Is the standard suspension uncomfortable?

Hi,

bei meinem A6 Mod. 2000 und mittlerweile 125.000 km, muss ich leider einen misserablen Federungskomfort feststellen. Gerade bei kleinen Unebenheiten, kleineren Schlaglöchern, geflickten Straßen und Querfugen ist es ganz besonders extrem. Das Auto rappelt, wackelt, und es gibt teilweise richtige Schläge wie bei einem Bollerwagen ohne Federung (ohne Übertreibung). Im Innenraum sind diese Unebenheiten richtig doll zu spüren und werden nicht oder nur ganz minimal vom Fahrwerk geschluckt. Man wird quasi richtig durchgeschüttelt. Vor allem ist es auch richtig laut. Bei längeren Autobahnstücken die nicht gerade in Bestform sind, bekommt man teilweise auch Kopfschmerzen. Zu 'Compared to the A6 that my parents have, this one is like night and day, even though they are structurally similar and roughly...'same mileage.

The tire pressure for the tires (new Pirelli P7, 205/55 R16 W) is 2.1 bar; otherwise, it's simply unbearable. During the shock absorber test, the damping performance was 65% at the front and 51% at the rear.

Has anyone here have any advice on what might be the cause? Could it possibly be due to overly stiff suspension? According to the equipment codes in the service booklet, my car is also supposed to have a comfort suspension .

Thank you for your help.

Best regards,
Mike.

Are you sure the original suspension is still installed?
Could you please compare the ride height and measure how much it settles under heavy load? You have a reference vehicle, so that would be helpful.

Hi,

I'm quite sure it still has the standard suspension. The car was a company vehicle, only half a year old and with 5000 km on the odometer. I haven't replaced it myself yet, so everything is still original. However, I would expect more comfort from an upper-class car (at least with the standard suspension; that would be different with a sports suspension).

My parents' A6 is actually a little bit lower, but it also has the standard suspension.

What bothers me the most is the high level of noise when encountering uneven surfaces.

Best regards,
Mike.

Hello Helmaker,

Given the mileage and the remaining reserve capacity you mentioned for the shock absorbers, a noticeable decrease in comfort *must* be apparent!

My experiences from the Golf II: After approximately 120,000 km, the shock absorbers were completely worn out. I replaced them with Monroe Sensatrac (and installed Polo G40 springs in the front )... a completely new driving experience!

Golf IV: After 150,000 km, the suspension feels soft and spongy, and when encountering bumps or uneven road surfaces, especially longitudinal grooves, it becomes bouncy (I can't think of a better word for it), meaning every impact is transmitted to the car.

Audi A6 Avant (2003): The suspension is very comfortable, i.e., too comfortable for me, although there is quite a bit of weight on the front axle, especially with the heavy V6-TDI engine, so some bumps are still noticeable. Perhaps the new E-Class is just a little better in this regard, but who wants to drive an E-Class anyway...)

e_holger already said it: Replace the shock absorbers!!

Reason: The springs themselves only store energy and transfer it directly to the body. Springs, in principle, do not have a damping effect!
When the shock absorbers are only operating at 50% of their damping capacity, both comfort and driving safety are reduced by the same amount.

Hi,
Generally speaking, a suspension system with worn-out shock absorbers will become softer, which can improve comfort as long as the suspension doesn't bottom out or the wheels start to vibrate excessively.

When the shock absorbers have significantly reduced damping performance, extensive troubleshooting is not worthwhile. They should be replaced anyway, and at that point, it's best to also replace all related components such as the strut mounts (or their rubber bushings) and bump stops.

Hello,

Thank you for the answers. I will then have the shock absorbers and related parts replaced. Which brands of shock absorbers can you recommend? I've heard quite a bit about Monroe and Sachs. However, comfort should not be compromised, as I live in the oldest city in Germany, and the road conditions certainly live up to their reputation.

Can you replace the rear shock absorbers (which are worn out) first and then the front ones later, or should you replace all four at once?

Best regards,
Mike.