How to Install KW V3 Coilovers on the Audi RS5 (B9)

Installing coilovers on the Audi RS5 (B9) is the single biggest handling upgrade you can make to the 2.9L twin-turbo V6 coupe and Sportback, and it is well within reach of a competent home mechanic with a lift or a solid set of jack stands. This guide walks through the full job step by step — using the KW Variant 3 as our featured kit — then compares it against the Öhlins Road & Track, Bilstein B16 DampTronic, and H&R Sport springs so you can match the right suspension to how you actually drive your RS5. At our Tampa, FL shop we fit these kits to B9-platform Audis every month, and the fitment, torque figures, and ride-height notes below come straight off the rack.

Why upgrade the Audi RS5 (B9) suspension?

The factory RS5 rides on a capable but conservative setup tuned for comfort and a tall stance. A quality coilover kit fixes three things at once: it drops the center of gravity, closes the fender gap that makes any B9 look lifted from the factory, and — on adjustable kits — lets you tune damping to the road. The RS5 B9 weighs roughly 3,900 lb and makes 444 hp and 443 lb-ft, so there is real mass and grip to manage. Lowering it about 1 inch and adding rebound control noticeably sharpens turn-in and reduces body roll without wrecking daily comfort.

The four kits below span the full spectrum — from a 3-way-capable motorsport coilover down to a set of $415 lowering springs that reuse your factory dampers. Prices currently run from around $415 for springs up to the $3,800 range for the flagship coilover. Here is how they stack up.

The four kits, compared

Every kit below is confirmed to fit the B9-chassis RS5 (and the platform-shared S5, S4, A5, and A4). Read the fitment line on each card and match it to your exact car — especially whether yours has adaptive dampers or the factory RS sport suspension.

The KW V3 is our featured install kit because it does the most jobs well. Its stainless "inox-line" strut bodies shrug off Florida humidity and road salt, the twin-tube design is quiet, and the independent low-speed compression and rebound adjusters let you fine-tune body control without changing ride height. KW rates the RS5 kit for continuous lowering in the range of roughly 0.6 to 1.4 inches front and rear, and the kit is TUV-approved in Europe — a useful proxy for build quality.

If track days are your priority, the Öhlins Road & Track is the connoisseur's pick. Its Swedish-made monotube dampers use Öhlins' Dual Flow Valve (DFV) technology, which gives firm high-speed body control while still absorbing sharp bumps, and a single 30-click dial adjusts both compression and rebound together for foolproof tuning. It rides slightly firmer than the KW on the street, which is the trade you make for its composure at speed.

The Bilstein B16 DampTronic is the smart choice if your car came with electronic adaptive dampers and you want to keep them. It plugs into the factory damper wiring, so your Audi Drive Select "Comfort" and "Dynamic" modes still change the damping — you simply gain height adjustment and Bilstein's monotube control on top. That preserves the OE two-personality ride while dropping the car, which is exactly what many daily-driven RS5 owners want.

On a budget or happy with your factory damping? H&R Sport Springs drop the RS5 roughly 0.8 inch (about 20 mm) front and rear for well under $500, using progressive-rate coils that keep low-speed comfort while tightening body roll. They reuse your OE dampers, so the install is faster and cheaper — just remember that pairing lowering springs with high-mileage dampers shortens damper life, so they suit newer cars best.

Tools and parts you need before you start

A coilover install on the RS5 B9 is a bolt-in job — no welding or cutting — but it demands the right tools and a disciplined approach. Because the kits ship as fully assembled struts, you do not need a spring compressor, which removes the most dangerous step. Gather the following before you lift the car:

• A two-post lift or four sturdy jack stands rated well above 3,900 lb, plus a floor jack
• Metric sockets and wrenches (13, 16, 18, 21 mm are the common sizes), plus Torx (T30/T45) and hex/Allen keys
• A calibrated torque wrench — non-negotiable for suspension fasteners
• A spring/strut fork or pry bar, penetrating oil, and anti-seize
• A ride-height tape measure and, ideally, corner-balance scales
• New top-mount bolts if your kit specifies them, and a set of thread-locking compound

Set aside a full day for your first install. Experienced techs finish in three to four hours; first-timers should plan on six to eight, plus a trip to the alignment rack afterward.

How to install coilovers on the Audi RS5 (B9): step by step

The steps below use the KW Variant 3 but apply almost identically to the Öhlins and Bilstein coilovers. Work one corner at a time so the other side stays as a reference, and never put any body weight under a car held only by a jack.

Step 1: Set the ride height on the bench

Before anything goes on the car, set your target ride height on each assembled coilover. Thread the lower spring perch or the strut body to the length KW lists for a moderate ~1 inch drop, and match left to right exactly with a tape measure. Setting height on the bench saves you from fighting a loaded strut later.

Step 2: Lift the car and remove the wheels

Raise the RS5 on a lift or jack stands placed at the factory pinch-weld points, let the suspension hang, and remove all four wheels. Work the front axle first. Spray penetrating oil on every fastener you are about to remove and give it a few minutes to soak.

Step 3: Disconnect the front strut

Unclip the ABS/wheel-speed sensor line and brake hose bracket from the strut. Disconnect the front sway-bar end link and, if fitted, the adaptive-damper electrical connector. Support the lower control arm with a jack, then remove the two large strut-to-knuckle bolts and the three upper strut-mount nuts. The factory strut lifts out as an assembly — watch its weight.

Step 4: Fit the new coilover

Install the KW strut in reverse order: seat the top mount, hand-start the upper nuts, then guide the knuckle onto the lower mount and start those bolts. Reconnect the sway-bar link, brake line, ABS sensor, and any damper connector. Do not final-torque anything yet — leave fasteners snug so the suspension can settle.

Step 5: Repeat at the rear

The B9 rear uses a separate spring and damper on some trims; follow your kit's instructions for whether the rear is a combined coilover or a spring-and-shock pair. Remove the rear damper lower bolt and spring, then fit the KW components. Rear ride-height on many B9 kits is set by a threaded perch rather than the damper body.

Step 6: Torque everything to spec, then reset the car

With all four corners assembled, lower the car so the suspension is loaded at normal ride height, then final-torque every fastener to the values in your kit's instructions (large control-arm and strut bolts commonly fall in the 90-150 Nm range on the B9, but always use the printed spec). Roll the car back and forth to settle the suspension, then re-measure ride height at all four corners.

Dial in ride height, corner balance, and alignment

The install is only half the job — how the car sits and how the weight is distributed decides how it drives. After the suspension has settled, measure from the center of each wheel to the fender lip and adjust the perches until the car is level side to side. A mild rake (rear slightly higher than front) is common and looks factory-correct on the RS5.

If you have access to corner-balance scales, set cross-weights as close to 50% as possible — this is what separates a good coilover install from a great one. Finally, an aftermarket coilover always changes camber and toe, so a four-wheel alignment is mandatory. Ask your shop for a mild performance alignment: a touch of negative camber up front sharpens turn-in and evens tire wear on a lowered RS5.

KW Variant 3: what we like and what to consider

Which RS5 suspension kit is right for you?

Pick the KW Variant 3 if you want one kit that does everything — comfortable on your commute, composed on a canyon run, and adjustable for the occasional track day. Choose the Öhlins Road & Track if lap times matter more than plushness and you value its motorsport damping. Go with the Bilstein B16 DampTronic if your car has adaptive dampers and you refuse to give up the factory Drive Select modes. And if you just want a cleaner stance for the least money, the H&R Sport Springs deliver a tasteful drop for under $500. Whichever you choose, our Tampa team can help you confirm fitment for your exact VIN.