[s-cars] Bilsteins HD vs Sport for 95.5 S6 Avant

[Lee Levitt]

Chris writes:
>
> I have the stock springs on the S6 Avant and wish to go with
> Bilsteins as a suspension upgrade. I dont know much about the
> differences between HD vs Sport.
>
> Does having stock springs on an Avant rule out HD or the Sport Bilstein?
>
> Which one is preferred for city and highway driving, HD or Sport Bilstein?
>

Chris,

When I first started to modify my S6 avant two years ago, I had to replace a
bad rear OE shock. The only shocks available at that time were Sports, and I
did not intend to lower the car.

I talked with a Bilstein tech rep, who said that the only difference between
the HD and Sport shocks is that the latter has a shorter shaft allowing for
a shorter spring. Otherwise they are identical in specifications and
performance. No difference in firmness. The rep indicated that using a sport
spring on a stock car would not be a problem, and I had a set of sports
installed.

My understanding is that the only issue in using a sport spring on a stock
car is shock extension - ie, if you put the car on a lift, the shock piston
would fully extend. Bilstein said no problem there.

I ran the car for some months with the Sports...and then decided the car had
to be lowered. The fact that I went with Sports made the incremental upgrade
much easier. The car still rides very well, with no harshness at all.

So, if you have no intention of lowering the car, then you can go with
either. However, if you think there's *any* chance that you'll be lowering
the car, Sports is the way to go.

Be warned...these cars drive you to do incremental upgrades...go with the
sports :)

HTH,

Lee
'95.5 S6 avant (Bilstein Sports, Eibach springs)
'96 A6 quattro avant