Need new suspension - Bora 4mo options for the budget conscientious?

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Heya folks,

I'm well and done with the "tracer" branded coils that came with my car and looking to change up my suspension.

Personally, as much as I love the adjustability of coils, I don't want to spend the money required for a decent set. I find them overall just very harsh and very low, plus give me real complications when it comes to legalities and roadworthies (most mechanics don't pass them and cops like to defect them).

I'm on a bit of a budget as I'm not sure how much longer want to keep my car for. However, I am struggling to find a good set for under the $800-$1000 mark. These cars have fairly car specific suspension from what I've seen (i.e. no other cars in the VAG group share their suspension) so finding the appropriate shocks & springs has been quite a challenge.

Can anyone tell me if any other VAG cars' suspension fits properly? I've seen that the Audi S3 8L and/or Audi TT Quattro mk1 is sometimes is listed with the same strut numbers on eBay but then when I check manufacturers sites like Koni/Bilstein etc they have different part codes.

And what brands should I look at and where from? any feedback?

I do enjoy a nice run through the hills and twisties so anything that will reduce body roll and keep me tracking tightly through corners will be appreciated, however I sitll enjoy a cruise and don't want to feel sick from the roads shaking up my stomach and compressing my spine on unforgiving suspension - I have big wheels and thin tyres to do that!

Appreciate any help here folks

Cheers!

[dylan8]

KW V1. dont go low in a mk4 chassis, should be around your $1k budget I imagine, no adjustment other then height so no stuffing up pre-sets, rebound and so on. install and use as the manufactures planned them to be run.
Otherwise look for some second hand bilsteins or h&r or KW.

Cup kits I imagine will be getting up there in cost too. H&R & Bilstein would be who I would look at.

Other cars like R32, TT quattro, S3 all fit and bolt in. there will be slight variations from car obviously due to weights and similar. But I cant imagine you would really notice on a street car

Cops wont know what a coilover is if you dont tell them, the 3 times I've been done cops couldnt care what was in the car. it was either below 100mm or its not, it either had substantial suspension travel or it didnt
as long as they have a locking nut or pin, springs stay located when in the air and dont ride solid when above 100mm most road worthy guys will pass them.
I've seen the strictest of roady guys pass them, both quality and rubbish coils

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Yeah I've learnt the hard way with going too low in these cars. Three oil pans and counting! :/
One incident cost me some of my underside with a lovely dint in the tank and on the crossmember. Wasn't my choosing to be this low. My coils are wound up as high as it can be and I still can't get my hand fully in the guard.

Have seen KWs but they seem to hover toward 1.4k with the exchange rate. Then I need to also add on GST as it's over $1k.
I know they are proper good suspension for racing and sport driving - how would they fair on road?

Great to hear that the other VAG car's suspension I identified would bolt in. I've found quality branded suspension like Koni for significantly cheaper for Audi TT's & S3's.
So you wouldn't expect an impacted ride quality with them?
Would you forsee any issues with fitment?
I've got 18x8.5 ET35 wheels so the space between the strut and the wheel is very tight (probably need a 10mm spacer).

Coilovers and cops I've found can differ from experience to experience. I've spoken to people who got done and others who didn't. With the crazy picky officer pettett floating around these paths, I'm trying to keep a low profile as I don't have spare money nor time to burn for fines and defects.

Roadworthies I've found to be more difficult. I had to get three checks from three mechanics because two of them wouldn't pass the coils. 3rd was a mate who I'm no longer friends with but was at the time. Maybe i'm just barking up the wrong tree. Thinking that I might get a nice outcome with springs and suspension plus it'd be easier to sell if I want to do that.

[dylan8]

hit up some of the local guys like preen or lorenz for a price, assuming they are still doing it.
Id stick to something v6 based if possible. again, doubt you'd notice it on the street if it was a touch softer/stiffer due to car weight.

8.5et35 should be fine at like a 40mm drop, but every coilover has different dimensions, cup kit should be fine for clearance.

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Cheers for the recommendations. I've found preen's website & business and sent him an email. Lorenz' website seems down so I'm going to assume her doesn't do it anymore?

