S4 suspension question

[monkshood]

I’m trying to acquire the parts for a suspension rebuild. My car is a A4 2.8 avant quattro with sports suspension code 1BE. I have recently bought a set of low mileage S4 springs code 1BD and after checking part numbers I have found that the S4 has the same rear shocks as mine but the fronts are different. They also have a different lower spring seat. The S4 front/rear upper arms and the lower front arms also have a different part numbers listed.

The questions are


1. Do I need to use S4 arms with the S4 spring/shock set-up or replace the existing arms like for like?

2. What are the differences between the arms? Are they different lengths i.e. for geometry? Bush or ball joint sizes?

3. Can I use my existing sports front shocks with a S4 lower spring seat?

4. Are there any other S4 suspension parts that are different to the sports set-up?

Many thanks in advance.

[I_am_stealth]

I have no idea if this helps you, but I have had a lot of trouble with my rear suspension in the past. Tyre wear, etc. So I have looked into it. I can confirm that the 1.9tdi Quattro from 1997 ( which is my car) has the 1BE running gear too. Now this is the SPORT running gear as Audi describes it. I would imagine the rear at least should be identical to yours.
Do you have 5 or 6 speeds on yours? I have 5 and I miss the 6th. I am thinking of replacing the gearbox with something that has 6 gears, but I don't think I coud modify anything easily enough to be worth it..

[adamss24]

I’m trying to acquire the parts for a suspension rebuild. My car is a A4 2.8 avant quattro with sports suspension code 1BE. I have recently bought a set of low mileage S4 springs code 1BD and after checking part numbers I have found that the S4 has the same rear shocks as mine but the fronts are different. They also have a different lower spring seat. The S4 front/rear upper arms and the lower front arms also have a different part numbers listed.

The questions are


1. Do I need to use S4 arms with the S4 spring/shock set-up or replace the existing arms like for like?

2. What are the differences between the arms? Are they different lengths i.e. for geometry? Bush or ball joint sizes?

3. Can I use my existing sports front shocks with a S4 lower spring seat?

4. Are there any other S4 suspension parts that are different to the sports set-up?

Many thanks in advance.

S4 used stiffer springs and shocks with different damping rates. Balljoints are the same if you have cast iron carrier if alloy then the lower balljoints are different. Rear is the same across the range. The s4 also used a different steering rack and solid Track rod ends up front. I have upgraded my shocks to rs4 shocks and eibach springs all round. I also fitted a 32mm eibach antiroll bar + poli bushes, solid TRE, a rear quattro GMBH 17mm antiroll bar and rs4 upper/lower rear arms. The car is stiff but i can live with that. 034 Motorsport also feature adjustable susp. arms, billet rosejointed rear wishbones and adjustable tie rod ends + solid subframe bushes. I dont think i will ever go any stiffer than mine allready is as on uk motorways you can fee every dip, on autobahn its a different story and it stays planted at speeds over 140mPH after wich it becames twitchy. Mine is a motorway sleeper wich is cappable of speeds of 160Mph and its in use daily, not bad for a v6 tdi quattro, innit ?

[monkshood]

Thanks all for your advise. I will just change shocks and springs. All my arms seem in very good condition so i'll leave them and see if all ok afterwards. My rear springs look shot, one of them seems compressed at the bottom. Maybe it's snapped, not bad though for a 195k car. Good old Audi.