VR6 stock suspension vs others

[noom]

Hi there,
I am thinking of upgrading my suspension. I would like a firm but not hard suspension, something that will give a smooth ride.

Will something like Monroe, or Pedders be an improvement over the stock suspension?

Are coilovers overkill for my purpose?

[rayray086]

Coilovers will definitely not suit your purpose, if you're looking for comfort. Do you care much about the ride height of your car? If not, you could look into just changing out your shocks (and rubber mounts while you're at it) and retain your stock springs. Alternatively, you can opt for both new shocks and matched lowering springs (most lower 40mm, which still leaves the car largely practical).

I loved my Koni kit. I had Koni Special shocks coupled with their 40mm lowering springs. Had a great compromise between comfort and performance - they felt noticeably harder (I don't think that's even the word.. let's just say the car didn't feel like a boat anymore) but it just felt so much more composed and stable.

Koni now has FSD shocks that are more of an OEM upgrade than a performance shock alternative so they might be the suitable option if you don't want a harsh ride. I don't know if they'll be compatible with lowering springs though, best to consult a Koni dealer/specialist.

[Treza360]

On a side note the Koni FSDs were fitted as standard to the Lamborghini Gallardo I believe. Not that relevant but a good advertisement for their quality and reputation I reckon.
Cheers,
Trent

[noom]

Heheh got me convinced abt Koni FSD. How much are they?

[The_Hawk]

I really want to get into a VR6 with a set of V2's and see how they compare to the cheaper coil sets available (like mine!). I wouldn't call my ride particularily comfy, but it handles well.

The question in my mind is does a more expensive set of coils provide a better ride, or is it simply the name (and adjustability) they adds to the cost? If like me you won't actually adjust anything are the cheaper units just as good...

Eitherway, if your not in a rush, come to one of our upcoming meets and check out the cup kits and coils and see how you like the ride, handling and stance compared to yours

[noom]

I am in no hurry,and will take the time to do some research.

Just searched the Koni site, dont think the FSDs can fit the Mk3.

[sydVR6]

Noom

I'm more or less on the same path as you when it comes to the kind of ride/handling package I want for my current VR6.

Having had a very stiff Eibach/Sachs Boge and then Bilstein spring and shock combo on my previous Mk3, I'm actually enjoying not having to slow down for road dips and corrugations in my stock VR. The factory bound and rebound rates are pretty much suited for slightly underdamped 'luxury' biased driving around town and for optimal stability at high (autobahn!!!) speeds on the highway. Personally, a little ride clearance and good wheel travel makes for a much faster performance package on our carved up public roads. In my old VR6, I got tired of having to slow down and brake for the harsh imperfections in most Sydney roads - but that's just my taste.

As for coilovers, they're absolutely great for people who want to make regular adjustments to the ride height of their vehicle, and are more or less designed for varying your setup to cope with different racetracks and circuits. They're also great for tuners who want to slam their ride at a show using few tools, then raise it up again easilly for the ride home.

A lot of folks are fans of the slammed 'if it aint rubbin', you aint dubbin' look, and that's great if it fits your personal taste and driving style.

Going long distances point to point on imperfect public roads, you want the car to sit at a height that gives even weight transfer during changes in direction, with enough travel to absorb the shock of both small and large potholes and corrugations.

If you really want to go quickly on bad surfaces, you want a package that prevents the wheels from rubbing the inner guards during hard cornering and stops your sump (or eurolip) from bottoming out over every dip and pothole you forget to slow down for.

Race cars and show cars are different to road runners.

To answer your question about Pedders and Monroe, I think it's generally acknowledged that European shocks and springs are much better suited to Euro cars than the Australian sourced components, and this is largely even what guys like Pedders will actually tell you themselves.

Check out German Auto Parts at www.germanautoparts.com.

They have some nice upgrade Bilstein shocks which are a definite improvement over the OEM Sachs units, which won't break the bank. They also sell all the associated (and essential!) rubber mounts and bushes that should be fitted with new struts. Another way to improve handling without compromising ride is to fit uprated anti-roll bars and strut braces - but you'd need to read a little more about this and find out what ARB and brace setup would suit you best. Springs? As Ray has mentioned, unless you want to change ride height, OEM VR6 springs should suffice. Having said that, Eibach Pro-Kits are designed to work with OE type shocks and struts, provided they are in good condition and are supposedly optimised for both handling and ride quality.

Lastly, I'd say keep in mind that tyres and tyre pressure will make a huge difference to how the car rides and handles. Cars that spend most of their time on track tend to be run at lower pressures, because the tyres heat up and the pressure then rises accordingly. Road tyres tend to stay much cooler (even when they heat up), so can usually be run with a few extra pounds in.

If you're spending cash on shocks to improve the car's feel, don't forget to invest in some quality treads.

[MattyT]

I really want to get into a VR6 with a set of V2's and see how they compare to the cheaper coil sets available (like mine!). I wouldn't call my ride particularily comfy, but it handles well.

I love my KW V2's. Firm but supple. Excellent handling. That said though I'd like to see what a vr6 with some koni/eibach combo would be like.

[Mrk_Mickey]

I've got a koni/eibach setup atm, i bought ray's old setup. They ride very comfortably I think, I've got the front damper setting to its hardest and the back is probably half if i remember rightly; most bumps are just a little more pronounced than stock suspension, however some bigger bumps/potholes (on the odd occasion I actually hit one) can get a bit harsh - but that's for less than a second at a time, so meh.

As far as cornering goes, they're great. I don't feel any roll (I feel more twisting than rolling!) and with my tyres I feel like I stick and hold really well.

[Pullstarter]

I'm currently using a Bilstien/Eibach combo, handles extremely well but the ride is pretty firm. Firmer than you would like by the sounds of it. Probably a bit more livable on ACT roads

[peedman]

Go for the koni kit mate, having ridden in his car and between the different springs/shocks combos me and him had its all chalk and cheese between the rest.

[noom]

what koni kit? sorry i dont know much abt suspension.

How much am I looking at?

[rayray086]

The Koni kit he is referring to is the Koni Special (Red) shocks with the lowering spring kit. I bought it for $1060 delivered from Melbourne, but see if you can look for a local joint (or at least a place in Sydney) that is a Koni distributor. Wholesale Suspensions retail Koni stuff so you might want to check them out.