Lowering links and vagcom lowering

**Barritia** · 03-16-2016 04:58 AM

Can these be run side by side and are their any negatives if doing so. Does the car still adjust in height when going from dynamic to comfort and also will it raise too?

**Brooklyn** · 03-16-2016 05:34 AM

Don't you have an A6? VAGCOM lowering doesn't apply to the A6, at least not in the US.

**turbello18** · 03-16-2016 06:49 AM

Believe you need bags for links too.

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**sirmium** · 03-16-2016 08:01 AM

i would like to know too ttt

**CanuckRS** · 03-16-2016 08:06 AM

I use both, no issues, works great.

**tph4m86** · 03-16-2016 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by CanuckRS

I use both, no issues, works great.

What was your total drop on both? Curious as I hadn't seen anyone use both links and Vagcom

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**HyperM3** · 03-16-2016 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by tph4m86

What was your total drop on both? Curious as I hadn't seen anyone use both links and Vagcom

On my previous S6 I used links and vag. With the links you can go as low as you want pretty much. I just lowered it an additional inch beyond the 17mm on the vag. Tire was at the top of the wheel arch, couldnt get a finger in.

**CanuckRS** · 03-16-2016 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by tph4m86

What was your total drop on both? Curious as I hadn't seen anyone use both links and Vagcom

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you should be using vagcom with links imo to tweak the height. links can get you close to being equal all around, but it's much easier to use vagcom to get the perfect height after the macro adjustment with links.

i don't recall the total drop, you can go as low as you want using both methods. the only limit will be rubbing which is what happened to me so i raised it up a bit more.

**richib86** · 03-16-2016 01:06 PM

can the links be installed without pulling the wheels or using a lift? im between the links and a lowering module that allows real time raising and lowering from the iphone beyond what the H&R and KW units can do

**flyfishing** · 03-16-2016 01:08 PM

i just did vag com. i couldn't go 17 mm for some reason :( only 14 mm. anyhow, 14 mm on my car gives you 1 finger width (about .75 inches) of wheel gap. HTH someone.

**CanuckRS** · 03-16-2016 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by richib86

can the links be installed without pulling the wheels or using a lift? im between the links and a lowering module that allows real time raising and lowering from the iphone beyond what the H&R and KW units can do

if you have a lift, probably? i just removed the wheels and did it that way, much easier imo. doing this links, you will get your hands dirty and it'll take 1-2 hours your first time fyi. if this doesn't appeal to you, get the module.

**richib86** · 03-16-2016 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by CanuckRS

if you have a lift, probably? i just removed the wheels and did it that way, much easier imo. doing this links, you will get your hands dirty and it'll take 1-2 hours your first time fyi. if this doesn't appeal to you, get the module.

im all for getting dirty, im just too lazy to pull the wheels off and dont have a lift at home just a floor jack

**audi12345678** · 03-16-2016 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by richib86

can the links be installed without pulling the wheels or using a lift? im between the links and a lowering module that allows real time raising and lowering from the iphone beyond what the H&R and KW units can do

Just ordered this module, you can adjust the height with phone, no need to get your hands dirty and mess with vag-com. http://www.active-sound.eu/en/active...air-suspension

**MadAboutCars** · 03-16-2016 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by audi12345678

Just ordered this module, you can adjust the height with phone, no need to get your hands dirty and mess with vag-com. http://www.active-sound.eu/en/active...air-suspension

Looks like a very nice system. How much is it?

For others, here's a video to watch while the Active Sound website is down:

**richib86** · 03-16-2016 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by audi12345678

Just ordered this module, you can adjust the height with phone, no need to get your hands dirty and mess with vag-com. http://www.active-sound.eu/en/active...air-suspension

This was the exact module I was referring to that I am looking into. I'm waiting on a response back on if they will ship to the US, no option for that on the website.

**Barritia** · 03-18-2016 08:48 PM

Thanks fir the responses guys. Didn't get a chance to get back on here before install but they worked great. Currently running 28mm drop on links and 14mm on Vag-Com. It's perfect and makes the car way more mean. Not done my final asjustment with vag com but it's very close. Set them 5mm less than stick links.

