2015 SQ5 w/ KW H.A.S. setup

[timmy607]

Hey guys,

Just shot a quick video of the SQ after installation of the KW height adjustable springs.

Also installed spacers - 12.5mm up front, 20mm out back.

Couldn't be happier with the outcome!

[andrios]

That looks amazing! How low did you go? Hows the ride quality? I think you sold me with the video lol

[timmy607]

That looks amazing! How low did you go? Hows the ride quality? I think you sold me with the video lol

I don't have exact measurements for the time being. The rears were almost maxed out (not quite) - and then the fronts were adjusted to match the wheel gap. I'm extremely happy with the look.

So far, ride quality is great - tightened the suspension up, haven't noticed anything harsh.

[Shredder]

Looks amazing! Did you change the control arms?

[timmy607]

Looks amazing! Did you change the control arms?

No control arm changes - If I slammed it in the front, then it would definitely need to be addressed, but not at the current height.

[Silverarrow240]

No control arm changes - If I slammed it in the front, then it would definitely need to be addressed, but not at the current height.

So you are aligned at that height in the front???

[mchoudhry2k]

How is the SQ5 with the HAS holding up? I only ask because I just had mine installed today.

Thanks for the info.

[Sean@TAG]

How is the SQ5 with the HAS holding up? I only ask because I just had mine installed today.

Thanks for the info.

From everything we have seen thus far they have been great!!

[mchoudhry2k]

From everything we have seen thus far they have been great!!

I'm getting a lot of bounce on mine :( the height is perfect. But this bounce in not.


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[mchoudhry2k]

Going to re-adjust to max height just to see the two extremes. If it still bounces...back to stock. :(


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[freesole]

I have the KW HAS on my Q5 3.0 and don't really notice excessive bounce. I do think it is there but it certainly isn't enough to really force me to change it up yet.

[mchoudhry2k]

I have the KW HAS on my Q5 3.0 and don't really notice excessive bounce. I do think it is there but it certainly isn't enough to really force me to change it up yet.

Yeah, everyone that has sat in it says it's pretty bouncy and there is a huge difference from stock. I noticed it right away. Going to raise it up to max height from its lowest position now and see if it makes a difference. If it does, I'll keep them. If it doesn't, back to stock.


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[Sean@TAG]

Yeah, everyone that has sat in it says it's pretty bouncy and there is a huge difference from stock. I noticed it right away. Going to raise it up to max height from its lowest position now and see if it makes a difference. If it does, I'll keep them. If it doesn't, back to stock.


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That is odd. How many miles are on the factory shocks?

[Silverarrow240]

My car is bouncier just with the H&R springs... It's C/O time FO'Sho!

[Adplaya]

My car is bouncier just with the H&R springs... It's C/O time FO'Sho!

Had tons of bounce on mine too! Went with the shorter Bilstein shocks and it's tremendously better. It's no q5 comfort ride but it doesn't bounce around any more either. Really planted feel. I'm assuming the bounciness with the HAS is the same.


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[riceboy22]

Yeah, everyone that has sat in it says it's pretty bouncy and there is a huge difference from stock. I noticed it right away. Going to raise it up to max height from its lowest position now and see if it makes a difference. If it does, I'll keep them. If it doesn't, back to stock.

It's going to be bouncier and harsher on stock shocks no matter how little you drop it. Even one of the guys on the ROW OEM springs had mentioned it being noticeable. It was an issue for me with just a 2" drop from the H&R springs, and you've got more than a 3" drop with the KW HAS cranked down all the way. It will also probably only get worse as the stock shocks will likely wear out quicker. It may not be as noticeable on really smooth roads, but not many of us get to drive on perfect roads regularly!

Keep in mind the stock shocks are designed to operate optimally at the stock ride height. Lowering springs are pushing the stock shocks into a range where they would normally be only when compressed (harsher). And I'm sure most aftermarket springs also have a higher spring rate than the stock shocks are setup to handle (bouncier). The ride should improve if you raise them up, but that kind of defeats the purpose. I personally would just bite the bullet and get coilovers, but of course that's easy for me to say since it's not my money lol.

[SQive]

My car is bouncier just with the H&R springs... It's C/O time FO'Sho!

I went straight to the Bilstein coil-overs and they are perfect. I fretted the ride quality so much. That's why I hesitated to lower it. This setup rides just as good as stock, and yet they are more firm in the corners. Perhaps it's because the springs and shocks are matched, but I love how this thing drives now. I also changed the front sway-bar end-links, but not the bar. The overall ride is excellent, from tight turns to speed bumps. I just got it washed and snapped a few picks, so check my thread later. I'm just having trouble getting then off my phone since it updated itself. . .stupid phone!

[mchoudhry2k]

That is odd. How many miles are on the factory shocks?

