How much do stock shocks/springs settle?

[buggravy]

I would have thought a relatively negligible amount. Reason I ask is, like most I don't really dig the stock height/gap. Due to an oddly configured driveway (entry berm to direct water away from the house) I felt like even a slight drop would be risky at best, as non-suv type cars always high center badly coming into our driveway. My wife has a 2016 Q5 3.0, and I couldn't help but feel like the stance looked better on it, even though ground clearance is listed the same at 7.9" Seeing the two parked side by side in the garage today I realized it really did look lower, and measuring proved it to be just over an inch lower than my SQ. Her car only has 3,500 miles, and my SQ has just under 1,000 now. Both bought new, and not modded. That seems like a big difference to attribute to settling, or tolerances. It does give me hope that maybe I can do a slight drop on the car though (though I have bottomed hers out coming out of the driveway too straight. Thoughts?

[buggravy]

Maybe I'll try this a different way. Anyone with stock suspension have their FTG measurements handy? Curious which of my cars is "off".

[DBFL]

Maybe I'll try this a different way. Anyone with stock suspension have their FTG measurements handy? Curious which of my cars is "off".

I'm having new springs installed tomorrow. I'll take some measurements before I have the work done.

[colby7]

My FTG is 29 in the front, and 29.6 in the back. That value hasn't changed in the month since install.

[riceboy22]

Maybe I'll try this a different way. Anyone with stock suspension have their FTG measurements handy? Curious which of my cars is "off".

I wouldn't expect that big a difference between the cars, certainly not just because of settling. For reference, my SQ5 was almost exactly 32.5" FTG both front and rear after a couple thousand miles. See pictures below.

[buggravy]

I wouldn't expect that big a difference between the cars, certainly not just because of settling. For reference, my SQ5 was almost exactly 32.5" FTG both front and rear after a couple thousand miles. See pictures below.

Thanks, that helps. 32.5" is pretty much exactly where I am as well. Wife's Q5 is at 31.5". Something to do with the adaptive damping, I wonder? Anyway, this at least gives me hope that I can pull off a Euro spec, or similar drop.

[DBFL]

I just measured mine. Stock height for me is 32" FTG front and rear. Mine is a 2015
SQ5 with about 18k miles. I have the standard non-adaptive suspension.
If you have the stock adaptive damping it can be different depending on what setting you are using.

[agautohaus]

OP,

Post pictures

[buggravy]

OP,

Post pictures

Will do. Wife already flew the coupe for work, but will snap a couple tonight.

[Silverarrow240]

Will do. Wife already flew the coupe for work, but will snap a couple tonight.

Start it up and see if it's raises... I thought ADS lowers the car a little in dynamic... Am I wrong?

[Qumag]

Start it up and see if it's raises... I thought ADS lowers the car a little in dynamic... Am I wrong?

It only adj the suspension dampers, no ride height adj.

[buggravy]

Start it up and see if it's raises... I thought ADS lowers the car a little in dynamic... Am I wrong?

Will check that tonight, though I know she always keeps it in auto mode. That said, I thought that the SQ5 suspension was essentially the Q5 in permanent dynamic mode. Maybe the reverse is true, and in the softer setting the static weight of the car compresses the shock more when parked? A full inch seems like a lot though.

[poncho@home]

Do both cars have the same size wheels/tires? If her car has a smaller diameter tire, than her Fender to Ground measurement would be less than yours (lower to the ground). Measure the how tall the your actual tires are, measure the gap between the fenders and the top of the tires, that will give you a better idea of why hers has less ground clearance.

Springs would not "settle" that amount in such a short period, and springs are part of the factor in ground clearance, overall tire diameter as well.

[Pittdawg]

It only adj the suspension dampers, no ride height adj.

Was does that even mean? Doesn't dampening something mean to reduce it, i.e. make it slightly tighter/lower?

[Qumag]

Was does that even mean? Doesn't dampening something mean to reduce it, i.e. make it slightly tighter/lower?

Damper" is a term that describes the primary function of a shock or strut. Both are intended to control spring oscillation. They do this by damping the spring's natural tendency to oscillate by using hydraulic fluid such as struts or shocks. The ADS simply adjust the valve inside of the struts/shocks to control the compression and rebound that hence changes the suspension ride NOT height..

[Pittdawg]

Damper" is a term that describes the primary function of a shock or strut. Both are intended to control spring oscillation. They do this by damping the spring's natural tendency to oscillate by using hydraulic fluid such as struts or shocks. The ADS simply adjust the valve inside of the struts/shocks to control the compression and rebound that hence changes the suspension ride NOT height..

I think I understand now; basically the ADS tightens up the shocks, reducing the amount of flex in the springs, ultimately providing crisper, more responsive steering but the ride height remains unaffected. Is that the general nature of it?

[buggravy]

Do both cars have the same size wheels/tires? If her car has a smaller diameter tire, than her Fender to Ground measurement would be less than yours (lower to the ground). Measure the how tall the your actual tires are, measure the gap between the fenders and the top of the tires, that will give you a better idea of why hers has less ground clearance.

Springs would not "settle" that amount in such a short period, and springs are part of the factor in ground clearance, overall tire diameter as well.

Different size wheels (20 for her, 21 for me), but they're OEM and diameter for both tires is 29". Gap is smaller on her Q. Forgot pics tonight, but will try to do tomorrow.