RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

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Vik87
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RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by Vik87 » Tue Jun 28, 2022 2:52 pm

Hi All

After owning my rs4 for the last 4 years I though I'd finally jump on here and get involved with the community.

I jumped on the RS4 bandwagon way before the prices started to go insane but stupidly I left my car in my garage over covid and literally just pulled it out this year. Took it for an MOT and it failed on two leaking front DRC Shocks and corroded brake discs.

Going back to November last year I had placed an order for some Bilstein b14 coilovers and have since been on back order, not sure what the delays are at the factory but I couldn't really wait any longer so I started looking for alternatives that were affordable. Checked all the ebay ones and read some reviews on which would be good for me. I came across Chris from CRS Performance on a post who provides Koni shocks for the B7 rs4 to replace the existing DRC units. I wasn't overly fussed about not being able to adjust the ride height as I wanted to keep it as oem as possible on a budget.

Chris sent out a set of the Koni shocks (Next Day) and I fitted an original set of springs to go along with them, in hindsight I should have really got some H&R lowering springs but I was actually happy with the final ride height. Fitting them was a paint in the backside mainly due to the pinch bolt being seized and my upper control arms not budging.

I managed to get everything fitted in 2/3 days on my drive along with new top mounts, upper and lower control arms and discs and pads all round.

What can I say, if anyone is looking for an alternative to the DRC units and not fussed about coil overs I would definitely recommend looking into these. From what I understand they are specifically designed for the RS4 given the weight of the car and the pressure filled in the shocks.

After a few days on settling in and a new mot I took the car for a proper drive and was very impressed with the handling.

Just thought i'd post a quick one because I couldn't really find many alternatives other then coilovers, and I didn't want to fit new DRC units as my pipes were basically rusted beyond belief.

I'll post some updates in the next few months hopefully after some mileage.

Next on the list of things to do:
Miltek non-res exhaust install
Carbon clean
Oil cooler & pipes
Possibly a remap
Finally drive the hell out of it.

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demon8991
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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by demon8991 » Mon Jul 04, 2022 1:29 am

I also did this exact same thing this year, I had them shipped from the UK to Australia, I couldn't be happier with the end result.

I opted for the HR Lowering springs which I got here in Australia, I am so glad I did as the ride height is now absolutely perfect, the front and rear sit perfect with a minimal gap (just under a fingers width) between the tyre and arches.
RS4 B7 • Phantom Black • Centre Resonator Delete • Wireless Apple CarPlay
SQ5 TDI • Ibis White • Fully Optioned • Wireless Apple CarPlay

RS-Rated
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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by RS-Rated » Mon Jul 04, 2022 1:37 am

I'm also another happy customer! I've had the Koni / Stock spring combo for almost a year. Ride is great...the DRC was in a pretty bad state when I bought the car so I don't have a true comparison however from a pure driver perspective it's great. Coilovers too harsh for me and I don't track the car.

I've now purchased the HR lowering springs and getting them installed (the rake has always bothered me)

demon8991 do you have any photos you can share mate? Keen to have the HRs installed.

I'm based in Sydney Australia btw!

Vik87
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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by Vik87 » Tue Jul 05, 2022 10:43 pm

Glad you guys are happy with the set up the same way I am, don't get me wrong a i do love the ride height as stock but I wished I ordered the H&R's as well as a lot of members have gave good reviews on them.

Mine have settled in over the last few weeks and the ride is just as good (if not better) then the standard DRC set up.

Over here with the British weather once the rust settles in on the DRC lines/shocks its only a matter of time before they start to leak.

One of my shocks was leaking badly to the point my rear end was bouncing up and down like it was on hydraulics.

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demon8991
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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by demon8991 » Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:06 am

RS-Rated wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 1:37 am
I'm also another happy customer! I've had the Koni / Stock spring combo for almost a year. Ride is great...the DRC was in a pretty bad state when I bought the car so I don't have a true comparison however from a pure driver perspective it's great. Coilovers too harsh for me and I don't track the car.

I've now purchased the HR lowering springs and getting them installed (the rake has always bothered me)

demon8991 do you have any photos you can share mate? Keen to have the HRs installed.

I'm based in Sydney Australia btw!
Sorry for the late reply, glad to see another Australian RS4 owner here. I left the UK around 10 years ago.

Here is a photo before the suspension change, as you will see the car is quite raked, high at the front and lower at the back.

Image

Here are a couple of photos after the suspension was done, in my view it sits pretty much perfectly now and makes the car look much better.

Image

Image
RS4 B7 • Phantom Black • Centre Resonator Delete • Wireless Apple CarPlay
SQ5 TDI • Ibis White • Fully Optioned • Wireless Apple CarPlay

RS-Rated
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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by RS-Rated » Mon Jul 11, 2022 5:09 am

demon8991 wrote:
Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:06 am
RS-Rated wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 1:37 am
I'm also another happy customer! I've had the Koni / Stock spring combo for almost a year. Ride is great...the DRC was in a pretty bad state when I bought the car so I don't have a true comparison however from a pure driver perspective it's great. Coilovers too harsh for me and I don't track the car.

