B14 Coilovers top mount question

[Tazocin]

Got a new set to replace my rusting stock setup in my ED30 and aside from the nightmare that is working the bolts loose in the stock fitting (and easing the strut out of the lower cup) I have one other question.

I have a new pair of top mounts for the front, I assume I do fit the complete top mount with the rubber bearing and rest the spring onto the metal o plate of the bearing (with the Bilstein foam ring between) which makes most sense to me and my friend. Its just the cpl of pages of fitting guide the coilovers came with show the top mount but dont detail the rubber bearing being inserted in it, it just seems to show the spring sitting on the rubber of the top mount.

Any tips?

[th3_f15t]

Maybe not the best answer, but I recently did a spring swap and maybe it'll help you figure out what you need:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,101525.msg1061555.html#msg1061555

If you got any more Q's, just give me a shout and I'll see what I can do to help.

[Tazocin]

Maybe not the best answer, but I recently did a spring swap and maybe it'll help you figure out what you need:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,101525.msg1061555.html#msg1061555

If you got any more Q's, just give me a shout and I'll see what I can do to help.

Cheers for the link, you've done it like we did, think we were being overly cautious. Coilovers all in and my god what a difference, car feels so poised and calm on corners but I'm even more aware of just how bad the roads round manchester are now!

Changing those front struts was an exercise in frustration but worth the effort, plus I'm reassured that most of the parts are in good nick, even if they do have a little rust on them here and there. Brakes next and then onto the next mod :D

One question I do have is ride height wise is it worth giving it a few days to settle and then tweak heights so they are all even and then do a few more miles before alignment or try and set ride height now and then let things settle and then alignment? Also, given we have fixed top mounts how much change can we make to camber and toe on lowered suspension? (just curious).

[AJP]

I've always set coilies 5mm or so higher than the intended height, do a few miles (you don't need to do loads), then adjust if needed, then alignment.

Sometimes things settle, sometimes they don't.

[The Red Warrior]

I put Bilstein B16 on my GTI. Same as B14 I believe but with the adjustable damping. I didn't set mine up especially low to start with and my front coils were actually binding before reaching full suspension travel. I tied a small cable tie (zip tie) around the lowest coil and it would get cut in half by the coils binding. After lowering the car a further 12mm it no longer causes the coils to bind. When they used to bind you heard and felt it much worse than simply bottoming out your suspension travel.
As a bonus, because they are progressive springs, lowering it further has softened up the small bump compliance a little too.