S4 suspension: higher than my A4 1.8TQ Sport!
 

I saw a new S4 last night at the dealer. While looking it over I noticed the huge fender gap in front. A few quick measurements revealed that the S4 suspension is set up significantly higher than my A4 with sport suspension. Averaging the right and left sides, the S4 is 0.6 cm (1/4") higher than my A4 sport in the rear and a shocking 2.8 cm (1.1") higher in the front. This explains the front fender gap. Maybe some of the difference is from new springs that haven't settled.

So, when Audi says the S4 is lowered 2 cm, I guess they mean in the rear. The front is way high... must be close to the non-sport suspension. That and the extra 400 lbs of weight is not an auspicious sign, yet the reviews praise the S4 handling. Has anyone driven both the S4 and the A4 1.8 tq sport?

Charlie
98.5 1.8TQMS

Spring spacers could have been in there
 

This is what the salesguy told me. Audi put spring spacers in the S4/A4 with sports package to keep the body up and away during transport to prevent any potential damage. Those spacers could have still been in there.

Drew

Spring spacers: I doubt it, but possible
 

That's a possibility, though it had clearly been prepped and was awaiting pickup by the owner. If I am back there today, I'll look for spacers.

Charlie

I have a 98 1.8T sport and an S4. I will compare at lunch.

I've noticed from recent pics....
 

that the car does seem to sit higher and have a larger gap between the tire and fender. In some shots you can see the suspension. Maybe it is just to have the proper clerance for the larger wheel and tires?

If it was prepped, the spacers would be gone, it will drop a little more once driven though.

Are spacers orange plastic (?) inserts above the bump stops?
 

This may have been a false alarm. I drove by and looked again at the S4. It is NOT fully prepped yet (still has temporary wipers), and above the yellow bump stops on the front struts there are some bright orange things that may be spacers. Anyone know?

Sorry if I got you all worried unnecessarily, but remembering the huge front fender gap on the old S4/S6 cars, I got worried.

Hope someone can confirm that these are spacers. Enjoy your S4s you lucky folks!

Charlie

Tires and wheels are the same overall diameter, but I have
 

noticed that when I went to 225/45/17s the appearce changes - and there appears to be more of a gap than with my 205/55/19s. Might be a optical illusion.

Reggie

98.5 30vQMS

just checked it out...
 

checked against my 98 1.8TS and the distance from tire to fender seems 'about' equal. I didn't get a measuring tape out, but eyeballing it they both look nearly identical... or very near once the S4 springs have settled. My two cents
love this car... gotta go drive
Conker S4