Performance manufacturers

[nermal]

Does anyone have any objective thoughts/experiences with various performance parts that they've installed on their own cars and who aren't connected to specific brands?

I usually tend toward RacingLine. Good quality and great VAG fit, but the range is limited and relatively pricey too.
I've started buying some 034 parts for an upcoming lowering/handling upgrade, only have their coil packs installed (so far so good).
I'm not super fond of Supaloy, their sway bars are ok (big improvement, but wearing down under the drop link bolts), have rear drop links too, but will be replacing them with RacingLine adjustable ones (seem to slip the bushings a bit and sometimes loosen)..

Haven't installed any APR parts, but would probably rank them around 034 in terms of quality.

Currently also looking into Whiteline, but never used them before. The people who sold me the Supaloy parts were trashing the bushings on their LCAs... but I'm not 100% convinced that advice was unbiased.

They also trashed the 034 coil packs, just before RacingLine released their own (FWIW - 034, APR and RacingLine * appear* to all use the same underlying white-labelled coil pack, where 034 has a heatsink) - as long as they're RED is all that matters, that makes them go faster.

My guess in terms of a rough quality ranking for VAG would be: RacingLine, APR/034, Whiteline/Supaloy ? Any others I'm missing?

Anyway, thought it'd be best to post here, as there's likely to be more traffic and people with modified cars.

[Lucas_R]

Personally I would put Racingline, 034 Motorsports, APR, Leyo, Integrated Engineering all on the same level in terms of making very high quality parts. Ive had parts from all of these manufacturers and been very happy with their quality, performance and fitment. The only parts I was not happy with were some strut tops from 034 Motorsport, but all other items ive had from them have been great - so I was quite disappointed with their strut tops for my Mk7 GTI which knocked and rattled constantly.

Some of the suspension products that 034 offer are not really suitable for road cars (such as their strut tops and swaybar drop links) as they will be noisy and clunky - so just keep that in mind if buying suspension parts from them. But their swaybars, chassis inserts, intakes, exhausts etc are all very nice.

Id put Whiteline and Superpro on a notch below, with Superpro being the prefeffed brand out of the two. Still very nice parts (and nice that they are Aussie companies) but with Eibach, H&R and 034 Motorsport id say there are better products available.

[nermal]

The only parts I was not happy with were some strut tops from 034 Motorsport, but all other items ive had from them have been great - so I was quite disappointed with their strut tops for my Mk7 GTI which knocked and rattled constantly.

Some of the suspension products that 034 offer are not really suitable for road cars (such as their strut tops and swaybar drop links) as they will be noisy and clunky - so just keep that in mind if buying suspension parts from them.

Thanks, that's very useful to know.

Yeah, I've heard others say that the 034 strut tops can be very harsh. I've just been ordering some parts from their street density line (following some helpful advice from VAG Parts).. so hopefully these will be suitable for my road car:
- Strut Mount Bearing: 034 Strut Mount Bearing, Volkswagen Golf MK7 GTI/R, Audi S3/TT/TTS– VAGPARTS Australia
- Strut Mount, Street Density: 034 - Strut Mount, Street Density. Volkswagen Golf MK7 GTI/R & Audi 8V S3/TT/TTS (MQB) - 034-601-1007-SD– VAGPARTS Australia
- Rear Shock Mount, Street Density: 034 Rear Shock Mounts, Volkswagen Golf MK7 R, Audi 8V S3/RS3/TT/TTS/TTRS– VAGPARTS Australia
- Billet Aluminium MQB Rear Subframe Mount Inserts: 034 - MQB Rear Subframe Mount Inserts, Audi 8V RS3/S3/TT/TTS, MK7R– VAGPARTS Australia
- Rear Subframe Mount Stretch Bolt Kit: 034 Motorsport - Rear Subframe Mount Stretch Bolt Kit, Audi 8V A3/S3/T– VAGPARTS Australia
- Dynamic+ RCO - Camber & Roll Center Adjusting Ball Joints: https://www.vagparts.com.au/products...ng-ball-joints

Also have Eibach Pro Kit springs, RacingLine rear (and existing front) adjustable drop links and OEM replacement strut bolts.

