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Author Topic: What suspension should I get?  (Read 3864 times)

Offline lukemk5gti

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What suspension should I get?
« on: August 23, 2014, 09:25:22 pm »
So I've gone though yet another bearing on my suspension and I really don't like the oem ride comfort so I want to upgrade my suspension instead of paying to fix one bearing.

I'm going to do a good bit of research on this next week but I was just looking for a few thoughts from you kind folk on the subject?

I have a stock gti so nothing racing style just a nice and easy install I'd like to do myself so I'm just paying for parts

Hoping to cost less than €400

All suggestions welcome!

Offline th3_f15t

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2014, 10:22:52 pm »
You may be able to get a used set of coilovers at that price, or some lowering springs and sport dampers. The question of what to go for depends on how you want to drive your Golf really, as some suspension brands offer better ride, others for lowering or handling.

Myself and many others would recommend Bilstein kits as they are a good all rounder.

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Offline Pikey Motorsports

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2014, 10:23:35 pm »
You will make the ride worse with that budget if your trying to buy shocks for that price aswell anyway
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dansmith180

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2014, 11:16:08 pm »
You will make the ride worse with that budget if your trying to buy shocks for that price aswell anyway

Exactly this, some things are worth doing on a budget but stuff like tyres/ brakes and suspension are not. KW's or Bilsteins would be my choice I've experienced the KW V1's in a few cars a they're great I highly recommend them but as also said above many recommend Bilstiens. If you are able to stretch it would definitely be worth it, I had a couple of cheap sets of coils on my first car and now having the KW's I was missing out, especially on a nice car like ours its worth having a decent set-up.

Offline cloud11

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2014, 01:59:20 am »
I wouldn't go near coilovers if you think the ride quality is bad on oem, of course coilovers will ride the same, or slightly stiffer if not stiffer, especially with the 400 euro price you have.

I'd look at H&R street suspension kits or Koni STRT kits or even the AP kit, consisting of Springs and shocks, no adjustability, but will handle and ride better too. I've experienced cheap coilovers and most do ride slightly harder than stock, depending on wheels, and the amount lowered

dansmith180

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2014, 09:57:05 am »
I wouldn't go near coilovers if you think the ride quality is bad on oem, of course coilovers will ride the same, or slightly stiffer if not stiffer, especially with the 400 euro price you have.

I'd look at H&R street suspension kits or Koni STRT kits or even the AP kit, consisting of Springs and shocks, no adjustability, but will handle and ride better too. I've experienced cheap coilovers and most do ride slightly harder than stock, depending on wheels, and the amount lowered

My KW's ride better than my 87K old OEM suspension.
« Last Edit: August 24, 2014, 10:01:53 am by dansmith180 »

Offline lukemk5gti

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2014, 11:18:18 am »
Ok so 400 was too low a budget, I guess I'll extend up a bit.

I really don't race my golf so I'm only looking to increase comfort but at the same time I'd like to lower the ride slightly and I really mean slightly because I've some killer ramps nearby that still scrape my splitter.

What budget am I looking at so I can put aside now before I buy something stupid!

dansmith180

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2014, 01:02:26 pm »
I've only ever had experience with coilovers so I don't know what sports springs and damper (non adjustable) set-ups are like but a decent set of KW V1's or the Bilstein equivalent will give a comfortable ride (especially if your only lowering them a bit) and with the adjustability you can find the right balance for you in terms of low enough for looks and high enough for practicality. But something like those will probably set you back between £700 and £900 depending on sales and stuff.

Offline cloud11

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2014, 01:16:05 pm »
KW's are awesome  :notworthy:, and ride great, I was just suggesting something in the 400 price range with a 20-30mm drop, for absolute comfort, you cannot beat a set of koni FSD's and some eibach prokit springs, the progressive nature of the springs works really well with the first stage of damping where it is soft, just like the spring.

Expensive, but it'll ride like a e class merc on 16"'s although it is slightly expensive, there are multiple reviews of the koni FSD + eibach Pro kit, a google and a read will have you impressed!  Great tech :signLOL:

Offline ED30GTI

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #9 on: August 24, 2014, 05:56:16 pm »
I've fitted some ap coilovers to my ed30 , and the ride is loads better than the standard suspension , which had done 90k+
I've had fk coilovers before not on a golf but a e36 bmw and I though they were ok but abit harsh so wanted to go to the next step up (ap,s) and I'm well happy .

Offline CarlW

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #10 on: August 24, 2014, 06:27:53 pm »
http://www.madmotors.co.uk/ap-coilovers-vw-golf-mk5-gti-1k-2-0-tfsi-04.html

Get them ordered :happy2:

Thats probably the best coilover kit you can buy for your price range which are widely rated on this forum as many people have already trailed and tested them on here and have more good things to say about them than any other coilover kit in that price range.

Offline GTI_Mike

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #11 on: August 29, 2014, 07:32:02 am »
I've had some Bilstein B12 suspension on an old car and they were awesome for every day use. They are mega expensive either. Not sure how much they cost for the Golf or of you can get them though


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Offline danishmkvgti

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #12 on: August 29, 2014, 09:25:27 am »
Bilstein B12 is available for the Golf and are actually a better ride than OEM, deffo the ones to go for considered the budget, don't settle for less.
I have had KW V3 and they are the worst suspension i have had on any car, ditched them for the Bilstein B16 PSS10, it was like getting a new car, i'll never chose KW's again, poor technical solutions and harsh ride

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Offline lukemk5gti

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #13 on: September 13, 2014, 09:55:20 pm »
So I'm out replacing my strut bearings today and I see my shocks are done!!

Looks like its time for my new suspension.

dansmith180

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Re: What suspension should I get?
« Reply #14 on: September 13, 2014, 10:38:43 pm »
So I'm out replacing my strut bearings today and I see my shocks are done!!

Looks like its time for my new suspension.

Which ones you gunna get?