KW Street Comfort (SC) Coilover dampening settings?

[wrcardon]

Heya,

Those of you with the KW Street Comfort (SC) Coilovers, what have you used for dampening settings on your Q5/SQ5?

I have read that a lot of people just go with the factory setting (middle - 7) on the Qs, but have definitely seen people change the settings on the other B8 platform cars to "firm up" the suspension a bit as they out the of box setting wasn't enough for them.

I ask because the KW SC is really a pain to change the dampening on. You basically have to remove the strut mount again to get to the dampening adjustment allen key hole. Trying to avoid doing a readjustment if possible and just "get it right" the first time.

I have a 2014 SQ5 and it's daily driver but I want a bit more aggressive feel vs. stock US especially on the dampening side. Looking to lower about 1.75-2" I think.

Thanks!

[Amit82]

I think the only answer here is trial and error. I would jack up to the 9 and go from there. Might have to adjust a few times but I think it's worth it when you have it dialed in just right.

2016 SQ5

[mlux24]

I left mine in the default middle position after dropping 2". I would only consider a firmer setting if I plan on tracking it regularly. As a daily, it is a compliant ride and I can take corners as if I were in my S4.

[wrcardon]

I left mine in the default middle position after dropping 2". I would only consider a firmer setting if I plan on tracking it regularly. As a daily, it is a compliant ride and I can take corners as if I were in my S4.

Did you use the spacers in the rear? I bought the 30mm for the rear per multiple people’s recommendations. I am looking for about 1.75” in the front and 1.5” in the rear. My stock suspension sits a bit higher in the front.... must be my golf clubs in the trunk at all times.

[mlux24]

Nope, no spacer. Digging the ride height as is...not sure if my golf clubs have dropped it even further. Maybe I should go remeasure? hah.

[wrcardon]

Nope, no spacer. Digging the ride height as is...not sure if my golf clubs have dropped it even further. Maybe I should go remeasure? hah.

That’s only a 2” drop!? Look lower than I expected.

[KillerQuattro]

Trial and error is a costly endeavor in this case. You cant just get under the car and re-adjust. You have to pull everything back off. Unless you want to drill a small hold in the engine bay to allow access to the top of the struts. I read up on this and had considered it, but never actually did it.

I think out of the box it lowers about 2.4". I didn't use the spacers on mine either. It does sit pretty low. I would buy the spacers and install them regardless of your plans. Plans change, and I have to admit, I wish I could bring up the rear of my ride about 5-10mm.

I went with the settings from the factory. Right down the middle. I don't feel that it needs to be any stiffer. In fact, at first I wish I had gone softer, for a more OEM feel. I ended up staying with it though and it has softened a bit.

If I wanted to seriously address body roll, I would prefer a rear sway bar first, and go with factory dampening settings.

Good luck!

[buggravy]

That’s only a 2” drop!? Look lower than I expected.

I think I mentioned this in another thread, but I feel pretty confident that a 2" drop is the minimum that you are going to get in the rear even with the spacer. There was another user on here that had this set up. I talked to him about it pretty extensively as I was thinking of buying his when he parted out his SQ5. With the spacers on, and the adjustment threads at the limit of what he and the shop felt was safe, he was at roughly 30.5" FTG all the way around, which is 2" down in the rear, maybe even a little over 2".

[wrcardon]

Unless you want to drill a small hold in the engine bay to allow access to the top of the struts. I read up on this and had considered it, but never actually did it.

I am considering drilling and adding a rubber grommet. KW makes extenders with the purple crank so I could run the extender through the grommet and into the engine bay in the front and somewhere into the rear too. Would need 4 of them @ ~ $50 each. They make different sizes so I guess I would have to guess if I want to do it in one fun install.

KW Rebound Extension-10mm Wrench-300mm Long



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X1CV1B7..._rGE7CbMEZ88Z4

[KillerQuattro]

I am considering drilling and adding a rubber grommet. KW makes extenders with the purple crank so I could run the extender through the grommet and into the engine bay in the front and somewhere into the rear too. Would need 4 of them @ ~ $50 each. They make different sizes so I guess I would have to guess if I want to do it in one fun install.

KW Rebound Extension-10mm Wrench-300mm Long

Why would you need 4? Shouldn't you need just 1 and estimate the size needed? I'm pretty sure it's just a longer version of their tool. You don't leave them in place while you drive.

So drill the holes add the grommets and adjust with the tool through the grommets whenever you would like. Seems like a pretty good compromise so long as you do a nice job.

[wrcardon]

Why would you need 4? Shouldn't you need just 1 and estimate the size needed? I'm pretty sure it's just a longer version of their tool. You don't leave them in place while you drive.

So drill the holes add the grommets and adjust with the tool through the grommets whenever you would like. Seems like a pretty good compromise so long as you do a nice job.

The way I have seen it done with other brands is to leave them in permanently because it’s hard to get them to seat if there is some distance to cover. They are flexible so they kinda flop around. If you seat them in place during instillation and leave them pushed through a hole in a rubber grommet they make for super easy adjustment. Yeah, I could try to save money but I feel like this is one of those things where I would be kicking myself if I cut corners down the road and had to spend a ton of time trying to get the extender on the top of the coilover.

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen anyone do this on a Q so I don’t know how long of extender I would need. Will probably buy several sizes on amazon and return the ones I don’t use.

[KillerQuattro]

Ok I got you now. That makes more sense.

[wrcardon]

In case anyone is looking to install the dampener extensions in the future, KW customer service got back to me super quick. Here is the hex size for the front and back "the front struts will use a 9mm extension. The rears would use an 8mm."

The front looks super accessible as the strut mount is compact and right under the engine bay metal... so I will probably use the shortest one which is 100mm. The rears... i am not sure yet. Again the strut mount is short, but it's hard to tell what length is best. Looks pretty accessible if you pull the felt cover in the trunk off (there are two panels which remove on each side, one to access the MMI equipment and on the passenger side there is an indented pocket). Might go longer to make sure the knob is really easy to reach. The extensions are all the same price no matter the length.

[pickle.rs]

Any update here? Curious to know which extensions you went with, as I want to run these as well so i can easily adjust. Currently unhappy with the out of the box settings on my Q5. Rear bounces all over the place.

I also seem to bottom out more than I think is acceptable just driving on the freeway, hitting transitions from asphalt to concrete (overpasses) and many other times where it really shouldn’t...

[greasykid]

Slightly different set up here. I have H&R lowering springs with Bilsteins B8s. My remarks are for the distance of cut offs of the bump stops. Installer took 1 1/2" off the stops & I have no problems with bottoming out. Great setup for my Q5. Just my .02.

[djn876]

The KWs I would think have their own bump stops so don't know that the comment above applies to you.

That said, I don't know what the post ended up resulting in, but the rears I don't think would be accessible from the cabin since I don't think the mounting location penetrates all the way through to the interior. I can't remember now from when I did mine, but pulling one of those panels and looking in, it didn't look like it.

The rears at least are super easy to pull though.

The fronts you would have to remove or make a hole in the noise insulation.

Any update here? Curious to know which extensions you went with, as I want to run these as well so i can easily adjust. Currently unhappy with the out of the box settings on my Q5. Rear bounces all over the place.

I also seem to bottom out more than I think is acceptable just driving on the freeway, hitting transitions from asphalt to concrete (overpasses) and many other times where it really shouldn’t...

[armandorav]

Did anyone get the SC's dialed in and install the extentions? I'm very annoyed at how bouncy my SQ5 feels, to the point where I feel sick after driving it a few minutes. I'll probably go the rebound extension route before removing them and going back to stock. How many clicks should I choose to get a less bouncy feel?