Let's talk suspension... [Opinions/Reviews/Chit-Chat]

[Sofa Boy]

Hi team,

Although there's a post here and there on the topic, I'm yet to see a really active thread re: suspension. I'm going to be upgrading mine soon and am in the process of scouring the web for information, opinions, and reviews on a whole range of aspects of upgrading your cars bounceybounce parts.

I'd love to get your feedback/take on these for a start:
- Brands that you use/trust
- What you're running now
- Coilovers vs Static vs Air
- To self install or to not self install
- Average pricing

There are so many knowledgeable brains in this forum it feels wrong to make a decision on my own without first consulting people who know MUCH more than I do.

Thanks so much!
Scotty


TL;DR: Chasing info re: suspension.
My car: 2006 9N Polo GTI

[VWindahouse]

What's your desired result Scotty? Aesthetics, track or street etc?

[Sofa Boy]

Realistically she'll forever be my daily, don't really have a desire to get on the track.
Main thing is I'd like the car to sit much lower than it does in its current stock (almost Toureg) height.
If it could stiffen up the cornering a tad as well that would be fantastic.

Side note: Lots of respect for the time, effort and dollar bills spent on Little Red Devil. Sad you sold, but looking forward to what you'll build next!

[Polo GTEye N9]

I have had Weitec GT coilovers in for a few months now.

I installed them myself. A front strut splitter tool really helps. Gav lent me his, cheers Gav.
They ride very well, slightly superior to original VW struts/coils. But ask Gav who has riden in mine.
Weitec GT coilovers will difinately lower your car easily and to a degree you will be happy with. They achieve that goal very well.
Cheers Al

[h100vw]

I have had Weitec GT coilovers in for a few months now.

I installed them myself. A front strut splitter tool really helps. Gav lent me his, cheers Gav.
They ride very well, slightly superior to original VW struts/coils. But ask Gav who has riden in mine.
Weitec GT coilovers will difinately lower your car easily and to a degree you will be happy with. They achieve that goal very well.
Cheers Al

Having driven a good handful of the quick Polo's around town. I can tell you there's not a cheap way of doing suspension.

Mine would be the budget end, H&R springs std fronts shocks and donated Koni rears. Not a bad set up for day to day driving. It is stiff though and can crash over bad roads.

The Coilovers on the Devil are a bit bouncy on the road but I think work ok on the track. A little more altitude might improve the road manners but affect the looks a bit.

A certain blue Polo had a Bilstein kit which rides nicer than the Squib. Possibly a little less stiff and with softer damping.

Al's car rate above mid way on all counts, not bouncy or crashy. Probably the priciest option I have driven.

Gavin

[Blue9N3]

By suspension do you mean swaybars as well?


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[h100vw]

By suspension do you mean swaybars as well?


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No, just the shocks and springs mate. Bars adds another $500 nearlyin parets, plus bolts fitting and alignment.

Gavin

[seangti]

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.

[kaanage]

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.

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.

[seangti]

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.

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.