A4 "Bouncy Suspension"

[bryno]

I have a 2002 2.5Tdi Avant SE and the most annoying part of ownership is the "bouncy" ride over some of our rough British roads, it feels like the damper settings are all wrong. The car is just coming up to 60kmiles.

Is there a recommended mod for this that does not include lowering the ride height or changing the wheels/tyres (I run Contis on standard 16")

Is there a magic damper and or springs that I can fit to sort out the bouncing. I also tow a caravan so I don't want to upset towing ability.

Cheers
Bryno

[Marco34]

I have a 2002 2.5Tdi Avant SE and the most annoying part of ownership is the "bouncy" ride over some of our rough British roads, it feels like the damper settings are all wrong. The car is just coming up to 60kmiles.

Is there a recommended mod for this that does not include lowering the ride height or changing the wheels/tyres (I run Contis on standard 16")

Is there a magic damper and or springs that I can fit to sort out the bouncing. I also tow a caravan so I don't want to upset towing ability.

Cheers
Bryno

Are you referring to a firm ride or an un-damped feeling within the car?

[bryno]

Undamped feeling in the car

[Tubo]

Hey Guys

Have the same problem with my A4 2002 feel as if the is no shocks for the rear end, car feel as if you are on a bumpy road. Had the shocks tested and they are fine.:1zhelp: Is this a common prob.

[bryno]

Yes it would appear to be, one of the crticisms of this model by the motoring press at launch was the "bouncy" ride. On smooth "German Type" roads its fine on British worn out and knackered A & B roads the car bounces as if the damper set up is all wrong. Its not the firm ride it feels as if the damper rates are all wrong, I've bought this car with 5000miles as an ex-demonstrator its now done 60000 and has always behaved this way.

So any one got any tips on damper/spring replacements to cure this issue without changing ride height wheels or tyres or compromising towing ability?

As I said before I use Contis on 16"

[Marco34]

Yes it would appear to be, one of the crticisms of this model by the motoring press at launch was the "bouncy" ride. On smooth "German Type" roads its fine on British worn out and knackered A & B roads the car bounces as if the damper set up is all wrong. Its not the firm ride it feels as if the damper rates are all wrong, I've bought this car with 5000miles as an ex-demonstrator its now done 60000 and has always behaved this way.

So any one got any tips on damper/spring replacements to cure this issue without changing ride height wheels or tyres or compromising towing ability?

As I said before I use Contis on 16"

Bryno

I have a 2001 A4 with a sports suspension and it does not bounce! When you say bounce, I am imaging the car not settling down over bumps and generally feeling springy! My car cetainly feels firm but also damped! I have 16" wheels also and I don't think I would want to stray bigger than these on our roads. My trip to work covers some seriously bad roads.

With such low mileage I can't see there being any problems with your car. Is it a sport suspension?? I find the car setup superb, you can feel the road and it corners exceptionally well and no sign of bounce. What were you used to prior?
When I get in other cars I feel there is no road feel and generally a sloppy drive, even more bounce than the A4 due to the soft suspension.

There maybe after market shocks you could look at?? Sorry I can't be of more help.

Cheers

Marco

[bryno]

Just sold the car that started this thread with 75k miles, my original comments on the ride still hold. I bought the 2.5tdi A4 as a long term tow car thinking it would be a good one. I tow a caravan that weighs just under 1300 kg laden so the car should be well capable of towing the van.
No problem with torque/power but the bouncy ride towing is very uncomfortable on British B roads and yes the van is loaded correctly but not to the max towhitch noseweight limit for my van of 90kg as the A4 towbar noseweight is a max 80kg.
Today I picked up a year old Nissan X trail with 170ps and 310Nm of torque, similar weight to Audi but capable of taknig 100kg noseweight which should be better for towing, I will let you know when I get a hitch fitted.
What is surprising is the ride quality of the Nissan compared to the A4 Avant over our crap rural Essex roads, its a revelation.
I will miss some aspects of my Audi but not the poor damping and bouncy ride on poor British roads. This time I think the motoring journalists have got it right as this model was slated for its ride when it came out, now I agree with them.

[Marco34]

I have 17" on the A4 and thinks it's quite smooth considering our roads. Have a pootle in a TT!!! that's the meaning of hard! Still not bouncy though. I think your A4 was suspect!! ;)

[RickT]

Just sold the car that started this thread with 75k miles, my original comments on the ride still hold. I bought the 2.5tdi A4 as a long term tow car thinking it would be a good one. I tow a caravan that weighs just under 1300 kg laden so the car should be well capable of towing the van.
No problem with torque/power but the bouncy ride towing is very uncomfortable on British B roads and yes the van is loaded correctly but not to the max towhitch noseweight limit for my van of 90kg as the A4 towbar noseweight is a max 80kg.
Today I picked up a year old Nissan X trail with 170ps and 310Nm of torque, similar weight to Audi but capable of taknig 100kg noseweight which should be better for towing, I will let you know when I get a hitch fitted.
What is surprising is the ride quality of the Nissan compared to the A4 Avant over our crap rural Essex roads, its a revelation.
I will miss some aspects of my Audi but not the poor damping and bouncy ride on poor British roads. This time I think the motoring journalists have got it right as this model was slated for its ride when it came out, now I agree with them.

Just one thing to add.

My Dad has a SE 1.9TDI Quattro 2003 and tows a caravan also, the SE does feel a bit softer than the sport spring and damper set up, but he has no problems at all.

Sounds like the car needed the dampers checking.... Did it bounce a few times when you pushed down on the front wings and rear?

Rick

[spartacus 68]

I have a 2001 B5 2.5TDI Quattro Avant with sport suspension. Probably the other extreme - in that it's unforgiving over potholes, and isn't the most comfortable. Our roads are nothing short of a national disgrace. Got a flat tyre last night on my bike - from a bleed'n pothole!:mad:

Although you've now sold the car - it's not uncommon for shock absorbers to fail at 60k, and I'd have investigated further to see if this was the cause. They don't necessarily need to leak - but a sure sign they're shot is undampened movement.;)

[bryno]

The car always behaved like this, I had it as an ex demo with 5k on the clock. It always passed a "Bounce test" ie rebounded once, there was no leaks evident on any dampers and it always sailed through the MOT. Personally I don't think there was anything"wrong" with my particular car its just the damper set up was unresolved as quoted by many journalists who critisised the B6 at launch for its ride.

[Dave Avant]

I had the same. I have the std suspension. It was more high speed humps that upset it and it would wallow about like a water bed. Some say upto 30K miles is the life for dampers. Mine has done 86K.

It bugged me so I went to Euro car parts and bought replacement dampers which are Bilstein. Made it alot tauter, feels like a new car to drive. The suspension is still 'soft' but more controlled, if I wanted it firmer then I'd get sport springs. Things like changing direction and sudden braking are more controlled with out it diving.

The original dampers didn't show any signs of leaking or being worn but if you compressed the rod and pulled it and then when you went to push it back it, it just dropped with no resisitance.