BILSTEIN B8 Dampers

[RB1]

Has anyone on here got any experience with the Bilstein B8 Damper?

https://www2.bilstein.com/en/product/bilstein-b8/


When I bought my RS4 here in Germany, it was already fitted with a H&R coilover kit, so I dont have any experience with the original DRC suspension. It was set too low, so after removing and cleaning up all the threads, I raised the front 20mm, and then could only raise the rear 15mm. there was no notes from the previous owner on how low he went front and rear from the standard car. regardless, its still too low anyway for normal use.

Maybe I am getting old, but to be honest, I find this H&r kit a little harsh. it doesn't really ride the small bumps well, and even has a little of the Porsche front end bobble going on when the tarmac has some waves in it! I'm just not happy with it, as it doesn't seem to do anything well.

I'm interested to hear if anyone on here has fitted the B8 dampers with the standard springs. I really want something back close to the standard ride height, and this seems like an easy way to get there.

[rs user]

i am in the exact same "boat" my car is just a bit too low for me on cheapie coilovers
i looked at the b8 -the only thing putting me off them is the very thin looking front damper rod
other than that these would fit the bill for me with standard rs4 springs

[RB1]

i am in the exact same "boat" my car is just a bit too low for me on cheapie coilovers
i looked at the b8 -the only thing putting me off them is the very thin looking front damper rod
other than that these would fit the bill for me with standard rs4 springs

I'm not so worried about that...Bilstein got a good name for their "upside down" front damper, with the large diameter outside tube to take some side load when cornering.

But the Audi suspension set-up on the front is more like a double wishbone style, so all the side loads go through the suspension lower and upper arms, distributed by the large upright. This means that the front damper only sees forces in the compression (and a little in rebound) direction, so the tube doesn't need to be that big. in fact, the smaller it is, the less friction it has!

[rs user]

its most likely up to the job-but bigger damping rod has to be better at transferring heat,stronger by design-and the flagship dampers[b14/16] have the bigger rod for a reason...they would work out just over half the price of b14 and are still a quality item

[rs user]

further to above i have just ordered a set
a little more involved for me i suspect as my car is on coilovers and as such is probably missing some parts required to convert back to shock/spring set up

[RB1]

further to above i have just ordered a set
a little more involved for me i suspect as my car is on coilovers and as such is probably missing some parts required to convert back to shock/spring set up

I would be interested to see how you get on.

I have sent an email to Bilstein here in Germany, but no answer back yet.

I did find some info from a US website, that said that B8 were "shortened struts" for lowering springs, and the B6 was standard strut length.

regards

[rs user]

i will be fitting normal springs-not ss plus
going by other info recieved on here[see my earlier wanted post] they are fine for increasing the height
it will be a bit of time before they arrive from germany too-and i"ll probably need to source some parts

[RB1]

I am not sure what springs came with mine originally. Can I see somewhere on the Chassis coding Sticker?

Do you ( or anyone else on here) know what the colour code is on the springs for Standard and SS+ springs?

I have conflicting info on this. I can find some info that says for SS+:
Front: 1 mark/Orange
Rear: 3 marks/Pink, Grey, Grey

then I saw a picture that looked more like:
Front: 1 mark/Orange
Rear: 3 marks/Yellow, White, Orange

[rs user]

i had a change of heart-ordered and paid for kit early on week
found out my cars original springs werent going too appear,coupled with the fact that the german b8 seller was still unsure if they were correct for rs4 i cancelled my order
ordered set b14 and will see how they do