The Suspension Discussion Thread

[jonrb 0]

Well I had a bit of revelation today. I spent much of the afternoon with Julian at Balance Motorsport (readers of PPC Magazine will recognise him as the guy with the Peugeot 205 GTi with a turbo where there the rear silencer should be) and he was convinced that my handling issues were due to the ride height being too low and therefore the lower front wishbones being at the wrong angle.

 

We raised everything up to the max - pretty much looking like standard, apart from the arse-up rake, and the handling is totally transformed.

 

So whatever you are running, don't slam that ride height too far if you are in any way interested in handling.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Revelation? The negative effects of slamming has been mentioned numerous times on this forum!

 

Emax, get some KW coilovers chap, the ride quality is brilliant. Don't go back to standard, you'll hate it, it's under damped and wallowy.

[boost monkey 0]

I'm putting mine back on standard suspension cos everything is so tired on Stella that I don't have a reference point to work from.

 

After a year of pootling around on standard, I may upgrade it. Perhaps.

[emax 0]

Emax, get some KW coilovers chap, the ride quality is brilliant. Don't go back to standard, you'll hate it, it's under damped and wallowy.

 

Thanks for the feedback. The V3's are certainly out of budget but perhaps the V1s would be within range.

 

Any thoughts on bushes at all? Are the standard ones worth another look or is there another softer option than the poly's that's worth considering?

[jonrb 0]

Revelation? The negative effects of slamming has been mentioned numerous times on this forum!

Indeed, but I had a fairly modest drop and it still made a big (negative) difference.

[Guest]

right im looking to buy some coilovers for my corrado (8v) im looking for some which give a good drop as the car is running 16s but im also looking for decent ride quality as i use the car everyday, i have about £500 to spend, what are the recomendations??????

[boost monkey 0]

right im looking to buy some coilovers for my corrado (8v) im looking for some which give a good drop as the car is running 16s but im also looking for decent ride quality as i use the car everyday, i have about £500 to spend, what are the recomendations??????

 

*points to the previous 28 pages of the thread*

 

read up on it buddy.

[Neil VR6 0]

Emax, get some KW coilovers chap, the ride quality is brilliant. Don't go back to standard, you'll hate it, it's under damped and wallowy.

 

Thanks for the feedback. The V3's are certainly out of budget but perhaps the V1s would be within range.

 

Any thoughts on bushes at all? Are the standard ones worth another look or is there another softer option than the poly's that's worth considering?

 

The V1's are perfect for road use. I've had Koni TA's with Koni springs and FK Highsports and the KW V1's knock the socks off both of them.

[jonrb 0]

What levels of adjustability does each V have? I'm guessing V1 is height only, V2 is height & bump and V3 is height, bump & rebound?

[Mike Edwards 0]

Although I have V1s on the VR6, I still think Koni t/a coilovers (from a Golf) are the best ride/handling compromise for a 4-cylinder C.

[Critical_Mass 10]

Well guys let me know what you think?

 

I feel, although it looks good imo, the front splitter and the cat heat shield do scrape on speed bumps - I think it'll need raising once the suspension has settled for a few weeks.

 

measurements are:

 

Front - 29cm

 

Rear - 31.5cm

 

Now my question is do coilovers generally, come delivered, set at their lowest setting because the measurements look low but im not sure what drop the car actually is, but the coilovers' range is 40-85mm drop. So if they were set to -85mm from manufacturer that would explain the low measurements - wouldnt it? It certainly is ALOT lower then 40mm. Though im wanting to seth the fronts as -55mm and rears -45mm.

 

Cheers

 

Gaz

[Jon_vr6 1]

my vr6 is getting coilovers fitted very soon ive got new front top mounts do i need to replace the rear suspension mounts aswell??

[Critical_Mass 10]

my vr6 is getting coilovers fitted very soon ive got new front top mounts do i need to replace the rear suspension mounts aswell??

 

I think most people would advise it, as would i.

[Jon_vr6 1]

part numbers and price?? i heard there are top and bottom mounts on the rear suspension is that true??

