work together for proper control. Are you on standard or sport springs? What's the PR code for your existing suspension? 1BA standard or 1BE sport or other? You could try just using the softer dampers and see how it goes, but doing only one end of the car, I'd wonder about how ride height will adjust and the resulting rake.

[LowKeyLoki]

Get the Bilstein B12 kit, price is about $850. Comes with Bilstein sport shocks/struts and Eibach pro springs.
Lowers ride height just about 0.5 niches all around but the ride quality is 100x better than the OEM suspension. Handles pot holes beautifully and eliminates almost all the body roll vs the standard suspension. But honestly if you are selling the car in a year why bother? Won?t even have time to enjoy a new suspension.