Required / recommended updates / mods when moving to coilovers?

[Marticus]

Hi guys,

I know there is a handling thread ongoing, but this is a bit more specific maybe.

Im preparing to install H&R coilovers on my mkv, and was wondering if there are any other considerations? I know for example with some other cars lowering adversly effects camber so camber plates are recommended.

I've read here somewhere that ttrs top mounts are useful, so I'll be looking into that, but aside from maintenence on bushings etc, is anything going to cause me problems when I go for alignment? Do I need adjustable droplinks or anything else like that?

Also in terms of fitting, I read that most of the hardware is single use. Does anyone know if you can buy an off the shelf set of fitting hardware for suspension components?

Thanks guys

[Clarkj93]

You can't get camber plates for the mk5 hub/strut design. Lowering will give increased negative camber which will actually improve front grip but its not adjustable so couple options you have are:
- Fit adjustable top mounts (these will give some NVH as they will be solid bearing rather than rubber and will wear over time)
- TT alloy wishbones and ball joints
- Superpro/whiteline adjustable ball joints

The adjustable ball joints are probs your best bet if you're not after an aggressive fast road/track setup.

Adjustable drop links are useful to remove any pre load but might not be needed if not going super low.

Bolts you will need are strut pinch bolts x2 and top mount bolts x6

What is the car used for exactly to better understand what is useful?

[Marticus]

What is the car used for exactly to better understand what is useful?

Thanks for the help! This isn't a daily driver, but not a dedicated track car either. Aside from the odd school run, it's my Sunday funday and occasional track day toy.

 So Somewhere I between I guess, whatever I can do to improve its performance without making it undriveable on the road should be fine.. Within my limited budged of course!


 

[Clarkj93]

If you have not bought the coilovers already I'd probs get the Bc racing BR kit as its fairly priced, durable and will allow you to set the camber, soften the damper for road use and comes with shortened drop links.

If you're set on the H&R stuff then some adjustable drop links and either adjustable ball joints to set camber or TT arms (lots of write ups on this conversion, I have done it too) if you can find a reasonably priced set with good condition bushes.

[Marticus]

If you have not bought the coilovers already I'd probs get the Bc racing BR kit as its fairly priced, durable and will allow you to set the camber, soften the damper for road use and comes with shortened drop links.

If you're set on the H&R stuff then some adjustable drop links and either adjustable ball joints to set camber or TT arms (lots of write ups on this conversion, I have done it too) if you can find a reasonably priced set with good condition bushes.

The coilovers are sitting in the garage waiting to be fitted, I got a good deal on them and couldn't pass them up, maybe not as good as bc or kW, but I hope they are going to be better than the really 'cheap' stuff.

I'll take a look into the tt conversion, thanks again!

[breeze]

I’ve always thought of H&R as a better brand than BC. EDIT: Having just checked online they are a lot more expensive than I remember!

[breeze]

You can't get camber plates for the mk5 hub/strut design.

What do you mean by ‘camber plate’? I must admit I have always thought of camber plates and adjustable top mounts as being the same thing. Happy to learn something new.

[Clarkj93]

You can't get camber plates for the mk5 hub/strut design.

What do you mean by ‘camber plate’? I must admit I have always thought of camber plates and adjustable top mounts as being the same thing. Happy to learn something new.

Ah I said plates but meant bolts... camber bolts won't work as the strut is pinched in place rather than bolted. Top mounts can be used for caster too so I wouldn't refer to them personally as camber plates but yeah I think that's what most people mean when they used that term.

[Marticus]

I’ve always thought of H&R as a better brand than BC. EDIT: Having just checked online they are a lot more expensive than I remember!

Yeah BC's are out of my price rance from what I've seen, value not withstanding.

If I hadn't found the h&r's I would have been looking at St or the like.

The ones I have aren't the best, and don't have damping adjustment, but the shocks are made specifically be bilstein from what I've been told.

[pudding]

Only the monotube H&Rs use Bilstein dampers.  The twin-tube kits use Koni dampers I believe.

BC Racing used to be cheap, or had that perception at least, because their factory is in China. But that was only in the early days when they were trying to get some market penetration and generate some hype - and we all know hype = sales.

Now that they've been around for a while and got a good rep in the drifting/track scene, they are now priced similarly to the more established European brands.

Nowt wrong with H&Rs at all.  They are far from bottom end.  They make springs and ARBs for a lot of OEMs 

[Marticus]

Nowt wrong with H&Rs at all.  They are far from bottom end.  They make springs and ARBs for a lot of OEMs 

Good to know! It's always nice to have your purchasing decisions validated!

[breeze]

Only the monotube H&Rs use Bilstein dampers.  The twin-tube kits use Koni dampers I believe.

BC Racing used to be cheap, or had that perception at least, because their factory is in China. But that was only in the early days when they were trying to get some market penetration and generate some hype - and we all know hype = sales.

Now that they've been around for a while and got a good rep in the drifting/track scene, they are now priced similarly to the more established European brands.

Nowt wrong with H&Rs at all.  They are far from bottom end.  They make springs and ARBs for a lot of OEMs 

Being keen on brands I’d probably think Ohlins R&T would be at the top of my list for a road car with limited-ish miles (I know you had R&T). I like KW higher end stuff too.

As it is I am happy with stock shocks and springs (all refreshed). Doesn’t give me the quality of damping that I’d really like but I do prefer factory ride height and compliance.

[pudding]

Only the monotube H&Rs use Bilstein dampers.  The twin-tube kits use Koni dampers I believe.

BC Racing used to be cheap, or had that perception at least, because their factory is in China. But that was only in the early days when they were trying to get some market penetration and generate some hype - and we all know hype = sales.

Now that they've been around for a while and got a good rep in the drifting/track scene, they are now priced similarly to the more established European brands.

Nowt wrong with H&Rs at all.  They are far from bottom end.  They make springs and ARBs for a lot of OEMs 

Being keen on brands I’d probably think Ohlins R&T would be at the top of my list for a road car with limited-ish miles (I know you had R&T). I like KW higher end stuff too.

As it is I am happy with stock shocks and springs (all refreshed). Doesn’t give me the quality of damping that I’d really like but I do prefer factory ride height and compliance.

When it comes to suspension, I'm the pickiest man I know    I generally find the factory setup to be the best compromise    Non-voided console bushes is about the only mod a standard car needs imo.

But on those late summer evenings when you fancy a B road blast, the Ohlins are pretty top notch.  For the other 95% of the time, nothing beats factory, especially with a daily commuting car where you don't want crashiness and other suspension dramas at 6:30 in the morning.

I had KW V3s on my Corrado way back in 2008ish.  At the time, I felt they were extremely over rated in terms of performance (massively under damped), but the Inox line is the best build quality I've seen on aftermarket coilovers 

[Clarkj93]

Speaking of non voided console bushes... I've just pulled mine off as will be replacing with Super pro ones. It's a TT bush inside a golf console so straight swap if someone near Cardiff wants them...