I've now purchased the HR lowering springs and getting them installed (the rake has always bothered me)

demon8991 do you have any photos you can share mate? Keen to have the HRs installed.

I'm based in Sydney Australia btw!
Sorry for the late reply, glad to see another Australian RS4 owner here. I left the UK around 10 years ago.

Here is a photo before the suspension change, as you will see the car is quite raked, high at the front and lower at the back.

Image

Here are a couple of photos after the suspension was done, in my view it sits pretty much perfectly now and makes the car look much better.

Image

Image

Mate, that looks amazing. I just dropped my car off at the mechanic this morning. Can't wait to see the final result...I'm adding some 10mm spacers too :-)

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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by highrise » Wed Jul 13, 2022 10:24 pm

Hi,

I visited CRS Performance last week to replace my B14's with Audi stock springs and the Koni shocks.

Firstly, Steve was really helpful and let me drop off and collect the car early. I really appreciated the flexibility which meant I could fit the replacement in before a road trip to France. There were some issues with damage to my top mounts from the b14s being fitted incorrectly. Steve was able to order the parts and get the job completed within a quick turnaround. Many thanks.

In terms of the new setup the car has been completely transformed. The ride height being higher has added way more practicality, I'm no longer dreading speed bumps or car park ramps. The handing is far far better, much more compliant and assured. The previous setup was skittish and jumpy, which meant I didn't have the confidence to push the car. I'm now starting to really appreciate the performance.

I've put some miles on the setup by driving to the south of France. At motorway speeds, I'm now able to travel at a 10mph higher cruise speed due to the Coilover 'bobble' being gone. I've driven through the Cévennes with some proper twisty stuff and it was amazing. The car is transformed, I'm not sure if my B14 setup was particularly bad but I'd recommend anyone with B14's to give the Koni setup a look.

It's still a relatively firm set-up but the right balance given the type of car.

I was really keen to get some info before I took the plunge, this forum was a great help, so if anyone had any questions reach out.

Thanks

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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by jnrdavo » Thu Jul 14, 2022 9:49 pm

demon8991 wrote:
RS-Rated wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 1:37 am
I'm also another happy customer! I've had the Koni / Stock spring combo for almost a year. Ride is great...the DRC was in a pretty bad state when I bought the car so I don't have a true comparison however from a pure driver perspective it's great. Coilovers too harsh for me and I don't track the car.

I've now purchased the HR lowering springs and getting them installed (the rake has always bothered me)

demon8991 do you have any photos you can share mate? Keen to have the HRs installed.

I'm based in Sydney Australia btw!
Sorry for the late reply, glad to see another Australian RS4 owner here. I left the UK around 10 years ago.

Here is a photo before the suspension change, as you will see the car is quite raked, high at the front and lower at the back.

Image

Here are a couple of photos after the suspension was done, in my view it sits pretty much perfectly now and makes the car look much better.

Image

Image
Hey Demon, can you tell me what your garage floor coating is?
I'm looking to do mine, with a product I saw many years ago (where you put a flake in the resin) but I can't find my old link...

Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk


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demon8991
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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by demon8991 » Sat Jul 16, 2022 10:50 pm

jnrdavo wrote:
Thu Jul 14, 2022 9:49 pm
demon8991 wrote:
RS-Rated wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 1:37 am
I'm also another happy customer! I've had the Koni / Stock spring combo for almost a year. Ride is great...the DRC was in a pretty bad state when I bought the car so I don't have a true comparison however from a pure driver perspective it's great. Coilovers too harsh for me and I don't track the car.

I've now purchased the HR lowering springs and getting them installed (the rake has always bothered me)

demon8991 do you have any photos you can share mate? Keen to have the HRs installed.

I'm based in Sydney Australia btw!
Sorry for the late reply, glad to see another Australian RS4 owner here. I left the UK around 10 years ago.

Here is a photo before the suspension change, as you will see the car is quite raked, high at the front and lower at the back.

Image

Here are a couple of photos after the suspension was done, in my view it sits pretty much perfectly now and makes the car look much better.

Image

Image
Hey Demon, can you tell me what your garage floor coating is?
I'm looking to do mine, with a product I saw many years ago (where you put a flake in the resin) but I can't find my old link...

Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk
Yep, so its an Expoxy Resin, the epoxy goes down first then you chose your colour flakes and they get scattered over the resin, then a clear coat is applied over the top. The flakes I used are black, white and grey.

