Bilstein B6 (MKV) – how bad will my ride be?
GarageBoy said:
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Generally speaking yes. When you hit a bump, the spring rate roughly controls how far the suspension would move, and the shock rate roughly controls how fast it gets there. If the spring rate is too high relative to the shocks, you typically end up with too much movement and a bouncy ride; if the spring rate is too low for the shocks, the suspension can’t move as far as the spring wants to in time and it can become harsh.
But there’s a ton of variables, and ride quality is subjective, so stiffer is definitely not always worse and weird things both positive and negative can happen regarding the match. Shocks also tend to get less stiff as they wear, so even a new B4 might feel more firm and less bouncy.
GarageBoy said:
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Not exactly; if you want your car to feel and react a bit more sporty at your current ride height/spring rate, B6 could be a good choice. I’m just not sure if that’s what you want–in the context of stock springs, 16″ all-seasons, and potholed roads, I’d guess the B4 would match the car better and save some money.
Really it comes down to preference, curiosity, etc., and with any new suspension there’s the risk that you won’t be happy with it. I’ve done a lot of aftermarket suspension setups and I’ve definitely missed before. It stinks, but you can always change it again.
Generally speaking yes. When you hit a bump, the spring rate roughly controls how far the suspension would move, and the shock rate roughly controls how fast it gets there. If the spring rate is too high relative to the shocks, you typically end up with too much movement and a bouncy ride; if the spring rate is too low for the shocks, the suspension can’t move as far as the spring wants to in time and it can become harsh.But there’s a ton of variables, and ride quality is subjective, so stiffer is definitely not always worse and weird things both positive and negative can happen regarding the match. Shocks also tend to get less stiff as they wear, so even a new B4 might feel more firm and less bouncy.Not exactly; if you want your car to feel and react a bit more sporty at your current ride height/spring rate, B6 could be a good choice. I’m just not sure if that’s what you want–in the context of stock springs, 16″ all-seasons, and potholed roads, I’d guess the B4 would match the car better and save some money.Really it comes down to preference, curiosity, etc., and with any new suspension there’s the risk that you won’t be happy with it. I’ve done a lot of aftermarket suspension setups and I’ve definitely missed before. It stinks, but you can always change it again.
