General > Product Reviews
AST 2 Way Adjustable Coilover Suspension
SteveP:
Why
Like a lot of modifications replacing the suspension and moving to coilovers isn't a must for everyone, but for handling and cosmetic reasons it's the best way of improving both of these.
The benefit of the coilovers for me is the ability to fine tune things for your personal requirements.
In this case my target was for handling only as the current project is slightly more track focused :laugh:
As part of buying my car from VW Racing I had the option to take a set of new Coilovers they where due to be getting from Nitron, however after waiting for some time I choose to look for some alternatives that where readily available.
So after some research and advice from a few different companies / tuners, I selected a set of 2 way adjustable AST Coilovers.
What
The AST Coilovers for me combined a number of the features I liked from the others I had considered. The key things I was looking for where: -
Monotube design
Easy access to adjustment
Support for camber adjustable top mounts (and ones that can be adjusted on the car)
Low Maintenance, i.e. not a full on race damper that needed rebuilding every few thousand miles
Here are some pic's of them installed on my car: -
Fronts: -
Comes with their own drop links
Mounted into AST's own adjustable top mounts
Easy to access the adjustment knob on the base on the strut
And the Rears: -
Rather than the normal damper and separate springs, the AST's use a rear coilover
And again easy access to the adjustment knob on the base of the damper
Sourcing
I sourced mine through and had them installed by: -
KPM Racing
Phone: 01327 358645
E-mail: info@kpmracing.com
Address:
Unit 6, Silverstone Business Park
Shacks Barn Farm
Silverstone
Northamptonshire
NN12 8TB
Cost TBC (Need to dig out the invoice)
Fitting
Fitting time is around a 4-5 hours including the reseting of the tracking etc. Some will recommend corner weighing for the optimal setup but for most fast road cars this isn't going make to hugh difference IMHO.
Other versions
Other kits I considered where: -
KW V3's or Clubsports
Bilstein B16
Koni Coilovers
Plus Points
* Vastly improved handling
* Large adjustment range on the damping/rebound and the height
* Extra front camber, when combined with the camber adjustable top mount
Minus Points
Nothing for me, but as the ride comfort wasn't a consideration for me the reduction in on the road manner wasn't an issue, but a different spring rate can be selected that would be more compliant on the road.
Summary
Having previously had KW V3's, AP Coilovers and H&R Springs on stock dampers on my old Mk5/Mk6 GTI's and can 100% say the AST's beat these all hands down in the build quality, adjustably and out and out handling improvements these bring to the car.
The feedback from some Mk5 owners that where passengers at a recent track day confirmed how much of a difference these made :driver:
Also now having had chance to work on the setup of the car on track with the support of KPM it's really shows how much difference using the adjustably of the dampers alone can make.
So for me I don't believe you will find a better suspension kit for a track focused or more hard edged fast road car. :happy2:
rich83:
I wonder what the benefits of the rear coilover are? Certainly looks like quality kit!
danishmkvgti:
--- Quote from: richwig83 on September 12, 2011, 09:46:49 am ---I wonder what the benefits of the rear coilover are? Certainly looks like quality kit!
--- End quote ---
IMO the further from the center the better the spring can be made to adjust, as it get's a longer travel to work with. That's a plus in my book.
A minus from looking at the photos is the height adjustment on the front. There's nothing from stopping the tool slide out of the notches in the ring that you adjust it with. Same flaw i find in the KW design. Though this looks a bit better as it's not fiberreinforced plastic mut alloy from the loks of it.
How do you adjust front camber and rebound ?(the top adjustment)?
How do you adjust rebound? (the top adjustment) on the rear?
The spring setup front consisting of 2 springs, is the progressive or linear springs?
Are they utilizing up side down technology?
SteveP:
--- Quote from: danishmkvgti on September 12, 2011, 10:22:02 am ---How do you adjust front camber and rebound ?(the top adjustment)?
--- End quote ---
Camber is adjusted on the top of the top mounts: -
Rebound isn't controlled separately to the damping on the 2 way kit.
--- Quote from: danishmkvgti on September 12, 2011, 10:22:02 am ---The spring setup front consisting of 2 springs, is the progressive or linear springs?
--- End quote ---
Not sure, I will ask the question.
--- Quote from: danishmkvgti on September 12, 2011, 10:22:02 am ---Are they utilizing up side down technology?
--- End quote ---
Don't believe so, but will ask this as well
danishmkvgti:
--- Quote from: SteveP on September 12, 2011, 11:15:01 am ---
--- Quote from: danishmkvgti on September 12, 2011, 10:22:02 am ---How do you adjust front camber and rebound ?(the top adjustment)?
--- End quote ---
Camber is adjusted on the top of the top mounts: -
Rebound isn't controlled separately to the damping on the 2 way kit.
--- Quote from: danishmkvgti on September 12, 2011, 10:22:02 am ---The spring setup front consisting of 2 springs, is the progressive or linear springs?
--- End quote ---
Not sure, I will ask the question.
--- Quote from: danishmkvgti on September 12, 2011, 10:22:02 am ---Are they utilizing up side down technology?
--- End quote ---
Don't believe so, but will ask this as well
--- End quote ---
Thx Steve,
Just trying to place them compared to the other options:
So as i see it it has spring diameter as the KW Clubsport which gives you a wider adjustment camber wise compared to Bilstein B16 Pss10 as they have the stock diameter to allow for reuse of the stock suspension (tops)? front :smiley:
Adjustment wise the 2 way indicates that they have height adjustment and one knob in the bottom same as the Bilsteins, this allows adjustment of both compression oan rebound at a fixed rate, same as Bilstein. Whereas the KW V3 and Clubsports has seperate comp. rebound adjustments and of course height adjustment.
The big bonus with these IMO is the utilization of fitting the spings around the rear dampers, giving the longer travel and better control over the regulation of the cars movement.
Is that almost right Steve?? :happy2:
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