Suspension issues

[Condi]

Just acquired an Audi A4 from 1998 with 180,000 miles on the clock and it feels like its on original suspension. The ride is firm, yet the body roll round corners is unbelievable. Would this be an anti-roll bar issue, or a new springs and shocks job? I suspect the latter, and if so, can anyone give me an idea of the cost for a new set dropping in?

[BritishRacinGrin]

It doesn't ride or handle because it's an Audi. Hope that helps.

[BritishRacinGrin]

In all seriousness, saggy springs over healthy dampers or ARB bushes. Check the tyre pressures too.

[littleredrooster]

Yup, sounds about right. Every Audi I drove from that era was over sprung and underdamped with poor roll- control.

[AC43]

littleredrooster said:

Yup, sounds about right. Every Audi I drove from that era was over sprung and underdamped with poor roll- control.

Agree I had a very harsh yet bouncy A4 loaner in the mid-90's, Way over sprung and underdamped.

[Sump]

Yup, that's not a suspension issue.

[BritishRacinGrin]

If it was over sprung, it wouldn't be suffering excessive body roll. Overly firm dampers can also cause an overly firm ride... Hence my suggestion that it could be that the dampers have been replaced but the old saggy springs have been re-used.

[Condi]

AC43 said:

littleredrooster said:

Yup, sounds about right. Every Audi I drove from that era was over sprung and underdamped with poor roll- control.

Agree I had a very harsh yet bouncy A4 loaner in the mid-90's, Way over sprung and underdamped.

So can something be done about it then? Are there replacement aftermarket parts which will correct the ride or is this it and I have to learn to live with it?

[abbotsmike]

I would wager that some of the comments are at least partially tongue in cheeck or just trotting out stereotypes. On a car with that mileage I'd look at getting it up in the air and checking out dampers, springs, arb bushes, droplinks, wishbone bushes etc. If things are original they will be tired by now.

[10 Pence Short]

A 16 year old car on 180,000 miles with original suspension is going to have at the very least tired bushes all around. Springs will be worn as will shocks. Sadly, the cost of doing everything 'properly' might be worth more than the car, but I'd imagine if you've got the ability to fit yourself (or a mate) the parts themselves won't be ridiculous.

[RobM77]

Most cars that I've owned have noticeable suspension wear after 30k miles, enough to start annoying me slightly at 60k miles, and I normally get everything replaced at 80-90k. It is perfectly possible to run a car to 180k though on the original suspension, with the possible exception of the dampers, which often start to leak through age and over-use, which supports the above theories of new dampers and everything else being standard. Note that garages normally say everything's fine up till about 150k

[ShaunTheSheep]

'98 A4, do they not have a fairly complex multi link setup?

Wonder if you could get a deal on all the control arms and rose joints together with a name brand OEM like lemforder or trw for not much more than a man in an audi shirt fitting 1 arm from an audi box.

[Condi]

10 Pence Short said:

A 16 year old car on 180,000 miles with original suspension is going to have at the very least tired bushes all around. Springs will be worn as will shocks. Sadly, the cost of doing everything 'properly' might be worth more than the car, but I'd imagine if you've got the ability to fit yourself (or a mate) the parts themselves won't be ridiculous.

I can do some stuff, but lack the tools needed for suspension work probably. I'm not adverse to spending a few hundred notes on it if it made it handle 'properly'. Might see how much a mechanic friend will do it for. The parts are pretty cheap. Few quid per bush, and just over £100 a corner for spring and damper assembly.

[BritishRacinGrin]

It's quite a lot of work. Are you sure you're going to get your moneys worth out of it?