Where else should i look for suspension sourcing? Recommended websites?

Outside of KW's - what other brands would you recommend? Anyone had positive experiences with Koni? I can get a spring & strut set for the entire car for around $800 delivered. Bilstein are very expensive around the $1100 for struts, and $1500ish for coils. I have seen "AP Racing" branded coils for under $700 - heard anything about them?

I contacted VW and they do have a "budget" version of their shock for the front. It's $135 which is damn cheap! Just not sure on the quality of the ride with it.

What kind of clearance between the tyre and the strut would you expect? Last I checked the 8.5et35 was about 5mm from the strut when raised. Stock wheels aren't much better with about 10mm gap. I've got horrid grinding/rubbing/clunking and vibrating noises under braking when the car has been drive for a good 10min, so I'm assuming that the wheel is scrubbing against the coil.

Appreciate your help mate!

[LeStig]

I have used KW v1 running 18 x 8.75 xkr et35 with no clearance issues .... Same with Bilstein B6 struts and Koni coil overs .... It's bloody close but the wheels/tyres do not touch. If you are only finding issues after driving for 10 minutes then you have problems !!!
id say wheel bearing .... The hub is fixed to the bottom of the strut .... There can't be any movement between them so the clearances should remain static .... The drive shaft and stub axle is located through the hub and held in position by the wheel bearing .... It's the only moving part !!!

[tinto]

The AP gear is apparently manufactured by KW, and isn't related to AP racing as far as I know.
I've picked up a shock/Spring set for my mk2 (not installed yet).

How do you feel about OEM stuff?
I have a set of Sachs springs/shocks from a MK4 R32 (54km) that I'd offload for $250 + shipping
If you're on a budget and not sure if you're keeping the car it may be a good option.

[RubAVeeDubDub]

I have used KW v1 running 18 x 8.75 xkr et35 with no clearance issues .... Same with Bilstein B6 struts and Koni coil overs .... It's bloody close but the wheels/tyres do not touch. If you are only finding issues after driving for 10 minutes then you have problems !!!
id say wheel bearing .... The hub is fixed to the bottom of the strut .... There can't be any movement between them so the clearances should remain static .... The drive shaft and stub axle is located through the hub and held in position by the wheel bearing .... It's the only moving part !!!

Thanks for that feedback. I've got thinner wheels than you so I should have more clearance.

Yeah I know that the noises being at the time they appear are a concern. I had a very remote thought that maybe its the tyres expanding as they heat up and they rub against the wheel? Very strange problem this is.

I've had my wheel bearings replaced twice! Everything is new under there - wheel bearings, stub axle, ball joints, control arms driveshafts and suspension. All parts were OEM (Meyle).

Out of all the suspension configurations you've had which did you find you liked the most?

The AP gear is apparently manufactured by KW, and isn't related to AP racing as far as I know.
I've picked up a shock/Spring set for my mk2 (not installed yet).

How do you feel about OEM stuff?
I have a set of Sachs springs/shocks from a MK4 R32 (54km) that I'd offload for $250 + shipping
If you're on a budget and not sure if you're keeping the car it may be a good option.

That's a good sign! I've seen good reviews for AP Racing gear so I'm leaning toward them.

Thanks for the offer on the sachs gear. They're probably the best OEM brand available. How long you planning on holding onto them?
Just needing a bit of time to make a decision whether I keep this car or not and that'll dictate what suspension I buy. If I'm going to spend the odd $800-1000 for new struts and springs then I'll keep the car for a while to enjoy it.

[dylan8]

Thought AP was on the cheaper end. similar to my TA technix I had back in the day but dont quote me on that.
Message Lorenz direct, not sure if he is still doing it but worth asking.
weitec, koni are some others

[LeStig]

KW v1 were very good..... Probably the best for the road I've used. Bilsteins were compromised by using pedders lowered springs which I think made them feel harsher than the KW. I've the Stassis moded Koni in now and ill persevere with these after getting the car properly aligned front and rear and comer weighted as well.
Your noise issue would be my priority !!
it may be front diff ??? I've heard of brake issues causing pad vibration ?? Does the noise go away if you brake ???