ErikS4

Hi all! I just picked up a beautiful 1994 S4 a week ago and I'm in love with it. I've had a Stage 3 B5 S4 for many years followed by a 2002 C5 S6... but the C4 urS4 is special.

Here's my question, I'm considering the H&R Race springs vs. the Sport springs. I am not a fan of progressive rates, so I really want to avoid the Sport springs if possible.

Anyone here running the Race springs on their daily drivers? How is the ride? Also, does anyone know the spring rates on them and what the factory spring rates are by comparison.

Finally, I understand that I might want to use Bilstein Sports rather than the HD shocks because the Sports are shorter. Does that really matter though? I assume that the only issue would be when the car is off the ground, I would need to make sure the springs stay in the perches as I lower the car right? Am I missing another issue?

Thank you!

Erik

UrS4boy

A few things:

1. H&Rs have a history of breaking on C4 UrS4/S6s fronts, at least in the states and provinces that use a lot of salt on the road. The issue seems to be that the plastic covers on the springs crack and salty water gets in there and corrodes the spring until it gets too weak and breaks. The good news is H&R has been replacing them under warranty to the original purchaser.

2. Most people find the Sports to lower the car enough (more than Eibachs did) and are quite stiff. The race springs are very stiff and will not be pleasant off the track.

3. Both the H&R Sport and Race springs lower the front of the car so much that there is no way to bring the camber back close to even the high end of OE spec. This means you will need a set of modified camber plates (Google "Igor mod") or 2Bennett fully adjustable (caster and camber) strut mounts. These further add to the harshness because they have no rubber in them.

4. Definitely go with shocks that are designed for shorter springs, i.e. the Bilstein Sports, not the HDs.

Lots of folks like the 29800s



YMMV

ErikS4

Awesome. Thank you for the detailed answer!