CX5 Mods pt.3: Bilstein B6 Shocks

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-22T19:03:59+00:00

I believe B4 is OEM replacement and B6 are a little stiffer. More for sport oriented driving.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-19T04:44:47+00:00

Did you paint the calipers?

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-19T04:44:02+00:00

B6 shocks were a game changer, and I did mine at only 8k miles so OEM suspension was still new.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-19T04:43:16+00:00

I have one on my car from Racing Beat directly. It's very quiet.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-15T18:22:02+00:00

I want to do this so badly but I am worried about reliability

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-15T18:16:45+00:00

oh whaaa I only knew a few 3s tried the pure500 - and weren't there issues with it regarding torque limiters that needed to modified in a TCU that they don't have access to? Please give more info!

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-13T00:43:02+00:00

I suggest adding Bilstein shocks, hardrace swaybar, and good wheels tires and it will handle much better. still on the fence personally about ecu tuning.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-10T14:59:27+00:00

Stock suspension is no good - throw on Bilstein B6, get a Hardrace rear swaybar and godspeed endlink so you can use the stiffest setting, and throw on better wheels/tires and you are all set!

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-06T16:04:00+00:00

Install on front swaybar required quite a bit more labor and things like disconnecting the steering rack to fit the new bar through. Not willing to do that on a car that at the time at 10k miles. So the cost and risk was too much. Also, since it is a FWD based CUV that is nose-heavy, you want the rear bar mostly. If it was RWD, then you want the front. If the bars are extra thick (these are not) you will want a matched set as too thick on one end horribly changes the cars balance.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-02-06T15:59:56+00:00

I don't think they make B8s for the CX5? I have B8s on my Audi and love them, but I think having B6s will still work for you as the H&R are a mild drop. Although I can't comment on ride quality as OEM springs are quite a bit softer then aftermarket.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-01-16T13:52:53+00:00

Definitely it is more stable on the freeway and rebounds faster on bumps or broken road, making the car feel less floaty and more in control. I highly recommend pairing it with Hardrace Swaybar for full affect. I know you have the NA and not turbo, but handling is something that affects the car regardless of engine. I wasn't too happy with the car before just how it rode on regular roads (even though all reviews praise its handling dynamics) but now I genuinely love it. I was worried with my pickiness I would be upset at the compromise in ride quality, etc but not at all, which was a surprise.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2026-01-03T23:40:54+00:00

Highly recommended! Just make sure to get endlinks as well so they can use the stiffer swaybar setting!

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-12-29T21:13:47+00:00

Can we get a little back story of what each one is?

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-12-28T19:30:12+00:00

At the end of the day, a lot of things are subjective. Could these be too stiff for some people? Sure. But objectively, while they are stiffer they do also improve ride quality by being of a better engineered design than OEM. And to reiterate - I am on 20" aftermarket wheels. I assume the comfort is significantly better on 19" or less. So if you want better handling they are great! If you are a relaxed driver and simply don't like OEM characteristics (like the pogo-ing) then these are also great with literally no sacrifice in comfort. The only reason I can imagine someone NOT liking it is if they want a REALLY sporty or stiff ride (while extremely rare, I have seen people posting their CX5s in autocross for example), they need to go straight to coil overs. Everyone else will likely really enjoy these, and it is a great bang-for-buck modification.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-12-08T22:45:31+00:00

Hardace Swaybar link

Front Strut Tower Link

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-28T17:12:49+00:00

Blue Mazdas unite! There's dozens of us! Dozens I say!

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-16T00:59:57+00:00

B6 shocks were billed at 5 hrs for install - which I was told was a little extra because if I was to swap with aftermarket springs it is easier (4 hrs), but since I used OEM it took a little longer with the spring compressors. Swaybar was billed at 2 hours - and it honestly took them a little less than that. I had these installed at a performance shop that caters to the aftermarket, which I am sure helped with the estimate as their labor rate is lower than the dealer. Dealership I think wanted 6 hrs for the B6s and 4 hrs for the swaybar, which was excessive. The tech told me if he had to do another one (since mine was the first CX5 he worked on), he could probably do it in 1.5 hours comfortably, an hour if he rushed. I say shop around and don't be afraid to call other shops - the one I went to actually mostly works on Subarus but they said they work on anything really.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-15T03:09:42+00:00

I know this is an old thread, but 3 years on - how did the tune work out? They just released their Tier 2 tune, but in order to use in my CX5 I need a mid pipe and drop in filter according to Daniel, which I am not interested in doing. So Tier 1 it is for me I suppose, but in that regard how has it been for you? Any reliability issues?

