SQ5 Springs Only?

[azraell]

Hello All,

Been stalking a while but don't post often.

I picked up an SQ5 for my wife about a month ago and she's really feeling the itch to lower it a bit. Question I have though is whether or not it is advisable on this platform to install lowering springs only onto the car.

It used to be that the defacto stance was not to install springs only on any car because it would blow through the factory shock absorbers in a hurry. I went against this with her last car (Mercedes R350) and sure enough it blew right through the shocks in a hurry.

That being said I don't see almost any of the SQ5 guys on here having different shocks/struts installed.

Thanks for the help!

[BG SQ5]

A majority are using Bilstein shocks or full coilovers. Some have swapped out for the full Euro/Row SQ5 TFSI setup as well.

There are a bunch that run the KW HAS with stock shocks (Bilsteins don't work up front), but very few will say it's all that great. Like most cars, stock shocks are manageable but certainly not ideal.

[riceboy22]

Like @BG SQ5 said, many people are running Bilstein B8 shocks with lowering springs. And a number of those were converts who started springs only. See the Bilstein B8 (or other aftermarket shocks) + H&R - Who's running this setup? thread. There's also a number of people who started with KW HAS and moved on to coilovers or bags.

I'd highly recommend just doing it right the first time.

[SQive]

I had heard so many horror stories about the ride quality after lowering due to the shocks that I decided to go full coil-overs. I wanted a ride that was as good as stock and I only wanted to do it once. I decided to go with the Bilstein B16's (PSS10) and I could not be happier. They are height adjustable, dampening adjustable (which is very easily done, compared to the others), and actually ride a little better than stock, considering my other suspension mods. I'm not slammed, and I really don't care for that look or ride. The Bilsteins are $$, but I am so glad I went this route. #noregrets

[Wilbur]

I went springs only and its pretty good. Firmer than stock. Third Audi I've done this on and havent gone through one shock.

[Smittylube]

I did euro spring only first. way stiffer. It didnt blow the shocks. then swapped out for bilsteins and now it rides better.

[VroomVroom]

...I'd highly recommend just doing it right the first time.

Bada boom. You can count on roughly four hours of labor and an alignment for anything you do. No sense in having to eat that labor bill a second time when you decide to change things for the better. On my '13 I ran H&R springs with stock dampers (mainly to keep the ADS functionality). There was an immediate impact to ride quality, and it only got worse over time. After ~ 32k miles, it was really firm, and the impact & bounce when hitting imperfections at highway speed was particularly bad.

On my SQ I wanted to go a wee bit lower, but without compromise on ride quality. After 12-ish months with Bilstein B8s & HR springs, my feedback hasn't changed from what I posted in the linked thread. I LOVE the look and handling improvements, and the ride quality honestly is better than stock. The only other option I'd consider would be a PSSxx setup, obviously at a much higher hardware cost.

[riceboy22]

If you've got crappy roads, you'll hate the springs-only eventually. It will ride harsh because the stock shocks are outside of their sweet spot. And even on highways, the bounciness over undulations started to drive me nuts because they're underdamped for the stiffer springs.

[JB616]

My .02 is doing it right is keeping the car in the stock form.

But I went with HR -3 springs, despite what everyone will say to get -1 on the SQ, and every road is a crappy road around me. I have so far put 2k miles on them and have not noticed what everyone says with the compromise of ride quality on bad roads and the highway speeds handling being bad over bumps, etc. I have driven it to Cleveland and D.C. from Pittsburgh with the springs and only noticed that compared to stock the suspension is stiffer and I expected that. I will eventually switch to Bilstein shocks with the springs or full coilovers but I am in zero rush to do it.

Obviously the best quality in ride, lowered height and full adjustment would be a full coilover setup from HR, Bilstein or KW.


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[VroomVroom]

FWIW, I think the key word really is, "eventually." Right after springs-only install on my old Q, I noticed firmness, but it took awhile...and was gradual....for things to deteriorate.

I'm running -3 springs as well. I believe the "you really want -1" was an anomaly corrected in 2014, based on H&R's original -3 SQ5 spec being for the Euro diesel model, and therefore mismatched to the model on this side of the pond. The shop owner where I purchased the hardware and had the install performed is very well-versed in these things, and he highly recommended the Bilstein/H&R combo. His thoughts were that the ride quality and overall dampening was noticeably better than H&R's own coilover setup. I can only reiterate that I've been ecstatic since day one. Keeping in mind that I have no desire to go any lower, I'd be hard-pressed to justify a bigger spend.

[azraell]

Thanks for all the quick responses! I didn't realize how active this section of the forums was and that's awesome to see.

Glad that I'm not going crazy, I'm definitely a "do it right the first time" kind of guy.

The Mercedes was an anomaly because there are literally 0 aftermarket performance shocks, I had even gone so far as to contact Billstein directly and see if they could take the stock replacement (I think that's a B4) body and provide the B8 guts to it and they weren't willing. Given this I figured maybe there was something different about the car since several folks were running springs but no available shocks in the market. I was wrong and regretted bothering with it.

So just to be clear though, what was the concern with the -3 H&R springs vs. the -1? I'll go through the thread, but my wife would definitely rather run the -3 with the arguement that the -1 won't "be low enough".

She absolutely adores the car though by the way, such a phenomenal mix of usability and fun factor. We actually have 3 kids seats in the back comfortably!

[agautohaus]

Don't sleep on Euro suspension conversion!!!!

[riceboy22]

TLDR; -3 kits in NA were originally being delivered with springs designed for the SQ5 TDI resulting in reverse rake. H&R eventually updated to use the front springs from -1 kits. The rear springs on the -3 are slightly lower than the -1. -3 should give you an even 2" drop all around. -1 will give you a slight forward rake.

[ets141]

H&R SPRINGS ONLY;

[Reecard]

H&R SPRINGS ONLY;

How do you like the springs only? What was the total drop? And ride quality?

[Smittylube]

I believe what is wrong with springs only is the dampening mismatch.
Tighter springs need a tighter matched damper for the proper ride. That's why the adjustable might be the best because of the tuneabilty.

I thinks that's why so many say the ride is tighter but better when matched properly.

[SQive]

Coil-overs, baby! It doesn't get any better matched than that.

[Daygo1904]

Coil-overs, baby! It doesn't get any better matched than that.

Trrruuuee

[riceboy22]

+1 to what @Smittylube posted. Plus you're running the stock shocks outside their optimal compression range which just adds to the issues caused by stiffer springs.

[KillerQuattro]

Coil-overs, baby! It doesn't get any better matched than that.

Where did you source the Bilstein Coilovers?

[SQive]

Where did you source the Bilstein Coilovers?

Why, Mops, of course. I went with the B16 kit (PSS10).
They're around 2 grand, but easily adjustable (you don't even have to pull a wheel), and I couldn't be happier with the ride quality.