S4iowa

Those that have them or had a chance to experience at least two of these. I'm trying to weight the cost vs benefit here. Aggressive street and track a few times a year.

AVANT S4 KING

What about the KW's or Vogtlands?


I've driven an S4 with the SLs. I didn't really have the opportunity to push it to the limits (and even if I had the opportunity, I'm not sure I'd push it too hard in someone else's car). Anywho.....It's a very competent setup: great turning characteristics, virtually no roll or dive, but also very firm. It might be too firm for my tastes.

S4iowa

Searching comes up with many comments that they are linear springs, not progressive. But right on Bilstein's site, it says: "front and rear progressive rate springs " So???


And does anyone know the difference or why there are two part numbers for the PSS9?


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AUDI S4 4.2 V8 PSS9 KIT
Manufacturer: BILSTEIN
New part#: F4-GM5-A595-H1
List Price: $ 2392.00

Setting: 9-way Perf Susp Sys (PSS9)


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UDI S4 (8E) ;K;B16
Manufacturer: BILSTEIN
New part#: F4-GM5-A595-H2
List Price: $ 2911.00

Setting: 9-way Perf Susp Sys (PSS9)

2PUTT

they are linear. i have them. i love them.

RVTS4

I always change the fork and shock springs on my motorcycles to straight rate. I plan on the PSS9 in the near future, I am hoping to take a short trip to AWE to get them installed too.

Jet Jockey/A4 Pilot

I was the first to get coilovers in a B6 A4 in North America back in early 2002 and they were H&Rs.

They were OK but had issues at first with some of the parts but later these were solved. They are what I would consider a bottom of the pack kit.

I also had the PSS9s on my car, again I was the first B6 chassis car in North America to get these (bought them in Europe) at least a year before Bilstein brought them here. They are way superior to the H&Rs when it comes to the performance side of things. They do have about 6 adjustments clicks available through a rotary **** on the lower portion of the shock housing.

Also they do have main linear springs and some smaller progressive spring that are there just to keep things tight when the suspension is unloaded. These small springs do nothing for the handling. Some might find this kit too harsh for regular driving.

Now I cannot comment on the KW V3s which ride on progressive springs or the STaSIS/Ohlins SLs (linear springs) but I can tell that so far nothing comes close to the STaSIS/Ohlins MS kit.

Having had experience with the MS kit I can only assume that the SLs are a poor man's version with no adjustments (rebound/compression) but are probably superior to the PSS9s. Although the MS and SL shocks are not the same, Ohlins as a very good reputation in racing and for fast reacting shocks which is very good for performance.

FYI; progressive springs ride softer because the spring is wound in a way that allows a softer ride at first until it slowly progress into their linear portion.

A linear spring's winding is constant top to bottom allowing no play which is a lot better for handling.

Personally I would go for the STaSIS/Ohlins SLs if I were you.


<b>Progressive springs.</b>

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/46874/progressivesprings.jpg">


<b>Linear springs.</b>

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/46874/linearsprings.jpg">

S4iowa

But there seems to be a conflict of information based on what I've found people saying here on a search vs what Bilstein's site says about the PSS9. Just wondering if there is data out there somewhere to support either comment,

Can you elaborate on the harsh feeling of the PSS9? As ride feel is usually attributed to the shock.

Also any idea on the two different part numbers?

And lastly, interaction with sways. Would I still want to go with Hsport RS4's? Does this need go away when going up to an SL possibly since spring rates might be higher?

bpp

H Sport sway story, purely subjective of course...initially in '06 I had H Sport S4 rear only with oe Conti's on, 'felt better', tail rotated alittle in wet, but tires were an issue on dry surfaces. Thinking I wanted to 'tighten' it up a bit, I added the front H Sport bar &lt;bad move&gt;, same tires...understeer was worse than oe and I scrubbed allot of speed, no rotation in corners, really &lt;bad&gt; understeer...back to oe front bar...but...last year, I really did it...Ohlins SL, Dunlop Direzza Z1's, oe front bar, H Sport S4 rear bar, aggressive street/track 4-wheel alignment per STaSIS specs.. Huge difference...understeer was far less apparent (too much so), plowing was gone, car rotated much easier and on long sweepers I could get the rear to take a set. In one event I was too hot into a sharp right-hander and the rear came around on me and was totally unexpected.
I learned from each step how the sway bar affects the cornering ability. Tighten the rear up first really helps to overcome the understeer, tighten up the front and you reverse the process.

One HUGE difference I see with Ohlins SL v H&amp;R v PSS9...look at the spring rates front/rear. Ohlins rear rates are almost 50% stiffer than the front rates and a clear indication STaSIS is working to reduce the understeer on this beast. .02

2PUTT

i initially only had PSS9's (setting 6F/4R). added the H-Sport S4 sways later and the car felt like a pogo stick. adjusted the rear dampers up to 6. the car felt great! i have since upgraded the rear to the stiffer H-Sport RS4 and the car still rides like a champ.

Jet Jockey/A4 Pilot

This was sent to me by the European distributor that sold me the kit.

IIRC (it's been a while) the springs that came with my kit had a rating of around 500 lbs and I think they went up to 550 lbs for the S4 kit.

Someone selling these kits should be able to get you the exact numbers.

Also the shock used in this kit is of linear rate type.

As for the harsh ride it really depends on what you are willing to live with. Me, I'm nuts and I loved the PSS9s. They are definitely stiffer than the H&amp;Rs and perhaps to some "less comfortable" because they are too harsh for their personal taste. As a reference the STaSIS/Ohlins MS kit with far stiffer springs rides better and handles better, it's in a league of its own. Those Ohlins on that kit are simply amazing. Perhaps the SLs sit in between the PSS9s and the MS kit as far as ride control and handling are concerned.

Because the front and rear springs on the PSS9s are rated the same a set of H-Sport sway bars may be required if you really want the car to be more tail happy. However with the STaSIS/Ohlins SL kit with a difference in front to rear spring rating a sway bar kit may not be needed, again depending on your driving.

You will notice from the info that all the main springs (front and rear) are exactly the same (linear) and have the same rating. Unless Bilstein as changed the kit recently it should be the same now. You will also see a chart with info on the helper springs which are progressive. These springs are not there in anyway to help the main springs in the ride comfort or handling of the car but rather are there to keep the suspension tight when unloaded.

Hope this answers most of your questions.

The blue spring on the left is from the original PSS9 kit. You can see that they are a linear type spring.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/46874/pss901.jpg">


You can see the whole strut assembly here with the main linear spring at the top with an aluminium resting plate in the middle and with the progressive helper spring at the bottom resting on the height adjuster.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/46874/pss902.jpg">


Here's the part list from the PSS9 kit. You can see that the parts listed on the "front" second row and the parts listed on the "rear" second row are the same. Those are the main linear springs.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/46874/pss903.jpg">


Here are the actual specs for the progressive "helper" springs. Again second row shows "progressive".

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/46874/pss904.jpg">


Here are the actual specs for the linear "main" springs. Again second row you see them listed as linear.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/46874/pss905.jpg">