[s-cars] Bilstein shocks: "HD" or "Sport" with stock springs?

[JAM]

It's my understanding that the sports and HDs share the same valving.  The
difference is the length of the piston in the struts.....as you stated, the
sports are for lowered cars.  To my knowledge, there aren't any firmer but
stock ride height springs out there.  A nice compromise many have made is to
use the OEM sport springs which lower the car maybe a 1/2",  still use the
HD struts and benefit the handling substantially.  My avant had H&R sports
with Bilstein Sports and it rode/handled great.  My sedan has HDs on stock
springs and, sadly, I feel the handling (predictably)/ride quality (not
predictably) isn't as good as it was in my avant.  
I'm sure others will have their own opinions but this is my experience.
Jason Mawhinney
'95 S6 avant
'83 urq
'99.5 Jetta TDI


-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Thomas Rodriguez
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 3:38 PM
To: s-car-list
Subject: [s-cars] Bilstein shocks: "HD" or "Sport" with stock springs?

I am getting ready to replace the OEM shocks and struts in my 1995 S6 sedan
with new Bilsteins.  I have done some reading about Bilsteins on the
Quattroworld forum and some parts websites, and I see I can purchase these
in either heavy duty (HD) or Sport configuration.  I plan to keep the stock
springs so I don't lose ground clearance (the roads in my area suck), but I
would like a stiffer ride for crisper handling.

Since I am keeping the stock springs/ride height, should I get the HD or
Sport shocks and struts?  If either will work, what's the difference in
drive feel between the two?  Some of the websites I've visited specify that
the Sport shocks are for a lowered suspension.

Are there springs available that would privide a stiffer ride without losing
ground clearance? Do springs "go soft" after 18 years, and would there be
any benefit in swapping my existing original springs for new OEM springs?

Tom
'95 S6 (240k miles)
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