Spring choices - please help

[Goran]

Hello,

I'm going to have to replace rear shocks soon, and I have been advised its best to replace rear springs at the same time (also because my rear springs are for leveling suspension shocks, and I'm replacing with standard S8 shocks).

I went onto VagCat expecting to see a single part number for 'standard' S8 rear springs, instead I'm confronted with 6 options.
Can anyone with a 'normal' facelift S8 tell me what rear springs they have please?
Also I'm curious what is the coding system for springs, is it the more paint marks the stiffer they are?

Thanks


(16) 4D0511115AJ coil spring / 1 paint mark / 1 paint mark / for vehicles with sports-type running gear (white violet) / PR-0YP
(16) 4D0511115AK coil spring / 1 paint mark / 2 paint marks / for vehicles with sports-type running gear (white violet) / PR-0YQ
(16) 4D0511115AL coil spring / 1 paint mark / 3 paint marks / for vehicles with sports-type running gear (white violet) / PR-0YR
(16) 4D0511115AM coil spring / 1 paint mark / 1 paint mark / for vehicles with sports-type running gear (white green) / PR-0YS
(16) 4D0511115AN coil spring / 1 paint mark / 2 paint marks / for vehicles with sports-type running gear (white green) / PR-0YT
(16) 4D0511115AP coil spring / 1 paint mark / 3 paint marks / for vehicles with sports-type running gear (white green) / PR-0YU,0YV

[ainarssems]

It depends of equipment and load on the axle. The more weight the harder springs.

[Goran]

What colour are sports front shocks please? Are they supposed to be red like the rear sports shocks?
Is it possible to have non-sport springs and shocks on a S8?
I'm looking at my S8's option list and it only has
1BN = Suspension/shock absorption, automatic level control system

It has black painted front shocks. I cant see the colour code on them, or the part number, is it supposed to be near the top?

[ainarssems]

I am not 100% sure but I think self leveling suspension was only available with standard suspension so even S8 with self leveling suspension will have standard front shocks and not the sport ones. This would explain why they are black as normally you would have black on standard suspension and red on sports. Compare height to another S8 and you will see if yours is 2cm higher.

[Goran]

You are absolutely right!
I finally managed to find the part code on the front shocks with one of those ebay endoscope cameras. poor picture quality but I can see the code, it ends in CK,

(28) 4D0413031CK shock absorber / marked with: / ** caution! dangerous cargo ** / F 4D-1-000 001>> / also use: grey >>4D-Y-020000 8D0 412 066 F / PR-1BA,1BG, 1BM,1BN,1BT: AKN,AFB,AKE, AQG,AQH,AQF, ARU,BCS,AYS, AVP,AUW

So its the standard shock. Now I understand why MRC gave me the new springs coded:

(34) 4D0411105DD coil spring / 1 paint mark / 2 paint marks violet yellow / 8 cylinder: PR-1BA/0JJ; PR-1BE/0JJ; PR-1BN/0JJ; PR-1BM/0JJ; PR-1BT/0JH


My axle codes are 0JJ and 0YT, and suspension code 1BN
0YT = Weight range 18 installation control only, no requirement forecast
0JJ = Weight category front axle weight range 9

So now I have to decide, do I go to full sport suspension or put non-sport suspension on the rear too, since I have to get rid of the self leveling rear shocks.

The thing is, the standard suspension on the front feels really nice now, compared to the terrible (and broken) aftermarket springs the car came with.

Now I also have to check the front and rear sway bars, I'm betting they are non-sport too.

[Goran]

I managed to measure the front and rear anti roll bars.
The good news is the front one appears to be 29mm, by measuring outside diameter with a schubler (aka vernier caliper).

The rear bar is only 17.3mm so definitely non-sport. The sport one should be 20mm as far as I can tell.

So I have non-sport shocks and springs and sport anti-roll bar on the front. Funny mix