Anyone lift an SQ5? (1")

[awbobsaget]

Hey all,

No - i'm not crazy. No, i'm not going to sell it and get a jeep or start over. I've driven this car the past 4 years "off road" no problem to a lot of trailheads (slowly) here in colorado. I think its the best of both worlds, fun driving on the roads 98% of the time and can get to most places "off road" the other 2% of the time. However, i'd love some extra space and just ONE wheel/tire setup.

Current setup: stock 21' summer tires and 19x 8.5 rims with 235/55/19 winter tires. Looking to keep the 19" rims for extra side wall with an all weather tire

I've seen plenty of people raise their Q5 with these springs but will they work (H&R) on an SQ5? I can't find this information anywhere.

There are spacers - but would rather not go that route if springs work to get a more comfortable/safe ride.

Any other crazies out there do a small lift on an SQ5? People do this with the cayenne all the time - why not the SQ5?

thanks!

[Maff_u]

Do it!

I did a little research on lifting my 2015 sq5 but ended up selling it for a Q7 before making the leap. i wanted to replicate the h&r b9 q5 (https://www.hrsprings.com/projects/d...r-2018-audi-q5) with my b8 sq5 but as i'm sure you've seen, info is limited. Since the sq5 used the same h&r lowering springs as the standard q5, I figured the lift springs should work as well. I couldnt get h&r to confirm or deny this though.

the limiting factor in putting bigger tires is the steering knuckle. If you want to stay under that you cant go too much bigger than stock. if you wanted to poke the tire out past the knuckle, which i was assuming is what h&r did, you can go a bit bigger (~30")

if you search around instagram there are a few guys with standard b8 q5 that have done the lift + bigger tires but when i was looking (about a year ago) i couldnt find a single sq5 that had gone that route.

good luck and post some pics of your progress

[awbobsaget]

Do it!

I did a little research on lifting my 2015 sq5 but ended up selling it for a Q7 before making the leap. i wanted to replicate the h&r b9 q5 (https://www.hrsprings.com/projects/d...r-2018-audi-q5) with my b8 sq5 but as i'm sure you've seen, info is limited. Since the sq5 used the same h&r lowering springs as the standard q5, I figured the lift springs should work as well. I couldnt get h&r to confirm or deny this though.

I talked with H&R tech - Here's what they said:

"We do not list the adventure raising springs for the “SQ5” specifically due to the fact they all come standard equipped with electronic shocks, otherwise known as “MRC – magnetic ride control”. To my knowledge; my manufacturing team in Germany either knows these springs aren’t compliant with those specific shocks, or, we simply just haven’t tested it.."

I wasn't aware the shocks were MRC and that much different than the Q5...but it sounds like they haven't verified or tested it. I replied back i'd be a Guinea pig...

the limiting factor in putting bigger tires is the steering knuckle. If you want to stay under that you cant go too much bigger than stock. if you wanted to poke the tire out past the knuckle, which i was assuming is what h&r did, you can go a bit bigger (~30")

if you search around instagram there are a few guys with standard b8 q5 that have done the lift + bigger tires but when i was looking (about a year ago) i couldnt find a single sq5 that had gone that route.

good luck and post some pics of your progress

This was my second hurdle - how tall a tire i could fit under that knuckle. I honestly don't need anything too extreme for a tire as i'll be mostly road driving - possibly 245/55/19 for .4" taller tire with minimal speedo diff - but curious how much space i'd have after a 1-1.5" lift via spring or spacer.

I'll keep this thread updated for search purposes.

edit: found one user that put on a 245/55/19 winter tire so 29.6" tall - leaving around .3" to clear knuckle. need to confirm it worked without a spacer and no rubbing.

[Maff_u]

ah yeh that response from h&r sounds familiar. i don't recall the different b8 sq5 options but mine just came with standard non-mrc shocks i thought. sounds more like they hadn't tested it so they won't list it as compatible.

i really like the overland cayenne builds and think a properly done sq5 could look like a 9/10th scale version of one

[Mpddiesel]

ah yeh that response from h&r sounds familiar. i don't recall the different b8 sq5 options but mine just came with standard non-mrc shocks i thought. sounds more like they hadn't tested it so they won't list it as compatible.

i really like the overland cayenne builds and think a properly done sq5 could look like a 9/10th scale version of one

Any updates?

[elRayRay]

Hey all,

No - i'm not crazy. No, i'm not going to sell it and get a jeep or start over. I've driven this car the past 4 years "off road" no problem to a lot of trailheads (slowly) here in colorado. I think its the best of both worlds, fun driving on the roads 98% of the time and can get to most places "off road" the other 2% of the time. However, i'd love some extra space and just ONE wheel/tire setup.

Current setup: stock 21' summer tires and 19x 8.5 rims with 235/55/19 winter tires. Looking to keep the 19" rims for extra side wall with an all weather tire

I've seen plenty of people raise their Q5 with these springs but will they work (H&R) on an SQ5? I can't find this information anywhere.

There are spacers - but would rather not go that route if springs work to get a more comfortable/safe ride.

Any other crazies out there do a small lift on an SQ5? People do this with the cayenne all the time - why not the SQ5?

thanks!

I'm planning to lift my 2013 Q5 (3.0T) once my extended warranty expires in a couple years. I've already purchased the springs (H&R 50383) but plan on installing when shocks and struts and/or ball joints need replacement.

AFAIK, the springs should fit right up the same on an SQ5 vs. Q5. Just make sure you're not running a "shorter-than-Q5-length" damper. And I don't think factory-adjustable dampers would be advised.

I'm currently running 18"x 8.5" with Falken WildPeak A/T Trails in 255/55 and love the sizing for forest/logging/fire roads. I also just did a 5,000 mile highway road trip and have zero complaints. I think the SQ5 has larger brakes though, right? I've got 345mm Brembo fronts and my ET45 1552 wheels clear fine. I've got a few pictures in my member gallery.

[dgeraci43]

H&R customer service sucks. I originally bought 265/65/18's as that what is said on their site. But when they put it on, I was told that the knuckle would pop the tire. I called H&R and their response was "we don't put sizes of tires on our site." I told them BS as it's on their site and that their Q5 was not placed in the woods. I was able to return the tires and get the 255's. When I need new tires, I'll test fit some beefer tires too.

I did the lift with my '18 Q5. I used the H&R springs and have 18" BBS CHR wrapped in 255/55/18 Yokohama Geolanders. I also have Black Forest Industries 16mm spacers in the front and 18mm in the rear and to top it off, I have an APR Stage 1 on it too. It rides great on the roads but haven't really tested it yet off road.


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[elRayRay]

My understanding is that the largest tire OD to fit is ~29.6". This has nothing to do with your suspension setup as the steering knuckle is the limiting factor. I run 255/55/18's on my 2013 with stock suspension. I too have a set of the H&R Adventure springs but am waiting until I get new dampers to install them. Also, I personally have never seen a spring manufacturer's specs list allowable tire sizes, as it isn't in their (pardon the pun) wheelhouse and puts too much liability on them, as you've demonstrated. Though I'm open to be shown otherwise.

I believe your 2018 is a different platform (B8 platform replaced by B9 in 2018), so the other Q5 forum may get you better responses.

[5000S]

It is against the law to lift the SQ5, it is an Audi, so act civilized. Get a Cayenne, that is done all the time. Don't try to copy.

[TexasDfwS4]

To be far, the 2018 B9 SQ5 has an air suspension that will raise it close to Five inches.