Not sure. I think 34k


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[Sean@TAG]

Not sure. I think 34k


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Hmm. Has the rough ride been there since the install? Or has it progressed?

[VroomVroom]

Total FWIW... I ran H&R springs over stock shocks for 30k+ miles on my '13 Q5. At roughly the 25k mark, things started getting bouncy. In general, since folks with the KW springs tend to go lower, I can totally see how the mismatch would make for a rough ride. All that pre-compression on the dampers and such.

Not to generate or add grief, but in my research on lowering my SQ5, I had no trouble finding stories to easily dissuade me from running the HAS springs over stock shocks. Ride quality was the least of all evils - blown seals leading to shock replacement and even a couple of cases of bent rims led me toward other options. Learning that the springs were incompatible with Bilstein B8 shocks closed the case entirely. TAG seems to sell a lot of these, and again, not to cause any trouble, but I'm surprised the feedback is all positive.

[SQive]

Coilovers, baby. . .yeah!

[mchoudhry2k]

Hmm. Has the rough ride been there since the install? Or has it progressed?

Since install. But since I raised it, it has gotten better.


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[mchoudhry2k]

Total FWIW... I ran H&R springs over stock shocks for 30k+ miles on my '13 Q5. At roughly the 25k mark, things started getting bouncy. In general, since folks with the KW springs tend to go lower, I can totally see how the mismatch would make for a rough ride. All that pre-compression on the dampers and such.

Not to generate or add grief, but in my research on lowering my SQ5, I had no trouble finding stories to easily dissuade me from running the HAS springs over stock shocks. Ride quality was the least of all evils - blown seals leading to shock replacement and even a couple of cases of bent rims led me toward other options. Learning that the springs were incompatible with Bilstein B8 shocks closed the case entirely. TAG seems to sell a lot of these, and again, not to cause any trouble, but I'm surprised the feedback is all positive.

Yeah if I could do it all again. I wouldn't (personally)
It's cost me $275 every time I have wanted to do an adjustment. Which is twice, plus the original install which was $500 plus the cost of the KW HAS kit. I should have just gone KW V2's (like I have on my E93 BMW) and called it a day. :( just shows you, never cheap out on stuff like this. Especially suspension. I'll probably run these for about a year then upgrade, so I don't feel as bad about how much money I've thrown away.

Again my personal opinion on my ride quality. I can't speak to anyone else's experience.


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[mchoudhry2k]

It's going to be bouncier and harsher on stock shocks no matter how little you drop it. Even one of the guys on the ROW OEM springs had mentioned it being noticeable. It was an issue for me with just a 2" drop from the H&R springs, and you've got more than a 3" drop with the KW HAS cranked down all the way. It will also probably only get worse as the stock shocks will likely wear out quicker. It may not be as noticeable on really smooth roads, but not many of us get to drive on perfect roads regularly!

Keep in mind the stock shocks are designed to operate optimally at the stock ride height. Lowering springs are pushing the stock shocks into a range where they would normally be only when compressed (harsher). And I'm sure most aftermarket springs also have a higher spring rate than the stock shocks are setup to handle (bouncier). The ride should improve if you raise them up, but that kind of defeats the purpose. I personally would just bite the bullet and get coilovers, but of course that's easy for me to say since it's not my money lol.

I raised it. It is better but you are absolutely right. It's a miss match between the stock struts and aftermarket springs. I may use them for a few months to a year so I don't cry about how much money I wasted purchasing them, putting them on, adjusting them twice :(

Again my personal opinion on my experience, others may vary.


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[SQive]

Ah. . .vindication!
Those horror stories are why I went straight to coil-overs.

[mchoudhry2k]

Ah. . .vindication!
Those horror stories are why I went straight to coil-overs.

You sir, are wise! :)


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[mchoudhry2k]

Hmm. Has the rough ride been there since the install? Or has it progressed?

I heightened them to max height. It's better now. But still would have gone Coilovers if I could do it again.


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[HarrisJewelers]

Ah. . .vindication!
Those horror stories are why I went straight to coil-overs.

What did you do about your active control from your factory suspension? Was this lost and if so what about error code workaround?

[q5 dave]

What did you do about your active control from your factory suspension? Was this lost and if so what about error code workaround?

Don't believe SQ5 models had Adaptive Damping Suspension just audi drive select. So one less thing to worry about

Regardless, KW sells a module to code out if equipped. (works great btw)

[SQive]

Don't believe SQ5 models had Adaptive Damping Suspension just audi drive select. So one less thing to worry about

Regardless, KW sells a module to code out if equipped. (works great btw)

True. All B8.5 SQ5's came with stock static suspension.

[HarrisJewelers]

Yes my 2017 SQ5 has it and this is great information. Thank you