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Author Topic: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!  (Read 7360 times)

Offline pudding

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #15 on: January 03, 2017, 11:22:29 am »
PSS10

Contrary to what folk my say... even expensive coil-overs are a compromise on ride quality over OEM. The good thing about them is the made the car handle like a dream. Not so great on the motorway as it can be a bit of a bumpy ride, but when giving it some stick they are amazing.

Indeed.  No one sinks a grand+ into coilovers and says they're crap.  They can always find one positive (less body roll usually) but the downsides always outweigh the positives unless the car lives on a track or is a weekend car only.


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Offline AJP

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #16 on: January 03, 2017, 02:11:21 pm »
Good points @Pudding and @rich83

If this was a track car there's no doubt it'd be on PSS10s or V3s, set very stiff, on semi slicks, and so on, with no f*cks given about how comfortable it was.

I think it's worth pointing out (as much as I largely agree with with you both) that while some coilovers are designed for serious track use, some are designed for looking low and driving ok on public roads. As such, their respective compromises/weaknesses won't be the same.

I don't mind a coilover that's a bit softer than usual as I'll never track the car.

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #17 on: January 03, 2017, 03:09:53 pm »
I'm currently on H&R SuperSport springs and Bilstein B8's. I rode in my VW tech's MK5 GTI with U/Low's and was surprised how comfy they were...his being lower than mine, but mine with both F and R H&R arb's.
You've got coilover style springs in the rear too haven't you, as in short springs with adjusters? And I remember you saying it's pretty firm. Would you say the B8s are a little out of their ideal stroke?

I was toying with a setup like this with an old car. Ended up on Weitec coils eventually.

These H&R Supersport springs - they're a bigger drop than the usual H&R 30mm but not available in the UK as I understand it?


Offline AJP

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #18 on: January 03, 2017, 03:12:35 pm »
Anyway, this thread is short of photos. Get posting.

Offline pudding

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #19 on: January 03, 2017, 03:51:43 pm »
Good points @Pudding and @rich83

If this was a track car there's no doubt it'd be on PSS10s or V3s, set very stiff, on semi slicks, and so on, with no f*cks given about how comfortable it was.

I think it's worth pointing out (as much as I largely agree with with you both) that while some coilovers are designed for serious track use, some are designed for looking low and driving ok on public roads. As such, their respective compromises/weaknesses won't be the same.

I don't mind a coilover that's a bit softer than usual as I'll never track the car.

The V3s I had on my Corrado were way more forgiving than the V1s and V2s I tried on other people's cars.  KW also had a choice of spring rates to choose from too.   The likes of Bilstein et al you get no such service.   Still, they all use the same 2.5" or 2.25" ID springs any way, of which there are dozens of makes, lengths, and rates available off the shelf.  It's worth playing around with custom stuff to get the exact ride quality and height you're after.

Bilsteins are harsh over bumps.  Monotubes are consistent though.  I.e. the damping feels the same in winter and summer and no matter how hard or gently you drive it.  Normal twin-tubes (OEM and VWR spec) get a bit floaty when the damper oil gets hot and thins out.  The V3s are exactly like that.  Bilsteins didn't last when I had them, they leaked on me after about 30K.  Bilsteins like to sieze up, V3s don't because of the stainless bodies....but stainless is heavier than mild.......this is the problem, no one kit does it all.   And price doesn't always reflect quality or lifespan either.  Konis always leaked on me too.   

The KWs were easily the most reliable coilovers I owned, and they're rebuildable.  There's probably better out there now but the V3 dampers with some shorter springs to do away with the helper would work.   I would get some roll centre correcting ball joints if you go mega low, otherwise you'll get shed loads of tramlining and bump steer.  No one ever mentions that either  :happy2:







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Offline rich83

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #20 on: January 03, 2017, 04:00:54 pm »
IMO this is just about perfect ride height.


Offline AJP

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #21 on: January 03, 2017, 04:05:37 pm »
Good points @Pudding and @rich83

If this was a track car there's no doubt it'd be on PSS10s or V3s, set very stiff, on semi slicks, and so on, with no f*cks given about how comfortable it was.

I think it's worth pointing out (as much as I largely agree with with you both) that while some coilovers are designed for serious track use, some are designed for looking low and driving ok on public roads. As such, their respective compromises/weaknesses won't be the same.