Quite a common garage floor process now and it looks so good too.
RS4 B7 • Phantom Black • Centre Resonator Delete • Wireless Apple CarPlay
SQ5 TDI • Ibis White • Fully Optioned • Wireless Apple CarPlay

RS-Rated
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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by RS-Rated » Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:11 pm

So here's what she looks like after the H&Rs installed! Very happy with the stance

Image


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demon8991
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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by demon8991 » Mon Jul 25, 2022 12:30 am

That looks so good mate, bet you are really happy with that.
RS4 B7 • Phantom Black • Centre Resonator Delete • Wireless Apple CarPlay
SQ5 TDI • Ibis White • Fully Optioned • Wireless Apple CarPlay

Vik87
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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by Vik87 » Mon Jul 25, 2022 8:59 pm

Lads those RS4's look spot on with that ride height, i've noticed mine have settled in a lot now and it drives a lot better then before. Mine was very similar to the black one but i've got the optics pack on mine so all the black trims etc. I found on my other RS4 which is daytona grey my silver trims kept oxidising so i'll probably be wrapping them soon. Most likely the acid the car washes use but i just have no where else to wash them (live in a block of flats with a carpark).

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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by Rs4nah » Sat Oct 01, 2022 9:44 am

I also had the same done, since I bought my rs4 I was meaning to change it as previous owner for some absurd reason put some adjustable lowering springs on the back only. Started hearing some knocks and bangs so contacted Steve for advice, I got sent the Koni shockers and H&r lowering springs next day. I also bought new top mounts all around and bump stops, purchased genuine from https://www.lllparts.co.uk/ worked out cheaper than TPS and they didn’t have some in stock. Also got the protective sleeves for the bump stops from this site also. So if you are doing this mod best be prepared before hand. Since the rears had some aftermarket adjustable spring I had to order 2 new top support springs 8e0512149P .. the bottom ones that were present were perished so got them also 8E0512297J approx £8+vat from tps, so I’d get the lower ones times 2 regardless for anyone else doing this. I was going to get this fitted by CM Tuning however since they hadn’t sorted a unit and I’ve had the parts sat since July I decided to do it my self at our family garage last week, the job took us approx 3.5hours, I did call a few other garages but were all very busy for few several weeks all quoted average of 6 hours and one “Audi specialist” in Leeds quoted 12 hours approx £1k labour. Wtf. The rears were very easy and fronts weren’t particularly difficult.

The car has totally transformed it handles as it should and I’ve fallen back in love with it, I can’t describe how much better the car feels, my drc had failed and likely I never experienced a fully working drc, however from what I remember driving a friends fully stock rs4 the ride doesn’t feel much different. I’m not the best at detailed reviews but if I could find a fault I would say it as it is. Very pleased and I would recommend this setup to anyone wanting car to feel as stock as possible and with the option to lower the car with the H&r springs.

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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by TRS842 » Mon Aug 14, 2023 12:05 am

@demon8991 - I'm about to do the exact same setup install on my 2008 B7 Sedan.

Keen to hear from you on the ride of the H&R springs. Do they ride as harsh as when the DRC are in sport mode or standard setting?

Appreciate any info you could share here.

Cheers

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Re: RS4 B7 Koni Shocks from CRS Performance

Post by js47 » Mon Aug 14, 2023 12:31 am

Vik87 wrote:
Tue Jun 28, 2022 2:52 pm
Hi All

After owning my rs4 for the last 4 years I though I'd finally jump on here and get involved with the community.

I jumped on the RS4 bandwagon way before the prices started to go insane but stupidly I left my car in my garage over covid and literally just pulled it out this year. Took it for an MOT and it failed on two leaking front DRC Shocks and corroded brake discs.

Going back to November last year I had placed an order for some Bilstein b14 coilovers and have since been on back order, not sure what the delays are at the factory but I couldn't really wait any longer so I started looking for alternatives that were affordable. Checked all the ebay ones and read some reviews on which would be good for me. I came across Chris from CRS Performance on a post who provides Koni shocks for the B7 rs4 to replace the existing DRC units. I wasn't overly fussed about not being able to adjust the ride height as I wanted to keep it as oem as possible on a budget.

Chris sent out a set of the Koni shocks (Next Day) and I fitted an original set of springs to go along with them, in hindsight I should have really got some H&R lowering springs but I was actually happy with the final ride height. Fitting them was a paint in the backside mainly due to the pinch bolt being seized and my upper control arms not budging.

I managed to get everything fitted in 2/3 days on my drive along with new top mounts, upper and lower control arms and discs and pads all round.

What can I say, if anyone is looking for an alternative to the DRC units and not fussed about coil overs I would definitely recommend looking into these. From what I understand they are specifically designed for the RS4 given the weight of the car and the pressure filled in the shocks.

After a few days on settling in and a new mot I took the car for a proper drive and was very impressed with the handling.

Just thought i'd post a quick one because I couldn't really find many alternatives other then coilovers, and I didn't want to fit new DRC units as my pipes were basically rusted beyond belief.

I'll post some updates in the next few months hopefully after some mileage.

Next on the list of things to do:
Miltek non-res exhaust install
Carbon clean
Oil cooler & pipes
Possibly a remap
Finally drive the hell out of it.
Hey Vik, would you be able to share some photos? Looking to get off the coilovers that the previous owner replaced DRC with.
2007 RS4 Avant in "Cherry Black Pearl" with Carbon Ceramic brakes. MRC Stage 2.

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