Need help on spring rates for Ohlins SL

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

Hey fellow Audi experts. Need help deciding whether to get Swift Metric springs in 784lb Front/1232lb or 672lb/1120lb

I am also installing 034 rear sway and spherical links they recently released. Since I have a 25quattro my car already had rs4 rear sway bar and the 034 will be 120% stiffer in the first adjustment setting. Since I use the car as a DD with modest track time, any advice will be appreciated. I was thinking with a stiffer bar I don’t need to go withe the higher spring rate in rear. However the front is a mystery if the 672 will be more comfortable on daily commutes. Thanks

#2

I would go with the 784/1232 personally.

I am using Ohlin’s on my RS4 with 750/1200 Hyperco’s and everything is good. Ride is actually the same or slightly better than stock in normal driving. Highway expansion joints are slightly more jarring but not by much. Handling is improved tremendously. I had 850/1300 springs as well but ended up selling them prior to install as I have 2 little kids and was worried about turning my “luxury car” into a car that wouldn’t be comfortable on the road.

I am also using the 034 sway on its “soft” setting right now as I was waiting until I got the 034 endlinks (shipment was delayed) to put the sway on the stiff setting. I’ll change it around in spring. I went to the track shortly after installation of the rear sway and the car definitely has less understeer, but I don’t think going even stiffer will really hurt things. The car is such an understeering pig stock that all these changes make just incremental improvements.

#3

If you’re spending the $ on swifts, get the 14k/22k…I wouldn’t do less on an S4 unless you’re running narrow/hard/weak tires. I know several owners (including myself) running that setup with no complaints. I would do 672/1120 on a street driven A4…

#4

Kiolade9 so with a stiff rear sway over stock you are saying 14/22 as opposed to 20 in the rear? Mainly daily drive - will there be noticeable difference with 2KG difference ?

#5

It’s more uncomfortable going with stiffer sways vs. stiffer springs… Running the 22k out back with that bar on the softer setting will be your best bet vs. trying to run softer springs and the stiffer setting on the sway. I used to run my 29mm sway on full stiff for a year or two and got sick of it being so rigid on the street (tripod-ing on driveways), that I went to the softer setting on the rear and an OEM front bar…I haven’t looked back. On a buddy’s S4, he went with 1100s at first with the 29mm sway, then swapped out to 22k rears and has no regrets either… I haven’t ran the 034 bar so I can’t attest to where that compares with the Hotchkis, but I’m guessing its within the same range…

Your overall ride will be dictated by the dampers themselves, and if you’re going with the ohlins, you’ll be just fine.

#6

Thanks man