I don't mind a coilover that's a bit softer than usual as I'll never track the car.

The V3s I had on my Corrado were way more forgiving than the V1s and V2s I tried on other people's cars.  KW also had a choice of spring rates to choose from too.   The likes of Bilstein et al you get no such service.   Still, they all use the same 2.5" or 2.25" ID springs any way, of which there are dozens of makes, lengths, and rates available off the shelf.  It's worth playing around with custom stuff to get the exact ride quality and height you're after.

Bilsteins are harsh over bumps.  Monotubes are consistent though.  I.e. the damping feels the same in winter and summer and no matter how hard or gently you drive it.  Normal twin-tubes (OEM and VWR spec) get a bit floaty when the damper oil gets hot and thins out.  The V3s are exactly like that.  Bilsteins didn't last when I had them, they leaked on me after about 30K.  Bilsteins like to sieze up, V3s don't because of the stainless bodies....but stainless is heavier than mild.......this is the problem, no one kit does it all.   And price doesn't always reflect quality or lifespan either.  Konis always leaked on me too.   

The KWs were easily the most reliable coilovers I owned, and they're rebuildable.  There's probably better out there now but the V3 dampers with some shorter springs to do away with the helper would work.   I would get some roll centre correcting ball joints if you go mega low, otherwise you'll get shed loads of tramlining and bump steer.  No one ever mentions that either  :happy2:
Excellent info mate, thank you. I'd not really given much thought to the idea of custom springs, but I'll look into this.

I think soon I'll need to try and get some passenger rides, see how I find the ride. V3s might just be in budget if the usual KW sale comes around, but I won't discount V1s, Ultra Lows etc, without seeing how they feel first.

Offline AJP

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #22 on: January 03, 2017, 04:06:48 pm »
IMO this is just about perfect ride height.


Agreed. Maybe 10mm more at the front.

Is this yours on the Bilsteins?

Offline pudding

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #23 on: January 03, 2017, 04:21:19 pm »
That only looks about 20mm lower than my standard ED30!

So long as you get the stainless ones mate, I forget what they call it, "Inox" or something, you'll be fine.   Unless Bilstein / HR / Koni etc have improved their strut body anti-corrosion in recent years, I won't be entertaining them again.


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Offline AJP

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #24 on: January 03, 2017, 04:26:53 pm »
Looks a fair bit lower than my GTI on H&R springs!

Yeah KW do 'Basic' or at least used to, which isn't stainless. Bit pointless when a few extra quid gets the proper stainless ones.

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #25 on: January 03, 2017, 04:45:24 pm »
Looks a fair bit lower than my GTI on H&R springs!

Yeah KW do 'Basic' or at least used to, which isn't stainless. Bit pointless when a few extra quid gets the proper stainless ones.

Must be a visual thing then because mine hits kerbs with the standard ride height!



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Offline AJP

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #26 on: January 03, 2017, 05:01:55 pm »
This is why floor to arch measurements would be handy to me. Two identical cars can look different heights depending on the photo.

But I can tell yours is definitely standard...  Practical winters and all

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #27 on: January 03, 2017, 05:08:40 pm »
Glad it looks standard as I was thinking it looks too low for OEM!

Yeah I threw the winters on out of curiousity!  Got them cheap  :smiley:   16" = great ride quality, but on damp roads the grip is shockingly bad  :grin:    Pesceras going back on this week!  Experiment done, probably never to be repeated!


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Offline rich83

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #28 on: January 03, 2017, 05:22:12 pm »
That only looks about 20mm lower than my standard ED30!

So long as you get the stainless ones mate, I forget what they call it, "Inox" or something, you'll be fine.   Unless Bilstein / HR / Koni etc have improved their strut body anti-corrosion in recent years, I won't be entertaining them again.

Nah its way lower than 20 mm... Ive not measured it but i suspect its in the region of 35-40mm

AJP. yep Bilsteins. Its actually more level than it looks in that photo because of the shadows and highlights on the tyres. I wouldnt want to run it any lower.

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Re: Coilovers... Post Your Pics!
« Reply #29 on: January 03, 2017, 05:23:46 pm »
This is OEM..