ABT HAS vs 034 sway bars - which should I do next?

[Local]

I'm trying to figure out my next plan of action.

Car is fast, and stock brakes work great (for now).

My next step is to address handling and ride - but I'd like to keep as much comfort as possible. I do live in Boston and streets around here are not friendly.

Currently I'm looking at an 034 transmission mount and then I could either go ABT HAS or a set of 034 sway bars and strut tower mount.

I'm not unhappy with the wheel gap / SUV look I have going on now, but a slight drop would make everything fit together a little nicer - but only if i can accomplish it with minimal loss of ride comfort.

On the other hand - I'm sure doing the sway bars / strut tower bar will have a much more immediate effect on handling.

I'm torn and need your input!

regards,

[Hostile]

ABT HAS springs fix the handling quite a bit with the added benefit of also making the car just look a lot better when lowered.

The 034 swaybar and dynamic end link package are roughly the same cost as the ABT springs (springs are $100 or so cheaper) so with the same budget you could still swing the strut tower mount if you went with the ABT springs.

I'll also be doing the swaybars/endlinks and the strut tower brace eventually.

[Local]

How did the ABT HAS change the ride comfort?

I beat up wifey with an STi with track suspension for almost 10 years before switching over to Audi. She LOVES the quiet / soft ride when I throw it in comfort mode for her. I'd hate to take that away (noticeably) from her.

I think the benefit of being able to raise and lower the car a small bit would be excellent - and I like the fact the HAS doesn't take away from the spring / strut travel. I understand that my car would probably look better with less wheel gap.

Maybe I'll do ABT HAS + 034 transmission mount(s) and strut tower brace like you suggested. Sounds like a solid upgrade path.

Any votes for the other way? Keep that ride height and add sway bars?

no love for the extra ride height and SUV wheel gap? ;-)

regards,

[Hostile]

I still find the ride comfortable and I have my car as low as it would go on the stock wheels, almost 3" down. The adaptive dampers still really do their job, you can absolutely tell the difference between comfort/auto and dynamic.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Exactly this -

ABT HAS springs fix the handling quite a bit with the added benefit of also making the car just look a lot better when lowered.

The insert and brace would be great additions as well. Do the bars for the next round of mods.

[Local]

Looks like I'm going HAS + inserts. I'll leave the brace + sway bars for the next round.

How low are most people running their HAS?

If 3'' is about the lowest, I'd probably aim for a 1.5'' inch drop

[Hostile]

These are my measurements, from the ground to the wheel arch through the center of the wheels.

IMG_7513.jpg

IMG_7514.jpg

For reference, here are the before and after measurements right after the install was done. As you can see, the springs settled almost half an inch since they were first installed.

Before:


After:


Front Clearance Before/After:


Rear Clearance Before/After:


I told my shop to install it as low as possible without rubbing/scraping. When you go the lowest settings you need to tell your installer to NOT use the rear sensor leveling arms that ABT provides. They will need to use the factory ones. The ABT ones are too short.

[Local]

nvm, I can see the huge difference.

Is your front slightly higher than your rear? is that normal?

[Hostile]

No, the rear is higher. The front is 29" and rear is 29.5".

[rcprato]

I think my SQ5 ride quality is better on the ABT springs and handling is big improvement, I live in Rochester,NY and our roads suck around here.
By far a big bang for your buck and SQ5 won’t have the huge tire fender gap anymore


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[Local]

I think my SQ5 ride quality is better on the ABT springs and handling is big improvement, I live in Rochester,NY and our roads suck around here.
By far a big bang for your buck and SQ5 won’t have the huge tire fender gap anymore


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How much drop are you running with yours?

Trying to figure out where to start with mine.

any changes to the alignment profile with the HAS?

regards.

[Hostile]

any changes to the alignment profile with the HAS?

Yes, you will need an alignment.

[Local]

Yes, you will need an alignment.

for sure. I was asking if the alignment values changed at all.

On my CTS-V there were different values for different suspension kits.

[S4'ed]

I would do H&R front and rear sway bars....

