Best bang-for-buck suspension upgrade for MKV Golf ?

[Jaap74]

I know pretty much zero about suspension so can someone please advise the most cost effective suspension upgrade ? I’ve noticed some understeer in my MKV GTi which would be good to iron out.

Cheers

[Jaap74]

OK so perhaps I need a lesson in suspension first ? Would you start with a set of coilovers or sway bars to defeat understeer ?

[team_v]

Set of coilovers and sway bars would be a great start.
You can also get anti-lift kit's which are said to make an even more noticable difference.

[Jaap74]

How much would I be looking at for coilovers and sway bars ? Or can you just get one or the other if on a budget ? Which would be best to get first ?

[team_v]

Easiest would be coilovers.
H&R are pretty reputable for a budget.

[dylan8]

anything else u would want to gain? Lowering, height adjusting?
If neither of those last two i would say a new spring and shock combo, coilovers might be to much of a over kill.
Maybe start with sway bars as above.
Check out eibach, h&r, koni, kw.
For fwd drive cars i believe the rear sway bar is a good improvement if you dont already have 1 from factory

[Dyldo]

When looking at my susp solutions, I was advised to try a great coilver setup before doing anything else. With the right gear (names as posted above plus bilsteins too) then a great setup can be dialled in and customised to you. Many times for normal driving conditions the sways won't necessarily be a big upgrade if you have great coilovers.

However, just as many people who agree with me will also disagree and swear blind that sways are the best bang4buck you can get.

It really does come down to how long you will keep your ride, how deep your polly pockets are, and what you want from your driving experience.

[Jaap74]

Ok thanks for all the info guys.

I wouldn't want the car to be lowered too much or the ride comfort be compromised too much really. The main issue I have with the car is the understeer. I'm not driving around like a maniac or anything but it is noticeable. Would sway bars from APR on the rear or front be a good start ? I see they are $550 which wouldn't break the bank. Would that include fitting ?

Cheers

[shauno]

Rear sway bar is the cheapest and easiest - install only takes 30 mins or less, vs a few hours for coilovers or front sway bar.

Whiteline are pretty solid sway bars, good price too - Rennenhaus have them...

[Jaap74]

OK well I see Rennenhaus has front adjustable sway bars for $285 and the APR ones are $550. I'm thinking sway bars aren't the most sophisticated piece of equipment so can't see why there's such a big price difference ? Just due to branding perhaps ?

Would you have to do both front and back or can you just start with fronts in a FWD car ?

[gavs]

Best bang for buck? If you know what a ring spanner is, around $250-300 will get you a whiteline rear blade adjustable sway bar. This will drastically improve the cornering flatness of your car without adversley affecting your ride comfort etc.

Coilovers? Unless you want extreme lowering, a good damper/spring combo is probably a better and far cheaper option. Good dampers will lighten your pocket to the tune of $1000 plus fitting, never considered coilovers because to me personally, they are pointless for my applications so couldn't tell you a price.

[Jaap74]

Ok well the Whiteline adjustable rear sway bar would be $285 and I've been quoted 2 hours labour at $99 per hour plus GST. So roughly $500 all up. That doesn't sound to expensive to me......no sure about the 2 hours labour quote though ?

EDIT :
Pedders just quoted me $435 supply and fit, sounds better

[shauno]

What brand sway bar are Pedders supplying though?

I'd get a whiteline one & get a good mechanic to install it - I'd have thought it could be done in an hour, based on some people doing it themselves in their driveways!

Front swaybar install seems to be a PITA though!

Also, rear sway only is the first step on a FWD car

[gavs]

Pedders generally install whiteline products...

[Jaap74]

Yep Whiteline