Koni Special Actives

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Aug 2, 2024 | 08:41 PM

Picker

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Koni Special Actives

I have a 2016 Q5 TDI that I am looking at changing the shocks to Koni Special Actives and also lowering it by 30mm, has anyone done this mod, and did you shorten the shock shafts to take account of the 30mm lowering. There seems to be enough free play for the shocks to not bottom out with the lowering springs, any comments appreciated. Also, anyone like to comment on the ride after/if they have fitted the Koni Actives

Aug 7, 2024 | 08:18 AM

DennisMitchell

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From: Long Island, NY, USA

Check out this article and the comments below the article. It appears these shocks will work with lowered springs.

https://eeuroparts.com/blog/koni-fsd...pecial-active/

Aug 9, 2024 | 11:29 PM

Picker

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I have had the shocks shortened ad getting the fitted on Monday, I will give them a couple of weeks to settle, so if it makes the difference I want to the ride quality

Aug 10, 2024 | 08:10 AM

stash64

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Picker

I have had the shocks shortened ad getting the fitted on Monday, I will give them a couple of weeks to settle, so if it makes the difference I want to the ride quality

Are you hoping for lowered and yet less harshness? I swapped in Bilsteins last year and there is slightly increased harshness at low speeds using stock springs but much better control and better compliance at highway speeds.

Aug 10, 2024 | 01:23 PM

Picker

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I had Bilstiens/Ebach Springs on my 2010 Q, stopped all the wallowing and lean in corners, ride stayed about the same, maybe a little firmer but a lot more control, Just hoping to get a better ride lower speeds with the Special actives, I have paired them withVoghtland springs, 30mm lower with the same number of turns/coils, we shall see.

Oct 11, 2024 | 08:03 AM

JayEll

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@Picker how are the Koni's working out? Did you have the stock active dampers originally on your Q5? I am looking to replace my stock magnetic dampers with new ones and came across the Koni Special Actives. They are much more affordable to replace, but I wonder what the downsides are compared to OEM.

Oct 12, 2024 | 02:40 AM

Picker

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Quote:

Originally Posted by JayEll

I had the sports shock/suspension on mine and had not been able to find a Q5 with standard shocks to compare. I felt the ride was too harsh with the sports shocks, thats why I changed. My first effort was to put Koni Yellows on, one post I read said they the graphs showed their compression rate was the same as the Special Actives, just the rebound could be changed. I also fitted some Voughtland lowering springs at the same time, I chose them as they have the same number of turns as the stock springs so very close to the same spring rate, I like the lower look... It still felt a bit harsh with the yellow so I decided to take them off and replace with the Special Actives. I think now that I would have been able to find a similar setting to the SAs if I hade change the setting, the problem there was the Yellows have to be removed to chang the rebound rate, A $500 a time I was going to be too expensive, Thats whY I changed to the SAs. I think it rides a little better over undulations but still feels road joints, doesnt smooth them out at all. I have never ridden in a. Q5 with the stock actives so ant compareI dont think you will ever get a Q5 to ride easy, even if you put air bags on it, I have been in a Q7 with bags and wasnt that impressed with it. I have 19'' wheels on mine, now rides about the same as my wife's Mazda 6 car. Hope this helps.