**flyfishing** · 03-18-2016 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by Barritia

Thanks fir the responses guys. Didn't get a chance to get back on here before install but they worked great. Currently running 28mm drop on links and 14mm on Vag-Com. It's perfect and makes the car way more mean. Not done my final asjustment with vag com but it's very close. Set them 5mm less than stick links.

how can you go that low w/o rubbing? do you have a pic? i put spacers on and rub at 13 mm drop

**MadAboutCars** · 03-18-2016 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Barritia

Thanks fir the responses guys. Didn't get a chance to get back on here before install but they worked great. Currently running 28mm drop on links and 14mm on Vag-Com. It's perfect and makes the car way more mean. Not done my final asjustment with vag com but it's very close. Set them 5mm less than stick links.

How firm is the ride, when that low. You must feel every little bump, even in comfort mode.

**Barritia** · 03-19-2016 04:29 AM

Feels the same which I'm surprised at. Only tried dynamic though so far. Will try comfort later today.

I'm running 20mm spacers all round and no rubbing yet. Only done about 5miles yet though so we will see

**MadAboutCars** · 03-19-2016 03:37 PM

Thanks. As far as I can tell, comfort mode seems to raise the car about 1/2 an inch (12mm).

**Barritia** · 03-19-2016 04:20 PM

Used car for a bit and had one situation of rubbing but very light. Took the 14mm drop from vagcom and set it to stock so running 28mm until I get time to dial it in some more.

**tph4m86** · 03-22-2016 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by Barritia

Used car for a bit and had one situation of rubbing but very light. Took the 14mm drop from vagcom and set it to stock so running 28mm until I get time to dial it in some more.

Do you have any pics of it dropped 28mm on links as well as vagcom?

**Barritia** · 03-22-2016 06:36 AM

Will grab you a couple later.

I have had another issue though. I set air through VCDS to stock heights but I'm getting the air suspension error like I used to when I lowered 17mm on with VCDS. It looks like links also cause the same issue. Anyone experience this at all?

**audi12345678** · 03-23-2016 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by Barritia

Can these be run side by side and are their any negatives if doing so. Does the car still adjust in height when going from dynamic to comfort and also will it raise too?

Just installed this module, and everything works perfectly, I can control the cars height from mobile app, and the car drives much better, its agile and takes corners like coupe, Im very pleased.
http://www.active-sound.eu/de/active...air-suspension

**Barritia** · 03-23-2016 06:01 PM

I looked into that but couldn't find a US dealer. I hear that there's a module coming out where you can control the height through the MMI line you can on the Merc's. That would be sweet.

**Barritia** · 03-24-2016 04:39 PM

Looks like the lowering links have got to come off. Even after setting car back to stock settings and adjusting the links to about 18mm drop I still get the air suspension error. Once I get the lowering links adjusted to 14mm which I had before with VCDS lowering no more error. It seems there something on the vehicle that don't like being lowered more than 14mm no matter what method you use.

**mwmaroney1** · 03-24-2016 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Barritia

Looks like the lowering links have got to come off. Even after setting car back to stock settings and adjusting the links to about 18mm drop I still get the air suspension error. Once I get the lowering links adjusted to 14mm which I had before with VCDS lowering no more error. It seems there something on the vehicle that don't like being lowered more than 14mm no matter what method you use.

Strange, mine works just fine with both.

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**CanuckRS** · 03-24-2016 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Barritia

Looks like the lowering links have got to come off. Even after setting car back to stock settings and adjusting the links to about 18mm drop I still get the air suspension error. Once I get the lowering links adjusted to 14mm which I had before with VCDS lowering no more error. It seems there something on the vehicle that don't like being lowered more than 14mm no matter what method you use.

yes, very odd. i had mine slammed on links/vcds, no errors at all.

**HyperM3** · 03-25-2016 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by Barritia

Looks like the lowering links have got to come off. Even after setting car back to stock settings and adjusting the links to about 18mm drop I still get the air suspension error. Once I get the lowering links adjusted to 14mm which I had before with VCDS lowering no more error. It seems there something on the vehicle that don't like being lowered more than 14mm no matter what method you use.

I got an error when I messed with the links after I had lowered the car one time. I reset the car to the original height settings and then set it lower again after I was done fiddling.

**Barritia** · 03-26-2016 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by HyperM3

I got an error when I messed with the links after I had lowered the car one time. I reset the car to the original height settings and then set it lower again after I was done fiddling.

More detail please. Not getting the order which you did the lowering. I'm wondering if putting the ordinal links back on then putting suspension back to stock settings then putting lowering links back on will fix the issue.

