New suspension for me VR6

[MattyT]

Today I finally got my rims fixed, wheels aligned and I'm back on the road.

Only problem is my tires are near-bald and wheels world reckons whole suspension set-up has worn out. Which I kind of agree with every time I go over a bump. Bobbobbobbobbob...

Tires aren't a problem, I'll get new ones. But I want to ditch my rims for 17s. But I cant afford it atm, and if I put 17s on with stock suspension it'll look ****. So i'd have to get coilovers.

So I decided: New tires on current rims, then coilovers, then new rims+tires. I think I might also refresh all the suspension bushes too.

Does this sound like a plan?

[rayray086]

Definitely a good plan. Even if you can't afford coilovers, a good cupkit would do fine.

[KI11Z]

Will be interested if you go with coilovers which brand you'll choose!? KW seems to be a big winner of late; I still cant decide whether to go KW or the Bilsteins . . .

Would be great to hear peoples experiences with any coilovers . . .

[rennenhaus]

i'm in the same boat as you... soon to be choosing a set of coilovers, and can't decide what to do. KW has been getting heaps of press lately, but then, so have the bilsteins....

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3386085

[The_Hawk]

While I understand that coilovers are much higher up the scale that other types of suspension being adjustable and all, I have been talking my local tyre suspension place about what to move my stock suspension to since I want to lower the car.

Feel free to correct his prices, but BALL PARK he was saying:

Coilovers - $2,000
Lowered Suspension - $1,000

He also added that unless your changing your setup for track/road/offroad? whatever, coilovers are wasted and you may as well just set it up for what you want in the first place.

So do you expect to be adjusting your coilovers, or would you be better served just buying a decent lowered setup?? (and the new wheels and tyres)

[rayray086]

Those figures are realistic IMO if you're looking for a good, but not great, system. My opinion is based on the assumption that foreign brands (Koni, KW, Bilstein, Eibach etc.) are better than the local stuff you can get (Pedders etc.). I got my Koni Specials (cheapest Koni struts) and springs for $1060 and that was with free shipping.

As for the added adjustments with coilovers, I guess you won't get to utilise it as much on the road as if you were on the track as every time you adjust the height you would need a wheel alignment. That said if you could do your own wheel alignment might be quite fun since you can lower the car and raise it as you wish...

[DubSteve]

I recently purchased KW V2's for my car, and they make a very big difference in a car. I spend a few months actually going on testing with different brands I tried the Konis, Bilstein and KW's as I thought that they were the 3 biggest brands in Suspension so to speak. I was happy with all all had not that much throw, bumps were non-existant and just an over all feel. I went with KW in the end as the price of the actual coilover was significantly cheaper and had both height and dampness adjustable which is what I wanted. Mine are currently set on a medium setting and I still can't feel the road bumps and cracks!

For $2000 is about right for a Height adjustable coilover!

[vwthunder]

Hey MK3VR6

Do you have any pics showing how the car sits with the KW's

I am about to put my KW's in next week and not sure how low it will go, also how would the car ride with the height all the way down

Thanks

[MattyT]

Mein VR6 will be used for mostly 'spirited' driving, track work and general cruising on weekends. It wont be a daily.

The way I figure, coilovers are better suited to what I'll be after.

As for brand, I'm leaning towards KW V2s which wheels world were very very keen to sell me

I believe though that bilstein, H&R, koni coilovers are far more pricey, so KW may well be it.

In other news, I want to refresh all the suspension bushings too. Can you get high-specced bushes?? Nolathane or something?

[cOS]

I was once looking for some coilovers. I am pretty sure you could get bilstein and hr coilovers for the same price as kw's if you looked hard enough.

[MattyT]

I've been thinking... which I have a habit of doing... Methinks I might get some front n rear strut & sway bars also.

So people, if you can recommend good strut bars, sway bars and suspension bushings that'd be ace!

Time to make mah VR6 handle like a ballerina

[rayray086]

Strut bars IMO are all the same as they don't do much for the suspension. The reasoning behind is (I think) is that most the lateral force is exhibited in lower positions of the car. So when you think of a car turning, it's the sections of the car lower down that twist more. I think with strut bars it's basically down to what you like the look of best.

As for sway bars, I've heard the ones made by Shine are the best for the Golf platform, though it's American-based and so must be quite costly to get down to Australia.

[KI11Z]

those shine bars imo dont really act like a tru sway bar?! how can they? its just to strengthen the H beam, it would stiffen up a bit but not like a traditional sway bar . . . im no expert though . . . . . .

As it was mentioned i dont think brand plays too much a role in sway bars? just make sure you get the right strengthed one for your needs! if you have stiff springs your sway bar doesnt have to be all the stiff as they'll prevent the roll; however if you choose a softer spring get as stiffer sway bar, that way cornering will be sweet and on the straight stuff it'd be comfy, ish . . .