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Author Topic: Suspension choices  (Read 5162 times)

Offline chimp400

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Suspension choices
« on: March 04, 2020, 09:22:46 am »
I've just purchased a 2008 Edition 30 and am very happy with it overall.
Previous owner had some Eibach sportline springs fitted which I was told drop it by 30 mm.
Although I like the stance it's a bit crashy for my liking, I'm aware the original dampers may be tired at 86000.miles.
I wanted to know which suspension kit offers the most compliant ride for everyday crappy Road use and no track work. I tend to drive like a granny most of the time!
I will probably buy the matched kit of springs and dampers.
I will add an image when I work out how to do it to display the ride height.
Thanks in advance.

Offline colesey

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2020, 09:31:56 am »
The racing line sports kit (dampers and springs) could be a good option for you as they are pretty compliant and handle well up-to 7/10 driving.

Offline chimp400

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Offline colesey

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2020, 09:46:49 am »
Yes, that’s the one. I have been running it for @ 3.5 years and it’s a decent set up for daily driving. More composed and less crashy than stock. Think OEM+ type upgrade.

Offline chimp400

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2020, 10:06:40 am »
I'm not familiar with the Golf set up but is it just the front top mounts that would need doing too?
Just trying to work out the budget for her indoors!

Offline colesey

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2020, 10:47:27 am »
That would make sense. Plus a wheel alignment afterwards.

Offline Damian @ DPM

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2020, 12:54:03 pm »
The H&R Cup kit is always a popular choice and worth considering.

Damian @ DPM Performance
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Offline bobby_fodge

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2020, 01:01:42 pm »
I'm not familiar with the Golf set up but is it just the front top mounts that would need doing too?
Just trying to work out the budget for her indoors!

you could change the rear top mounts and bump stops also

Offline pudding

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2020, 05:42:09 pm »
If it's crashy, the original dampers are tired.  The factory setup is soft springs with stiff damping, so aftermarket springs (usually twice the spring rate) soon kill off ageing OEM dampers.

Even when new they never rode like a Bentley, but there shouldn't be any excessive crashiness or wallowing on fast B roads.  So you could try a set of new OEM dampers (don't use cheap patterns) or get a kit like the ones suggested.

There's no such thing as the perfect setup though.  The majority of people don't drive the car on a wide enough variety of roads to build a full picture, so spec the suspension to suit your daily driving.  i.e. stiff if the roads are smooth, and soft if they're sh1te.

I would recommend, in order of tastiness:

Cheese sandwich OEM dampers with new OEM or mild spring uprate.

Ham and mustard sandwich Racingline kit if you want daily smoothness at a moderate pace.

Beef and Horseradish sandwich Bilstein B12 if you want to dial it up a notch on the B roads.

Premium fillet steak adjustable damping coilovers if you want the best of all worlds.

Obviously the price of these will differ drastically depending on brand, spec and lifespan expectancy.

I've tried all of the options and I went with fillet steak and haven't looked back.  90% of a suspension kit is all about feel rather than improving outright cornering speeds, since that is governed by tyre width and compound, but if the new suspension makes you feel more confident, you can push it harder......which is where the faster cornering comes from  :happy2:
« Last Edit: March 06, 2020, 05:46:22 pm by Pudding »


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline chimp400

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2020, 08:14:05 pm »
I see little point in binning the current eibach springs to be honest even if they do sit a little lower than I would choose normally.
Maybe a set of racing line or blistein dampers would be a good compromise in the future.

Offline TheBALDpuma

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2020, 09:00:38 pm »
My Pirelli edition is definitely getting a bit tired on the suspension front.  I'm considering an upgrade this year.

Tbh the OEM+ idea of the racing line kit is tempting.  Full coilovers probably being over budget and over kill for what I want

Can anyone give me an idea on how much this kind of mod affects insurance? It's on my mind at the minute because an sp30 has just increased my premium by 25%!!

Offline colesey

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2020, 06:16:02 am »
I’m with Greenlight Insurance and they only increase the premium for mods which add power. Upgrades to brakes and suspension go for free. 

Another option for the suspension might be the Relentless coilovers which appear to be relabelled BC Racing. They seem to have good fb for road use and are fully adjustable.

Offline Lewo

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #12 on: March 08, 2020, 08:51:02 am »
Anyone fitted Stance coilovers?
Too cheap to be any good......?

Offline LC5F

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #13 on: March 08, 2020, 04:55:03 pm »
This:
If it's crashy, the original dampers are tired.
And This:
I see little point in binning the current eibach springs to be honest even if they do sit a little lower than I would choose normally.
I have had Eibach springs on a few cars, they are good quality, I would even say they are a bit soft.
Unless something has changed recently, Koni kits come with Eibach springs, look into Koni fixed dampers to fit with the current springs - just another option to add to the many already given

I’m with Greenlight Insurance and they only increase the premium for mods which add power. Upgrades to brakes and suspension go for free.
Interesting insurance info - have "they" as an industry given up checking?
My other VW is on a specialised modified policy, pretty much anything goes, they only get interested if you add over 25% power

Another option for the suspension might be the Relentless coilovers which appear to be relabelled BC Racing. They seem to have good fb for road use and are fully adjustable.
Note the OP is not interested in track work - Fully adjustable is very nice to have - but it is another complication that can go wrong and if your not track daying, will you really use it?

Offline colesey

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Re: Suspension choices
« Reply #14 on: March 08, 2020, 08:42:31 pm »
Another option for the suspension might be the Relentless coilovers which appear to be relabelled BC Racing. They seem to have good fb for road use and are fully adjustable.
Note the OP is not interested in track work - Fully adjustable is very nice to have - but it is another complication that can go wrong and if your not track daying, will you really use it?
[/quote]

Once again, “good fb for road use”...set and forget.