Digil

Hello,

I just got a used 1999 Audi A8 recently and love it. I love its comfort, acceleration and look. It's a great build!

I recently noticed some sounds from the suspension which always concerned me. So I removed the rear passenger tire on my garage and noticed a ring on the rear suspension coil spring was broken. So I started looking online and looks like Audi parts sells three variants:

1) 4D0511115AE - Rear; 1 Green Mark; 1 Green Marks
2) 4D0511115AC - Rear; 2 Violet Marks
3) 4D0511115AG - Rear; 3 Green Marks

What's the difference? What are those colors referring to? OEM seems to be $300 a piece. But due to budget constraints, I have to look for aftermarket too. Any ideas on good brands? Sorry if this question was already addressed before in this forum.

Cheers,
-Digil

MikkiJayne

The different springs are all different strengths, matched to different car specs and ride height. You need to match the paint marks to what is already on the car for it to ride the same as stock, although tbh if you're replacing with new it is prudent to replace both. Older springs will have lost a little of their strength and so the handling may be a bit odd, and chances are if one has broken already the other one will be going soon.

Your three codes are for the following options:

1) 4D0511115AE - Rear; 1 Green Mark PR-0YS, 2.8 litre quattro
2) 4D0511115AC - Rear; 2 Violet Marks PR-0YQ, 3.7 litre FWD
3) 4D0511115AG - Rear; 3 Green Marks PR-0YU, V8 quattro with electric seats (really!) or towing facility

There are loads of other variants for the '99 though so it would be really helpful if you could see what marks are on them at the moment.

If you can't see any marks on them then the data sticker in the spare wheel well or service book gives all the option codes. You're looking for something 0Y_ which denotes the suspension version (as above). The correct code and paint marks can be looked up from that

Digil

Awesome! Thanks for your quick response. Makes total sense...

I'll go check them right away. If it comes down to bending down and looking at the spring, do I need to remove the tire? (just feeling a little lazy today)

-Akshay

nyrobbie77

It'd be much easier to look at the spring with the tire off.

The right rear spring on my '97 A8 was broken when I bought it as well. What is it about that side spring? I ended up buying a set of Eibach springs. You can buy the whole set for less than one OEM spring. They lowered the car slightly and the ride/handling was good with them. I did not replace the struts at that time. I drove on them for 40k miles with the OE struts and never had a problem with pogo-ing or blowing out a shock. The ride on main roads was very good but the ride on back roads, the kind with no lane markings, was definitely stiff. It didn't seem to ride much better on the same roads with the OEM springs.

MikkiJayne

Right rear on mine too! Weird in the UK as the potholes are usually on the left side.

Agreed on changing the full set - that's what I did on mine too, but with Bilsteins.