A4 B9 Avant 2017 sport suspension to comfort suspension

[Jasonharper]

Does anyone know if it is possible to change factory original sport suspension to comfort suspension just by changing springs and shock absorbers to Audi original part numbers (of comfort suspension) or to after market parts? I assume that alignment/ adjustment of wheels is needed also?

I know usually owners changes to the lower and sportier suspension. I lately bought a used car but later felt that sport suspension is too stiff for my taste.

 

[El_Me]

I should be like you said, but software adjustments/adaptations to more than a few systems should be carried out afterwards with ODIS.

Driving standard or comfort suspension before is a must. Apparently there isn't such a noticeable difference. Try out for yourself.

I have a standard suspension with 17" wheels on and to me the ride can be best described as slightly harsh. Rear end especially.
Don't know how can someone with 19" without adaptive suspension set to comfort manage.
Roads I drive on are decent btw.

 

[Aldi-Sport Chap]

As El Me says do try one before setting off on an expensive re-fit. I'm going from Comfort on 17" to sport on 19" having had a hire car in the latter set up for a month and much preferred it. To me there was more of a subtle improvement and it's no where near as harsh as, say, a BMW F30 with runflats. Overall the stiffer set up is more to my taste. Less wallowy so family don't get sick and it doesn't float when pressing on like the soft set up does. And I don't drive that fast! Ideally I'd have had 18" wheels for kerb protection but it isn't an option now.
It is telling that Audi no longer offer the wallowy set up as a no cost option on S-Line and above. As well as compromising handling, it did look silly sitting higher with /35 section tyres.

 

[Jasonharper]

I have now driven the same model with comfort suspension. It wasn't either good compared to my previous BMW F31 with standard suspension. A week ago I went to a local suspension specialist workshop. Based on their and few other recommendations ordered standard springs and Koni Special Actives. The car is going to be 1,5-2,0 cm higher, but for me it is ok as where I live we have long winters and often lot of snow. Koni SA's delivery time is about 6-10 weeks. Long weeks for me.

 

[El_Me]

Long weeks indeed... can't wait to hear your impressions.
How much for the KONI set?

 

[Jasonharper]

Long weeks indeed... can't wait to hear your impressions.
How much for the KONI set?

Here in Finland full set (four corners) is about 500€ based on indicative offer. I expect the final price will be little higher.

As you can see from the pic, in some circumstances with the sport suspension the car body looks like diving, specially the rear end. Ski box and trunk are empty, so there is no additional weight pushing the rear down.

 

[Jasonharper]

I went to workshop on last Tuesday as they emailed that Special Active's has arrived. It was nice surprise as they told me it takes 10 weeks.

My car has 1BE suspension code thus should have 53mm clamping area size at front. Surprisingly when they took the front wheels off and measured the clamping size, they got 49mm which is S-line model (1BV) suspension's size. Little bit confused how this is possible. It also mean that the installation was postponed until early June when new 49mm Special Active's are estimated to arrive.

 

[El_Me]

Looking at the attached photo, your car does look like an sport suspension.
Sorry to hear that.

 

[El_Me]

Any updates on this? Is the difference noticable?

 

[Jasonharper]

Update from me. It is very difficult or even impossible to get Koni Special Active's from factory as a consumer. They postpone their production window time after time. I have called several times directly to Koni factory here in Europe. They say they are waiting for certain number of orders to schedule a production window for Special Active's. I was also informed they are lack of some raw materials due to global situation. My guess is they keep manufacturing their volume models and fulfilling orders they have from car manufacturers. Car industry subcontracting agreements may include remarkable penalties if not able to deliver, thus these consumer origin orders are handled with low priority.

I decided to go with Bilstein B4's as it takes just one week to have those.

 

[Jasonharper]

About Koni SA prices, it would have cost me 507€ for all corners including 24% tax. Bilstein B4's are only 340€.

 

[Cdealy]

Hi Jason

I’m really curious about your suspension change. Did you get the Bilstein B4s and what difference did they make?

I have a B9 A5 S-Line with 18” wheels and I find the ride uncomfortable on long journeys.

// Chris

 

[Jasonharper]

Yes, I got Bilstein B4's to each corner. The car is A4 B9 Avant 2.0TDI Stronic 2017. Suspension components are now

Front: Bilstein B4 24-303828 (49mm clamping size) and Lesjöfors 4004323
Rear: Bilstein B4 24-262347 and Lesjöfors 4204311

Car is comfortable in lower speeds, but in higher speeds on bumpy roads the front damping is not enough and thus the ride is little bit bouncy. I found it very difficult to adjust the suspension as there are many different axle weight ranges and spring and damping rates available. You really should check first that springs are for your car's axle weights. Audi has lot of different OE numbers for springs. I noticed that Lesjöfors is promoting product number 4004324 as front springs to my car, but when comparing OE numbers and axle weights, the right model is 4004323. Spring vendors do not disclose any spring rates and shock vendors do not disclose any damping rates for shocks, thus very challenging to adjust suspension to right and reasonable settings. In future I would rather change car than trying to build totally new suspension by choosing springs and shocks based on publicly available product information which is not enought for planning desired / balanced spring and damping rates.

 

[Cdealy]

Thanks for the update, Jason. In fact I have a set of Koni ‘special active dampers’ (formerly known as FSD) on order for my Audi A5 B9 Sportback S-Line mit der “schporty” suspension. Fingers crossed. It may be significant that Koni make different SA dampers for the Standard and Sport suspension, which I think you mentioned earlier.

 

[mulder85]

Thanks for the update, Jason. In fact I have a set of Koni ‘special active dampers’ (formerly known as FSD) on order for my Audi A5 B9 Sportback S-Line mit der “schporty” suspension. Fingers crossed. It may be significant that Koni make different SA dampers for the Standard and Sport suspension, which I think you mentioned earlier.

Hey there,

If you managed to get the Konis, would you be able to provide some feedback? Did they improve your ride?