[Mike Edwards 0]

There are 2 bits of rubber (one between the shock top and the body, one between the body and the top-most fitting) that should be replaced, along with the top-plate of the standard suspension.

 

The photo should make it obvious why it's a good idea to change the rubber bits. The top-plate tends to rust.

 

HTH

[Supercharged 2]

Always change the rear mounts - you don't realise how worn they are until you sit new ones next to them as in the pic, also change the top spring plate at the rear as i have seen some fairly dangerous examples recently!

 

On the subject of suspension I have recently binned my FK konigsports on the TDI for standard VR6 Gas shocks and blue H&R springs (meant for standard shocks) - 40mm drop and great ride quality again!

[Jon_vr6 1]

So which parts do i need to replace on the rear when i put the coilovers on!

[Supercharged 2]

With coilovers just the top mounts (forget the plates as they are not needed with coilies) - get a new bottom bolt too if not with the kit

[Jon_vr6 1]

which ones are the rear top mounts and do they come with bearings as my front ones did??

[Mike Edwards 0]

No, as there's no turning required. The pic shows the lower top mount.

 

You will still need the top plate, as it clamps the lower top mount to the body.

[Jon_vr6 1]

Which number is the lower top mount??

 

Are these the ones i need top and bottom??

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Set-of-4-VW-Golf-Mk2-Mk3-Vento-Corrado-Rear-Top-Mounts_W0QQitemZ150268552043QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150268552043&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

[Mike Edwards 0]

Those are the ones.

[Jon_vr6 1]

Right so now i know what the top and bottom mounts look like whats the top plate ?? and i guess i need two one for both the rears??

[Critical_Mass 10]

Well guys let me know what you think?

 

I feel, although it looks good imo, the front splitter and the cat heat shield do scrape on speed bumps - I think it'll need raising once the suspension has settled for a few weeks.

 

measurements are:

 

Front - 29cm

 

Rear - 31.5cm

 

Now my question is do coilovers generally, come delivered, set at their lowest setting because the measurements look low but im not sure what drop the car actually is, but the coilovers' range is 40-85mm drop. So if they were set to -85mm from manufacturer that would explain the low measurements - wouldnt it? It certainly is ALOT lower then 40mm. Though im wanting to seth the fronts as -55mm and rears -45mm.

 

Cheers

 

Gaz

 

Can anyone help me with this?

 

Also can someone tell me if the helper spring on coilovers should be on top of the main spring or below, or does it not make a difference either way?

[lj16v 0]

Just had a fairly major suspension overhaul on my VR......

New VW wishbones (inc standard bushes) , new VW rear axel bushes, new VW top mounts (ordered Supersport poly ones for the front but when it came to fitting, they looked a bit crap so went for VW instead), Weitec Hicon GTN kit (height adj coilovers at the front with height adj rear springs/shocks at 10mm intervals) seem like a very economical way to get into coilovers just means that the back is only adjustable in 10mm steps, Eibach front and rear anti roll bars, big rear strut brace (from the CF group buy)

 

Got the work done at a firm called APD near Poole in Dorset, they are VAG specialists and seem to know their stuff (run their own Seat Leon race car). They let me hang out and lend a hand while they did the work, was really good to learn a bit more. Had a few issues like one of the bolts holding the wishbone to the subframe snapped!! so the subframe had to come out to remove it. Also the rear axel bushes were a total B*tch!!! got there in the end though.

 

Quite a few quid later and the ride is much much improved, not too hard at all. The car is definatly much flatter through the corners.

You do feel the potholes and serious ruts a little more but really not much more than the old original suspension, the back is now much more planted with the new rear bushes. i'm now on 16" Bbs rx with 45mm profile tyres, i'm sure it would more comfortable back on the original Speedlines, also i need new tyres soon which will improve the grip levels.

 

I haven't measured it yet but i think it is down about 60mm (at the back its on it's lowest setting which is quoted as a 60mm drop) maybe a little more at the front, will get the tape out soon!!

 

So for me the Weitecs get the thumbs up :thumbleft: unless you want to spend KW money.

For your info, all the parts and fitting came to a very reasonable £1300 :D