**Barritia** · 03-27-2016 05:59 AM

Ok here's what I'm thinking. When you select the reference level option the suspension is adjusting itself to a reference level based on where the lowering links are set to. Using the lowering links is messing this up due to not being "stock" lengths. Looks like I'm gonna have to remove them put stock ones on then reset VCDS lowering to stock figures then put the lowering links on.

**Dguth** · 03-27-2016 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Barritia

Ok here's what I'm thinking. When you select the reference level option the suspension is adjusting itself to a reference level based on where the lowering links are set to. Using the lowering links is messing this up due to not being "stock" lengths. Looks like I'm gonna have to remove them put stock ones on then reset VCDS lowering to stock figures then put the lowering links on.

Okay. This makes sense now. As my performance dealer was having a problem resetting/calibrating the air suspension. I had an error code and they couldn't recalibrate the suspension properly because I have lowering links on. Their comment was they had to "trick" the suspension into recalibrating. They did a good job in getting it back to its pre-error code level but the front is about half inch higher than back.

I don't have my original lowering links so does anyone know what the height of the original lowering links are? I can tell my performance dealer for future calibration purposes.

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**CanuckRS** · 03-27-2016 08:17 AM

one important thing that took me awhile to figure out was that after installing lowering links, the ratio for adjusting with vcds changed.

for each mm of change in vcds, i found there was a 2mm change in actual height. that worked for me, ymmv.

**Barritia** · 03-27-2016 10:02 AM

Messed with it some more today. Adjustment is not as accurate as it seems. I took car into our warehouse that has dead flat floors. I measure the differences and adjusted through VCDS. I only changed the front left and it was 10mm lower than the rest. Adjusted it 10mm higher on VCDS and it stayed exactly the same even after a drive both times. The others also changed +\- 3-4mm and I didn't even mess with them ones. So don't get the idea that if front is out 5mm then adjusting 5mm will fix it because that's not how it seems to work. I'm guessing it's got as much as 10+mm of play in the settings because they are never the same height even after not messing with settings.

**HyperM3** · 03-28-2016 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by Barritia

More detail please. Not getting the order which you did the lowering. I'm wondering if putting the ordinal links back on then putting suspension back to stock settings then putting lowering links back on will fix the issue.

Sorry for the delayed response. What happened was I had lowered my car via the links first and then I lowered it via VAG. After a while I took the links off and put the stock links back on. Thats when it threw the code. Had to go in and set the numbers back to the way they were stock and then lower it again while on the oem links.

Regarding people trying to adjust each corner to make them the same height, I wouldnt do that. Theres a reason the computer adjusts all the time, its to compensate for something. If you set all the corners equal, whenever you drive they will change again. Next time you stop and try to take a reading, they wont be equal again. If you keep adjusting them then it will throw something off. I would recommend just lowering each corner respectively to its own 15-17mm drop regardless of what the number was.

**Barritia** · 03-28-2016 06:58 PM

When I change my wheels on gonna take the lowering links of them try and set numbers back to stock drive it the a bit then put lowering links back on and see what happens. Everything I tried so far still gives me suspension error.

Should know in about a week

**Barritia** · 04-03-2016 08:43 AM

Ok here's some tips so you guys don't have this issue.

Most important is make sure you return to stick parameters on VCDS whilst on stock lowering links and absolutely do not return to reference level when on after market links.

When the car gets put into reference level it bases it reference level from a specific point at which the suspension sets its self. The after market links throw this off and gives the car a inaccurate level to begin with so from then on after market links will throw an error even if they are within normal parameters. I was getting the suspension fault warning even with stock links and stocks VCDS after putting the stock ones back on so had to go through VCDS to reset again once stock links were back on.

Pretty simple now I figured it out.

**mwmaroney1** · 04-03-2016 10:07 AM

It must vary car to car because I have none of those issues and I adjusted my height after the links were on.

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**arrivalanche** · 04-03-2016 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Barritia

Thanks fir the responses guys. Didn't get a chance to get back on here before install but they worked great. Currently running 28mm drop on links and 14mm on Vag-Com. It's perfect and makes the car way more mean. Not done my final asjustment with vag com but it's very close. Set them 5mm less than stick links.

Just did the same yesterday but with a 17mm vag drop. Not as low as my A6 on adjustables, but looks nice. I might even go lower, but I didnt feel like pulling the rims off again.