777lee777

Why will a slight shaving of stock coil springs mess up the DRC (as I thought DRC is purely mechancial)? Thanks.

musanoadsaba

If you remove the coils, you have to discharge and recharge your drc. For that expense, you might as well just put in coilovers.

sakimano

I wouldn't mind looking into the SS option as a suspension adjustment/modification. I don't want a ghetto looking ultra low car, nor do I want a rough riding clunker. I like DRC...but wouldn't mind a slightly lower ride height.

777lee777

I agree. I like DRC... just wish the front height matched the rear. I definitely don't want a dramaticaly lower car or a rough rider... in fact the stock DRC ride and rear height is perfect for me... just looking for 1/2" off the front.

777lee777

How much expense to discharge and recharge DRC?

ArthurPE

mine oem, ground to fender lip along wheel centerline (")
F 26.6
R 26

had H&R's put on during the DRC service action
F 26
R 25.5

I really like the ride and look of the DRC with the H&R's, yes I've heard all the doom and gloom scenarios, I'm not worried, these will not make the DRC explode, lol

ELEVENS

The car's stance is the way it is for a good reason, and I don't buy that it's purpose is anything other than for handling. But if you want show before go, I suppose you could always install the Euro Supersport Plus spring in the front only. Just make sure that you modify the DRC hose supports, because that's what different on the SS+ shock compared to the normal suspension shock. If you don't those hoses won't last a year and they're $350 each, plus a DRC recharge of course.

ArthurPE

the H & R set-up is the same height as the SS+, a few guys in the UK measured it for me
rear is the same 25.5
my front is a bit lower 26 vs 26.25 (mine might be 26.1)

the 1/2" drop is no different than a fully loaded car would drop, maybe less
the supports/hose must have enough range of motion or they would be constricted/damaged under rebound/compression during normal use

the dealer, his sr tech and AoA saw no issues with it

ELEVENS

I had H&R sport springs on my E39 M5. Loved them.

Here is what happens if you don't modify the hose fittings/supports after installing SS+ springs without the SS+ shocks. My dealer installed the SS+ springs, then a year later my suspension started clunking and this is what we found - a big oily mess. The instructions for the modified fittings came directly from the factory in Germany.

ArthurPE

another thing to consider is loaded right height

unloaded static is higher, I'm not sure what the RS4 spring rates are but guessing F/R 350/500 (based on loading/unloading the car and measuring the delta) or so (another factor is are they progressive, I don't think oem are but H&R may be)

also it loads differently, front seats are evenly distributed 50/50, rears ~35/65 (based on the lever moment) and trunk almost all on the rear, plus you have fuel load variation in the rear

having said that say you have 400 lbs in the front 2 seats or ~100/corner
the front would drop 100/350 ~0.30" the rears 100/500 or 0.2
put 400 in the back and 100 in the truck and it starts to equalize
F ~ 135/350 ~0.4 and R ~ 165/500 ~0.33 or with trunk 215/500 ~ 0.43
so in most cases the front drops a bit more than the rear and the difference equalizes

I'm sure this is factored in when determining spring rates
the H&R are a bit stiffer so may drop a bit less

these are guessimates, but you get the drift