Was also looking at the 034 LCAs, but VAG Parts advised against that, as they also add negative camber (which the ball joints already provide).. so I was hoping for some LCAs that improve caster without adding too much additional (expensive tire destroying) camber - like the Whiteline and Superpro options do, but not sure about these brands...
- Dynamic+ RCO Control Arms: https://www.vagparts.com.au/products...v-034-401-1068

[Lucas_R]

Strut tops = strut mounts.

The ones you are buying are the same ones that I bought. They were horrible. They rattle and clunk constantly and sounds like the front of the car is about to fall apart. I left them installed for about a month hoping that the sound would go away, as well as double checking all bolts were tight - but nothing changed.

I took them off and fitted new original strut mounts and they were nice and quiet.

[nermal]

Yikes! I'm glad I asked - seems I've dodged a bullet with those.

Will get some OEM mounts instead (I assume you mean the front ones). I thought you were referring to the solid metal track versions that add camber/caster etc.

Do you know if the other 034 components are ok? (Strut bearings, rear strut mounts, ball joints)... the idea was to get all parts together so I only had to pull all the suspension apart once.

[Lucas_R]

These are the ones I bought to replace the 034 ones - you will need to buy 2x of them: SACHS Strut Mount '-' VW Golf Mk7 GTI/R & Audi 8V A3/S3 | AutoInstruct

The 034 front strut bearings were fine - i assume they are no different from OEM ones.

I cant comment on the rear strut mounts from 034. I wasnt willing to risk it after the bad experience with the front mounts.

Also cant comment on the ball joints as I never used them - they are pretty new to the market though. Perhaps check for reviews and feedback on Youtube or US based forums. But in theory they should not be noisy.

The subframe inserts are good. I have various 034 subframe inserts in my Audi SQ5 and am happy with them.

[nermal]

YouTube reviews - of course! The ball joints seem to have good reviews, same with rear strut mounts.

Interestingly this one came up when researching the strut mounts... seems 034 may have a washer fix for them (did you have coilovers?) Solowerks Clunking Noise 034 Strut Mounts - YouTube

I've already bought/received all those parts I listed (except LCAs, still deciding), so hoping the washer fix is good and they are usable...

[Lucas_R]

YouTube reviews - of course! The ball joints seem to have good reviews, same with rear strut mounts.

Interestingly this one came up when researching the strut mounts... seems 034 may have a washer fix for them (did you have coilovers?) Solowerks Clunking Noise 034 Strut Mounts - YouTube

I've already bought/received all those parts I listed (except LCAs, still deciding), so hoping the washer fix is good and they are usable...

The 034 strut mounts I had came with the washer (but no instructions as to what they were for) - I tried putting the washer above and below the mount and it still rattled like crazy.

On my Mk7 Golf GTI, I had the optional DCC shocks, with 034 lowering springs and then the 034 strut bearings and 034 strut mounts. After experiencing the rattling and not being able to make this issue go away or even reduce slightly, all I changed was the strut mounts and the issue went away.

In my opinion the 034 strut mounts are flawed.

[nermal]

Ok, thanks. Was hoping they'd be usable, but better to know now - appreciate the heads up.

Yeah, I have OEM DCC shocks and bought the Eibach Pro Kit springs.

I'll research alternatives and probably just buy the OEM ones - liked the idea of "uprated" mounts, but not if they come with rattles or significant NVH..

[Lucas_R]

Most if not all of the uprated strut mounts will increase NVH because they either have harder rubber or no rubber at all in the mount. I know Superpro make a camber adjustable top mount - this would not be suitable for a street car at all. From my experience, its not the strut mount that fails anyway, its the strut bearing that wears out and then starts making noises.