New SQ5 member...(if you're lowered on H&R need your spacer advice)

[grnbean]

Just wanted to introduce myself to the SQ5 family. After two B8 S4's I've come to own this awesome ride. Definitely happy and not looking back!

I really like the design of the OEM wheels but am not in love with the width/fitment. I may go with aftermarket wheels in the future but for now am looking to go the whole OEM+ look. After reading the forums and going through pages and pages of pictures I've learned the most popular spacer setup is the 15/20 (F/R). This is a bit too aggressive for me and I was wondering if anyone else had some pictures you could share here with perhaps a 10/15 or even a 0/10 setup on the H&R -1 drop. .

So far the only mods I've done are tint and H&R springs (29001-1 as it came highly recommended on this forum).
As a contribution to the forum for the people who aren't lowered yet, here are some pictures of before and after the drop.
I'm very happy with the ride as it didn't seem to compromise the pre-drop feel. It's been about two days and 100 miles since I got it installed at Sonic (highly recommend this shop to the south Bay Area folks) so still waiting for it to completely settle.



Before and after pic 1


pic 2


pic 3


pic 4


Gone but not forgotten S4's
Monsoon grey B8.5 S4 with 19x9 OEM S5 rotor wheels on stock suspension...really loved how the S5 wheels fit on this car.



Glacier white B8 with 19x9.5 BBS CH-Rs with H&R OE springs and some other suspension bits.



my three absolute favorite SQ5s that I've seen on this forum..
Member S-fore daytona grey SQ5


Member 98_916sps Florett silver SQ5


and of course the famous MOPS!!

[turbojayc]

Not the best angles, but I can assure you its pretty darn flush. 15mm up front and 20mm in the back. ECS Spacers & Bolts, H&R Springs, Stock 21's
[IMG][/IMG]

[grnbean]

Wow that looks damn good. You've already got me rethinking the 15/20 set up!

BTW were you able to source the R14 bolts specifically from ECS? I don't see the ball radii specified on the ECS webiste. I'm finding that the Q5s (along with A8) come with R14 ball seat bolts with 30mm thread depth vs the R13 ball seat with 27mm thread depth that comes on almost all other Audi models.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...heel-bolts-SQ5
http://www.audiworld.com/forums/q5-s...-help-2880739/

[turbojayc]

Yup, they got the complete set for ball and conical.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-SQ5--...ers/ES2748286/
https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-SQ5--...ers/ES2748291/

[S-Fore]

fyi, if your interested, I have ECS 10 & 15mm spacers and the appropriate length RAD bolts i want to get rid of...

[grnbean]

fyi, if your interested, I have ECS 10 & 15mm spacers and the appropriate length RAD bolts i want to get rid of...

PM'd!

[Mops@Nemesis]

Welcome! Thanks for the compliment, and congrats on picking the best color :) I run 15/20, and really like the look. I run H&R DR.

MopsTE37-3902 by Audiyos, on Flickr

[Gravy Train]

Shoot, I should have mentioned I have a new set of ECS 13 and 15mm spacers that I was going to use on my SQ5, but likely won't any longer. New wheels are on the way.

[SQive]

Shoot, I should have mentioned I have a new set of ECS 13 and 15mm spacers that I was going to use on my SQ5, but likely won't any longer. New wheels are on the way.

New wheels? Do tell!
I'm heading to the monthly dinner now, so I hope to see you there!

Is it just me, or is anyone else feeling dissed because they didn't make the cut?

[grnbean]

Decided to go with H&R 10 front and 15mm rear with correct Q5 specific R14 ball seat 40 and 45mm extended bolts from Achtuning

[drumnjuny]

Haha that picture was messing with my eyes... Just realized you added the aperture effect post processing

[grnbean]

haha sorry, i was messing around with a feature in photobucket that I didn't know existed
uploaded the original.

[mchoudhry2k]

Lots of great info here. I'm in the South Bay and may be picking up my sq5 in the next few days. Hoping I find the right one :)

[grnbean]

Very nice! Another Bay Area SQ5! Good luck and make sure you post pictures
BTW are you in Driveclub? your username looks familiar :)

I haven't taken any recent pictures but not much as changed since visually. I've added Bilstein B8 shocks which is a must if you're going to lower just on springs alone.

[mchoudhry2k]

Very nice! Another Bay Area SQ5! Good luck and make sure you post pictures
BTW are you in Driveclub? your username looks familiar :)

I haven't taken any recent pictures but not much as changed since visually. I've added Bilstein B8 shocks which is a must if you're going to lower just on springs alone.

Yes, I am in DC :) I'm Mac. Usually the guy that people keep photoshopping into cars lol.
Nice ride you got there! We should do a lunch or something soon!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[VroomVroom]

Agreed on the awesomeness of the B8 shocks. May be worth keeping in mind that they do not work with the KW HAS. Good to see so many bay area folks running at a more proper stance. :)

[Phantom2010]

Been meaning to ask this question for awhile now. I have a 14 Q5 TDI lowered on H&R springs, do you guys experience a lot of bounce in your setup? It is especially annoying at high speeds with little wobbles in the road. sometimes feels like i am riding in a dune buggy or something.

If i switch to a full spring and shock replacement such as the H.A.S or coilovers, would this most likely go away since the stock shock isn't really designed for this aftermarket spring?

Thanks!

[riceboy22]

Been meaning to ask this question for awhile now. I have a 14 Q5 TDI lowered on H&R springs, do you guys experience a lot of bounce in your setup? It is especially annoying at high speeds with little wobbles in the road. sometimes feels like i am riding in a dune buggy or something.

If i switch to a full spring and shock replacement such as the H.A.S or coilovers, would this most likely go away since the stock shock isn't really designed for this aftermarket spring?

Thanks!

I don't have a TDI, but I experienced exactly what you're describing when I was on springs only on my SQ5. The stock shocks are underdamped for the shorter (and almost definitely higher spring rate) H&R springs. The end result is you get a lot of oscillations because the stock shocks can't properly dampen the springs. The car will feel like it has a hard time settling after even small road imperfections, and that's only accentuated when you're at highway speeds.

If you're happy with your current ride height, I would strongly recommend considering the B8 Bilstein shocks. There are many members who have paired them with H&R springs with great results. It will also save you significant coin over a full coilover setup. I wouldn't consider the KW HAS if you're already feeling like the ride quality isn't great with just the H&Rs. You'll likely have a similar problem.

Bilstein B8 (or other aftermarket shocks) + H&R - Who's running this setup?

[Phantom2010]

I don't have a TDI, but I experienced exactly what you're describing when I was on springs only on my SQ5. The stock shocks are underdamped for the shorter (and almost definitely higher spring rate) H&R springs. The end result is you get a lot of oscillations because the stock shocks can't properly dampen the springs. The car will feel like it has a hard time settling after even small road imperfections, and that's only accentuated when you're at highway speeds.

If you're happy with your current ride height, I would strongly recommend considering the B8 Bilstein shocks. There are many members who have paired them with H&R springs with great results. It will also save you significant coin over a full coilover setup. I wouldn't consider the KW HAS if you're already feeling like the ride quality isn't great with just the H&Rs. You'll likely have a similar problem.

Bilstein B8 (or other aftermarket shocks) + H&R - Who's running this setup?

Wow, glad i asked and to know that others are experiencing this same issue on their spring only change out setup. this get me down the right path to a remedy. more questions to come, thanks again!

[Smittylube]

I didnt know they made left handed threads?

[agautohaus]

Congrats on the pickup!!!

I always advise customers to get both springs and shocks, as compressing the stock shocks that low has a pretty negative effect in terms of harshness of ride and bounciness