KW HAS on the SQ5

**sideshowbob** · 10-19-2016 10:01 AM

Thoughts on this setup.

- How hard is it to adjust the height.... can i do it myself or does it need to be on a lift
- Is it worth doing just for the ride height
- Experience with the ride quality
- IF you have done this modification, would you do it again or do you wish you went with something different.

Thanks,
-Sideshow

**agautohaus** · 10-19-2016 10:23 AM

you can adjust it yourself, just need to jack up the corner so there's not weight on the spring.

**zcspec** · 10-19-2016 10:27 AM

I ran this setup on my e93 M3 due to the EDC. In addition to the height adjustability, you're gaining a firmer, more confident inspiring drive from the stiffer spring. Adjusting the height itself can be performed by simply jacking up each corner, spin the coilover perch up/down, and call it a day. This sounds easy enough but in real world experience, the perches do not turn as easily as one would expect because you're fighting the resistance of the spring (if raising the vehicle.) It can be done though.

If your SQ5 did not come with mag ride, go with the full coilover setup. If it did, the HAS setup is a good alternative. I wish they made it for my current F30 Bimmer.

**Mops@Nemesis** · 10-19-2016 10:32 AM

Over one year and 10K on the HAS. Still very pleased for the spend! Might consider coilovers next time, but for $750 and adjustment, the value is great. Adjustment is not cake, but it's easy. Set aside and hour to do all four corners. Or just let your shop do it during a service. Ride quality is very nice. Even all the way down.

**sideshowbob** · 10-19-2016 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Mops@SupremePower

Over one year and 10K on the HAS. Still very pleased for the spend! Might consider coilovers next time, but for $750 and adjustment, the value is great. Adjustment is not cake, but it's easy. Set aside and hour to do all four corners. Or just let your shop do it during a service. Ride quality is very nice. Even all the way down.

Thanks all for the info. My wife and i would be sharing the car so i want to make sure that the ride quality would not be too noticeable to her compared to my kw3 clubsports on my R.

**ThunderDent** · 10-19-2016 11:48 AM

The only caution I would offer is some have reported "bounciness" due to the damping capability of the stock OEM shock/strut.
The answer for most is upgrading to the Bilstein B8 Sport shocks, however, these do not work with the KW HAS.

I had the HAS sitting in my garage, and shipped them back worried about potential bounce out of the mismatched compression on the OEM shocks and KW springs because I knew I was adjusting them all the way down. I opted for full coilovers with adjustable damping for just a bit more $. I didn't want to take the bounciness risk. But Mops has been running the HAS all the way down with no issues.

Just depends on what you want to do man.

**EYE4SPEED** · 10-19-2016 05:51 PM

Anybody raise up all the way for winter and drop down for summer? Usually in snow states, get a lot of debris and maybe even rust in the threads that would make adjustments difficult?

I had coils on other cars and either stored them or never adjusted after they were set for summer.

Can anyone post a pic of the HAS spun all the way up to highest setting? I might mark current height with scribe and then up them all the way for winter.

On lower setting, I did find these a little bouncy on the highway and if you are low, you will need adjustable control arms to get toe back spec to avoid camber wear.

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**sideshowbob** · 10-20-2016 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by EYE4SPEED

Anybody raise up all the way for winter and drop down for summer? Usually in snow states, get a lot of debris and maybe even rust in the threads that would make adjustments difficult?

I had coils on other cars and either stored them or never adjusted after they were set for summer.

Can anyone post a pic of the HAS spun all the way up to highest setting? I might mark current height with scribe and then up them all the way for winter.

On lower setting, I did find these a little bouncy on the highway and if you are low, you will need adjustable control arms to get toe back spec to avoid camber wear.

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Does anyone have photos of their SQ5 fully raised and one that is fully turned down.

**Mops@Nemesis** · 10-20-2016 12:56 PM

All the way down...

Mops on the move

**sideshowbob** · 10-20-2016 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Mops@SupremePower

All the way down...

Mops on the move

oh man, now im interested. Were you using adjustable control arms? if so which ones? You tinted the front windows to match the rest? what % is that, looks good!!!

**q5 dave** · 10-20-2016 05:49 PM

I have the kw has almost all the way down (1/2" to go). Obviously it's a bit firmer compared to stock but it looks and drives great.

**Tinpusher** · 10-20-2016 06:40 PM

I've been considering this since before I bought my SQ5 but haven't been totally swayed.
Question: With stock 20" wheels when if I go down a couple of inches I'm assuming the wheels will tuck a bit. What size spacers am I going to need.