[034Motorsport]

I'm trying to figure out my next plan of action.

Car is fast, and stock brakes work great (for now).

My next step is to address handling and ride - but I'd like to keep as much comfort as possible. I do live in Boston and streets around here are not friendly.

Currently I'm looking at an 034 transmission mount and then I could either go ABT HAS or a set of 034 sway bars and strut tower mount.

I'm not unhappy with the wheel gap / SUV look I have going on now, but a slight drop would make everything fit together a little nicer - but only if i can accomplish it with minimal loss of ride comfort.

On the other hand - I'm sure doing the sway bars / strut tower bar will have a much more immediate effect on handling.

I'm torn and need your input!

regards,

Our Sway Bars will be the perfect modification if you want to substantially transform your SQ5's handling performance. Body roll is significantly reduced, and your SQ5 would absolutely carve through any corner you throw it in, all without affecting the ride quality of comfort!



-Justin@034

[Local]

Our Sway Bars will be the perfect modification if you want to substantially transform your SQ5's handling performance. Body roll is significantly reduced, and your SQ5 would absolutely carve through any corner you throw it in, all without affecting the ride quality of comfort!



-Justin@034

Next month guys - I just ordered the transmission mount, the transmission mount street density upgrade, and the new screws.

I figure doing the HAS first, I'll get to experience the upgrades sequentially - and I'm sure the HAS kit + sway bars + strut tower bar will be greater than the sum of their parts.

regards,

[rcprato]

How much drop are you running with yours?

Trying to figure out where to start with mine.

any changes to the alignment profile with the HAS?

regards.

I’m at 30.5” F&R, probably about 2/3 way to bottom of adjustment. Works well for my daily driver and also for winter months here.
My nephew aligned for me at BMW dealership he works at and chose Sport Suspension option on screen and it has been great.


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[asrautox]

I’m at 30.5” F&R, probably about 2/3 way to bottom of adjustment. Works well for my daily driver and also for winter months here.
My nephew aligned for me at BMW dealership he works at and chose Sport Suspension option on screen and it has been great.


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Same. I started all the way slammed in back and experienced some rubbing in the rear on a road trip loaded with gear. I’ve raised the back up slightly higher than the front to accommodate, but still around 2/3 down. Ride seems better than fully slammed too. Maybe something to do with damper stroke, idk..

[Hostile]

As a follow up. Here are some comparison measurements from before, after and a year later. As you'll see, the springs settled about half an inch in the front and almost half an inch in the rear.

Top row is front - original, after install, one year after install
Bottom row is rear - original, after install, one year after install

[texasboy21]

What are folks running in terms of shocks/struts with the HAS kit?

[Gunnarrrrr]

What are folks running in terms of shocks/struts with the HAS kit?

If there was another option we’d all be running those.


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[Hostile]

What are folks running in terms of shocks/struts with the HAS kit?

The ones that came with the car.

[Local]

The ones that came with the car.

I like the fact I'm keeping the ability to electronically change the struts (dynamic, auto, comfort, off road).

I dislike mods that take away function.

034 parts already shipped. Waiting on the HAS from Germany. Fingers crossed sometime next week.


regards,

[Gunnarrrrr]

I’d happily give up EDC for struts that felt better when you’re lowered more than two inches


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[rcprato]

I’m about 2” down from stock and suspension is set on Auto most of the time and IMO it rides better with ABT H.A.S. than on stock springs with our roads around here. I can understand more drop than that might take you outside range shock is designed to dampen for correctly


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[texasboy21]

If there was another option we’d all be running those.

Im shocked to hear there is not an aftermarket option (especially for us dynamic suspension guys)!

The ones that came with the car.

Running springs on stock shocks/struts is generally less than ideal, and more for the 'look'.

[Hostile]

Running springs on stock shocks/struts is generally less than ideal, and more for the 'look'.

Then I guess it's a good thing that ABT specifically designed their HAS springs to work with the OE shocks/struts.

[Nam_saying]

I have sway bars with spherical bearing adjustable endlinks for sale!


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