By suspension do you mean swaybars as well?
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Volkswagen Fan
By suspension do you mean swaybars as well?
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Dub Crazy
VWwA Super Moderator
No, just the shocks and springs mate. Bars adds another $500 nearlyin parets, plus bolts fitting and alignment.Originally Posted by Blue9N3
Gavin
Volkswagenist
I'm very happy with the Bilstein/H&R combo. I've changed the lower control arm bushes and have rear sway bar set on soft. It's a great compromise for me. I regularly do track days so handling was a priority, but as my daily it still had to be compliant. It provides nice adjustability throughout a corner so can be balanced on the throttle nicely. Low speed ride is firm, high speed is compliant and resolved.
The red devil is running FK AK coilovers, though I've ordered H&R coilovers which should be here in a couple of weeks. My opinion on the AK's is that they are marginally better than stock struts with lowered springs. Around town they are ok, but highway speeds and beyond they are quite obviously under damped resulting in more than one vertical movement to control the rebound - really quite unpleasant and unsettling IMO. On sharp edged bumps, they are probably more compliant than the bilstein/H&R's. I don't think the AK's have done many k's, but they are already rattling too.
In pretty much every environment, the spring/strut combo is infinately better than the AK's, but that's reflective in the price difference so perhaps isn't fair. There is little to no feedback in the AK's and corner speed is also much lower.
I'll be able to provide more info once the H&R's are in. RE the H&R's, it was between these and the KW V'3s and clubsports. I was able to source the H&R's from Orange Tuning in Germany for half the price I could get the KW's for. H&R's run inverted, monotube bilstein inserts. From all the research, feedback was highly positive, some were critical of an overly firm ride, which for my application is fine. They do however lack rebound and damper adjustablity, but I'm ok with as for the money saved more than covers a set of semi-slicks, which will still be a much superier set-up than KW's on street tyres.
Track Car: 06 Polo GTI Red Devil mkII
Daily: 2010 VW Jetta Highline
Gone but not forgotten: 08 Polo GTI
** All information I provide is probably incorrect until validated by someone else **
Volkswagenist
Was it running the FKs when it was sold to you? There's no way I'd go near a racetrack with those.
I also have Bilstein dampers with HR springs and the handling is great but the ride does suffer on sharp edged bumps and potholes. I am ONLY interested in track performance (at decent cost) so the drop I have is probably not enough for those who aesthetically motivated.
Resident grumpy old fart
VW - Metallic Paint, Radial Tyres, Laminated Windscreen, Electric Windows, VW Alloy Wheels, Variable Geometry Exhaust Driven Supercharger, Direct Unit Fuel Injection, Adiabatic Ignition, MacPherson Struts front, Torsion Beam rear, Coil Springs, Hydraulic Dampers, Front Anti-Roll Bar, Disc Brakes, Bosch ECU, ABS
Volkswagenist
Yup, the FK AK's were on when I bought the car. I believe they were an interim measure as one of the Koni's that were on it had expired and Anthony had committed funds elsewhere at the time (brembo's and/or turbo for recollection). I echo your sentiments on them, I don't mean any disrespect to Anthony's choice, or any one shopping for coilovers on a budget, but don't buy em, no excuse or reasoning, save the coin. Look at the weitec or KW's ST brand, spend twice the money, don't question it.
And yeah, the Bilstein and H&R's are great, never once regretted that choice. Koni's ride very nicely too, Anthony had them and they were beaut.
Track Car: 06 Polo GTI Red Devil mkII
Daily: 2010 VW Jetta Highline
Gone but not forgotten: 08 Polo GTI
** All information I provide is probably incorrect until validated by someone else **
Volkswagenist
The Koni's should be able to be rebuilt - that one of the big advantages for Koni and Bilstein in Australia vs Weitec and KW.
The FK Koenigsport have Koni dampers, from memory
Resident grumpy old fart
VW - Metallic Paint, Radial Tyres, Laminated Windscreen, Electric Windows, VW Alloy Wheels, Variable Geometry Exhaust Driven Supercharger, Direct Unit Fuel Injection, Adiabatic Ignition, MacPherson Struts front, Torsion Beam rear, Coil Springs, Hydraulic Dampers, Front Anti-Roll Bar, Disc Brakes, Bosch ECU, ABS
Volkswagen Enthusiast
Absolutely. One of my current Bilsteins busted a seal after just two weeks. Sent it to Heasman, back on my doorstep fully rebuilt two days later.
Hard to beat that for service.
Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Choose two.
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