Question about replacing springs with ones of different spring rates

[ThirdEye]

I recently purchased new Tein basic coilovers for my 97 A4 1.8TQMS. Tein does not make coilovers for my model car, and opted to install the S4/v6 model instead. I am very satisfied with the performance of the suspension on the street however it was made clear to me by AW members on the A4 forum that the spring rates aren't ideal for my car and might produce too much understeer. The spring rates on the Tein Basic S4 kit are : 900lbs/Front 560lbs/Rear. The fronts are obviously too stiff compared to the rears. Here is my question and something I am looking into: While Tein does not make a coilover kit for the B5 1.8T Quattro model, they do make a kit for the B5 1.8T FWD model, whose front suspension is identical to ours. This FWD coilover kit has a front spring rate of 560lbs, the same rate as that of the rear springs for the S4 Quattro model. These springs are available to be purchased seperately online for $90. If I was looking to reduce understeer and make my car more neutral, would it be beneficial to install the springs from the FWD model thus making my spring rates 560lbs all around?

[Tomasz@Startup]

560 F/R appear to be nice rates for the A4. The problem is that the damper was valved for the 900 front rate, and it may not work well with the 560 spring.

1. Does your car understeer a lot? If so, try what you mentioned or a real stiff rear bar 22mm.
2. Try the spring, and watch out for weird behavior. Too much rebound dampening will reduce grip - causing understeer and may allow the spring to completely compact on bumps. But I doubt that this will happen, I do not thin that the Teins are valved "perfecty" for the 900 spring. Who knows, to save money they may use the same shock... on the A4 and S4 kits.