**VroomVroom** · 10-20-2016 06:46 PM

Just food for thought... I'm in the H&R + Bilstein B8 shocks camp, but I did consider the KW HAS. The feedback I got...

- One case of a spring breaking - right front, near the top, after a harsh bump. KW's warranty service was abysmal. Took three days to approve the replacement, and another four to get it to the shop. Vehicle was down the entire time, as no other viable option existed to make it drive able.

- Multiple cases of leaking front shocks due to pre-compression.

- One case of a fully failed (left front) shock - seal blown - due to same.

I ran H&R springs around stock shocks on my '13 Q5. As the miles racked up, the ride got very noticeably bouncy. Honestly, that was one of the things that made it easy to trade in @ 34k miles (springs had been on since around 1.5k miles). Since you're likely to go quite a bit lower with the KW's than is possible with the H&R's, this is something to watch at a minimum, and perhaps something to worry about should you pull the trigger. That, and my personal history with KW on warranty issues made it quite easy - as with every other Audi lowering decision I've made - to avoid choosing their products.

No ill will intended for folks running them. I hope you're ecstatic, I hope you remain ecstatic, and yes indeed, I'm jealous over the amount of drop. The look is damn sexy. I just opted not to go there, and questions like this make me feel it's worth sharing why. Good luck to you...

**Mops@Nemesis** · 10-20-2016 07:07 PM

Yes, natural negative camber will happen due to the changes in geometry. With the pictured drop, I like 15mm front and 20mm rear. I'll dig up a cell pic now...

Originally Posted by sideshowbob

oh man, now im interested. Were you using adjustable control arms? if so which ones? You tinted the front windows to match the rest? what % is that, looks good!!!

No sir, I never do arms. I need and welcome the camber, and like to look to an extent. Tint match is pretty good! 35% Suntek carbon.

**q5 dave** · 10-20-2016 07:55 PM

+1 for no control arms. the camber looks aggressive and it drives awesome.

**Tinpusher** · 10-20-2016 08:01 PM

Thanks for the responses, both positive and negative. Always good to have the full picture.

Let me see if I have this right:

When lowered, the springs are compressed more which has the effect of pushing the top of the top of the tire more into the wheel well?

Can this can be evened out with an alignment? Which if not corrected will cause excessive uneven wear on the inside of the tires?

I live in a snowy area so I would like to be higher in the winter (maybe 1" lower than the ridiculously high stock height) and lower in the summer, but not as low as in mops pics. Something that just gives an even gap around the tire and arch. Kind of like S-Fore's.

**buggravy** · 10-20-2016 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by Tinpusher

I live in a snowy area so I would like to be higher in the winter (maybe 1" lower than the ridiculously high stock height) and lower in the summer, but not as low as in mops pics. Something that just gives an even gap around the tire and arch. Kind of like S-Fore's.

If I lower, I'll be going for a similar look. Something that eliminates the obnoxious gap, but doesn't have the typical lowered look. I also have some limits to how low I can go because of my driveway, so I want something with some adjustability built in so I can back off of it if necessary. I had a long talk with a guy at Eurocode a month or two ago, and he recommended the KW HAS that are made for the A4 Avant. Starting point on that is just .6" lower than stock, though the additional weight of Q over the A4 compresses the spring slightly more to take it to just under 1" lower, and then you can adjust lower as desired. He said they discovered that combo through trial and error, and had really good results on a few Qs with those springs. If I do end up lowering that's likely the route I'll go.

**agautohaus** · 10-21-2016 08:42 AM

Anyone who asks me if they should buy just springs, I always ask them to think about how a strut works. Strut handles high speed compression and rebound (sharp, quick changes in road height such as a pot hole or bump). Under full compression in a turn it should still be able to absorb a bump properly, that is how they are engineered. However, running only springs you drop the strut to performing as if it is fully compressed even when you are driving in a straight line. If you hit a bump, you float, because the damper wants to push back to its equilibrium point. Now add compression in a turn and... well IMO it affects the car a lot to hit a bump in the corner.

Shameless plug, I've sold a few sets of all the components needed to move to European Suspension to some customers, one of whom is even in this section. These guys all love it, for cheaper than the price of full coilovers. It's a great compromise since the SQ5 was originally meant to ride significantly lower and does in Europe, but to mean SUV standards in the USA it had to be raised considerably (I believe its over an inch don't quote me though I think its like 35mm). This is a really good option for my customers who don't want to be obnoxiously high but still want OEM rideability. Also, this suspension will last a long time and obviously was engineered by Audi specifically for this chassis and car.