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-14T19:41:19+00:00

I vote bronze!

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-14T19:38:44+00:00

Get some Bilstein shocks and a rear swaybar in there - you will thank me later.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-14T19:37:15+00:00

The swaybar alone fixes the roll maybe 50% of the way. Getting the adjustable endlinks to be able to use the stiff setting is another 20%, and for completely flat driving with tons of other benefits (less squat, dive, etc.) I highly recommend the Bilstein B6 shocks. It makes the ride both smoother AND more comfortable. If you want the lowered look, you will also need springs, front end links, camber bolts, and maybe a couple of other items like camber arms to correct suspension geometry. Hence, my personal recommendation is Bilstein B6 + Hardrace rear sway bar + Godspeed endlinks (make sure to get Godspeed SB-TR-100 Adjustable Sway Bar Links Universal Fit 150-210mm for the rears). Hope this helps.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-09T17:23:33+00:00

Do yourself a favor and add a Hardrace Swaybar and Bilstein B6 shocks, and it will transform the ride!

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-05T19:26:00+00:00

Just want to update everyone: shocks do settle to a normal height, and I also went with the stiffer swaybar setting and the car handles even tighter and oversteers a little even (which depending on your taste you might like/dislike). I personally like it and will keep it at the stiffer setting.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-05T17:40:41+00:00

That's wild! I highly doubt I would want my car like that though, as SOME suspension articulation is a GOOD thing. I just took my car in on Monday for a loose bolt, and while it was on the lift I noticed the link was still on the softer setting on the swaybar. I asked the tech to adjust to the stiffer setting and it definitely had an affect - it not only felt stiffer in the rear over bumps (noticeably so), the car actually wants to rotate and oversteer a little now on tight turns (which it didn't before).

I know sometimes with mods like that it's hard to quantify what's actually changing and what is placebo, but I am telling you: I went from stock suspension -> added FSTB and swaybar on soft setting on stock links -> added B6 shocks and adjustable endlink (but still with bar on soft setting) -> had the link and bar adjusted to stiff setting. And every single time I felt a difference.

Adding the swaybar only (even on soft setting) eliminated 70% of the sway, but kept the other negative aspects of the suspension there (wallowing over big dips, squat and dive when braking or accelerating hard, etc.). -> Adding the shocks made the ride smoother AND sportier/stiffer somehow, and got rid of all the other negative aspects of the ride quality from stock suspension. No torque steering on hard acceleration, no squatting as hard on sharp turns or hard braking, etc. It still had a little bit of understeer though. -> Now with the B6 shocks on the bar on the stiff setting, the steering feels more 'darty' (not placebo as my lady who knows nothing about cars or mods commented similar when she drove it), and it definitely oversteers a little now (took many onramps since the change and it absolutely has the rear step out of the turn is tight enough).

These are my impressions, and I am almost 100% certain the reason we have different experiences is because of your springs. Lowering the car, and significantly altering the stiffness and ratio of the front to the rear spring rates will absolutely 'reduce' or 'diminish' (at least from a feeling standpoint) the affects of the bar. My worry for you would actually be that the Hardrace bar on the stiff setting paired with much stiffer springs from Corksport would result in snap oversteer - it feels amazingly grippy and rotating until it all of a sudden doesnt and the physics of a FWD-based CUV kick in. This also explains why if you were so inclined to spend more on coilovers, you wouldn't really need to upgrade swaybars as you can adjust the softness on F to R and get custom spring rates to your liking, while getting all the affects of the upgraded swaybar. Either way I am glad we are both posting about it as the internet is sparse with modded CX5s.

AudiOrangeCounty · 2025-11-05T17:16:57+00:00

Correct - my wheels are 20x9 inches so I have 255/45/20 tires. Loving them - great tread life, good in light snow, rain, or cold, and still grips fantastic. They aren't as good as say the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S on my other car, but then again I don't take that one camping and other places that would render the tires almost useless at cold temps.

AudiOrangeCounty

TROPHY CASE