Of course HAS / springs don't come with struts so its way cheaper than buying OEM springs, bump stops, struts, etc. HAS / springs only is a great solution for just looks. But if you drive your car hard, I always have told everyone to look at spring + strut combination kits (often referred to as coilovers). That way the damper is engineered to run at those heights. of course if you go super low on coilovers you will have a similar effect, just nowhere close to as bad. IMO its a safety thing, so i always tell people to get full coilover kits, but everyone is different. Personally, I went with KW V1. Not terribly expensive (Can get discounts at the right time) and height adjustment is huge for me.

**buggravy** · 10-21-2016 08:50 AM

I'll vouch for agautohaus's prices being solid on the oem/euro kits. That would be my first choice option, and I may still go that route, but it's roughly a 1.5" drop. I think that's the perfect amount to drop, but would be really close and might cause me problems with my driveway. With no room to adjust higher if necessary it would be a bit of a gamble.

**freesole** · 10-21-2016 08:54 AM

I ordered the KW HAS from Mops for my 3.0T. I kept it at the heighest point and it looks great to me. I don't know if I would want it any lower to be honest because I do want to keep it as a SUV afterall. The ride quality has been great at this height. I don't notice much bounciness at all at this height.

That's the good.

Recently, I started hearing some "moaning or aching" noise coming from the back of the car only when going over harsh speed bumps. Otherwise, no other sound when driving. I'm taking it in today to get it checked out.

Arjun, just out of curiosity, how much are you selling those kits for?

**EYE4SPEED** · 10-21-2016 09:00 AM

Freesole - can you please post a side shot of your car? Any camber or alignment issues at full height?

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**freesole** · 10-21-2016 09:08 AM

Let me take one tonight. The only ones I have so far are angled photos.

This was shortly after installing (and probably had not settled fully yet)

This is more recent

**agautohaus** · 10-22-2016 05:19 AM

@freesole yeah my rear KW struts are making a bunch of noise. Haven't had the time to get back in there. I think the full kit was $1200? I'd have to check but around there!!

**mchoudhry2k** · 01-27-2017 12:42 AM

I just installed my KW HAS. It is as low as it can go. But some of the comments here are kinda scaring me...can I buy just struts for it? Or should I consider taking them off entirely. Eating the cost of the install and cost of the HAS kit and order Coilovers? This is kinda freaking me out now... :( they were just installed today. Barely driven on them. I notice they are a bit harsher than stock but the height looks amazing...BUT I'd rather be safe than sorry.

What would you guys do?

Thanks a bunch!

**Mops@Nemesis** · 01-27-2017 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by mchoudhry2k

I just installed my KW HAS. It is as low as it can go. But some of the comments here are kinda scaring me...can I buy just struts for it? Or should I consider taking them off entirely. Eating the cost of the install and cost of the HAS kit and order Coilovers? This is kinda freaking me out now... :( they were just installed today. Barely driven on them. I notice they are a bit harsher than stock but the height looks amazing...BUT I'd rather be safe than sorry.

What would you guys do?

Thanks a bunch!

Don't worry one bit. I've been on mine for about 18 months now, and still really enjoy them. Certainly leave them for now, and you can upgrade in a year or two if you choose. You're only going to loose a few hundred dollars on them when you sell.

**EYE4SPEED** · 01-27-2017 07:02 AM

You will need an alignment after they settle. If you can't get them in, you are going to want to run ACA's or be replacing tires. I'm going back to stock. If someone can swap my KW HAS out, you can have them for free.

**mchoudhry2k** · 01-27-2017 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by Mops@SupremePower

Don't worry one bit. I've been on mine for about 18 months now, and still really enjoy them. Certainly leave them for now, and you can upgrade in a year or two if you choose. You're only going to loose a few hundred dollars on them when you sell.

I'm getting a lot of bounce :( test drove it for a while. I don't know if putting the height up some may help the bounce? I'm on 21" wheels. Stock from Audi

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**chuthis** · 01-27-2017 12:42 PM

I'm on KW HAS dropped around 1.5" all the way around and it feels great to me. Also on stock 21's. Although I'm used to being in a lowered car, the SQ5 is the wife's DD and she hasn't complained or even mentioned any diff in the ride feel after they were installed haha. Everyone's perception is def different, but I'd say it's worth raising up to try out since they're already installed.

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**mchoudhry2k** · 01-27-2017 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by chuthis

I'm on KW HAS dropped around 1.5" all the way around and it feels great to me. Also on stock 21's. Although I'm used to being in a lowered car, the SQ5 is the wife's DD and she hasn't complained or even mentioned any diff in the ride feel after they were installed haha. Everyone's perception is def different, but I'd say it's worth raising up to try out since they're already installed.

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True. And I'm used to a lowered car. Here is a pic of my current Bimmer.

And here is how the SQ5 is sitting now.

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**mchoudhry2k** · 01-27-2017 02:00 PM

Maybe I will raise it up some. And see...

I think I'll raise it up all the way to see the two extremes. Because he said right now it's set to the lowest. I'll set it to the highest and then see. Either way it should be lower than stock. If it bounces I'll go back to stock. If not then I'll keep them on for a year. See how it goes.

Thanks a bunch guys! I really appreciate it!

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**turbojayc** · 01-27-2017 02:27 PM

I love the look of the SQ on KW HAS and have read nothing but great reviews on the set-up. Wish I would have known about it when I did my suspension. I went the H&R spring route on stock shocks. Ride comfort and handling is fantastic, but I would love to go a tad bit lower.

Pics of how I'm sitting.

**rusq5** · 01-27-2017 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by mchoudhry2k

I'm getting a lot of bounce :( test drove it for a while. I don't know if putting the height up some may help the bounce? I'm on 21" wheels. Stock from Audi

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I am bouncy too. I'm going to swap for the V3s this year some time.

**Mops@Nemesis** · 01-27-2017 08:15 PM

@turbojayc Still a really nice drop! Looks great. Could be all of the black, but it looks more aggressive than I picture for that drop.

Holla hollaaaa Russ :)

**Drichardson72** · 01-27-2017 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by turbojayc

I love the look of the SQ on KW HAS and have read nothing but great reviews on the set-up. Wish I would have known about it when I did my suspension. I went the H&R spring route on stock shocks. Ride comfort and handling is fantastic, but I would love to go a tad bit lower.

I think it looks sick! How are you liking the tune? I'm intrigued, but worried about warranty.

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**turbojayc** · 01-29-2017 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by Mops@SupremePower

@turbojayc Still a really nice drop! Looks great. Could be all of the black, but it looks more aggressive than I picture for that drop.

Thanks Mops.

**turbojayc** · 01-29-2017 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by Drichardson72

I think it looks sick! How are you liking the tune? I'm intrigued, but worried about warranty.

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Love the tune. Was worried about getting flagged, but I sucked it up anyways. Fingers crossed, I have no issue during my 4 year lease and come time to trade it in, all goes back to stock including the ecu and I pretend like nothing ever happened.

I service it at my local indy shop and will never step back in an Audi dealer for as long as I can.

**mchoudhry2k** · 01-30-2017 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by turbojayc

Love the tune. Was worried about getting flagged, but I sucked it up anyways. Fingers crossed, I have no issue during my 4 year lease and come time to trade it in, all goes back to stock including the ecu and I pretend like nothing ever happened.

I service it at my local indy shop and will never step back in an Audi dealer for as long as I can.

For me I have a 4 year 10 Month warranty with Audi or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) so I need to go to Audi for my service unfortunately. Otherwise I'd drop a tune is right now. And I don't think I want to own the SQ5 after warranty has expired. Seems like it would be costly to maintain.

But who knows...my views may change. So far loving this vehicle! :)

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**freesole** · 01-30-2017 09:11 AM

I think a few of us went with a tune before the Audi warranty expired. I even purchased Audi care. No issues with servicing at the dealership so far.

**turbojayc** · 01-30-2017 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by mchoudhry2k

For me I have a 4 year 10 Month warranty with Audi or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) so I need to go to Audi for my service unfortunately. Otherwise I'd drop a tune is right now. And I don't think I want to own the SQ5 after warranty has expired. Seems like it would be costly to maintain.

But who knows...my views may change. So far loving this vehicle! :)

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Are you paying for your service? (oil changes and stuff like that) If so, why service at Audi? You can get it done cheaper and probably better at a good indy shop.

**mchoudhry2k** · 01-31-2017 02:27 AM

Originally Posted by turbojayc

Are you paying for your service? (oil changes and stuff like that) If so, why service at Audi? You can get it done cheaper and probably better at a good indy shop.

No not paying for any of those. I also received my warranty at cost ;) so didn't pay that much for it :)

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