Replacement Coilovers, New? Second Hand? Where? Please help.

[beale187]

Have you looked at these?
Solo-Werks S1 Coilover - Volkswagen MK4 Golf / Jetta, Audi 8N TT, 8L A
– Solo-Werks Australia

Had them on my Bora for a while and was impressed especially at the price point. Fixed dampening though

[kendog]

Ha! I was just looking at these last night and today! Right now actually!

I'm confused on the lowering/drop heights though...
ECS says 1.2"-2.0" F + R...
403 Forbidden

Which suits me, as these days I'm looking for a bit less lows (and a bit better handling of potholes/driveways/coastal roads/etc. that are finding me more often).

My current/old FK AK Street coilovers are apparently '1.4 - 2.25" F, 1.4 - 2.25" R', and I'm already at the top of the rear perches trying to not scrape on some bouncy/uneven roads...

So, I thought 1.2" to 2.0" drop sounded good to me... but the other links I've found to those coilovers at other places/suppliers (like your link)... are saying:
Lowering Range: Front- 40-70mm (1.5-2.75), Rear- 40-70mm (1.5-2.75).
Solo Werks S1 Coilover System - VW (A4 MKIV) Golf Jetta New Beetle Audi TT (8N) 98-05 2wd

So what to believe? Is it worth the risk that the rears might not be quite high enough (by a few measly mm)?

How was the ride quality for you? Any other feedback or traits they have?

I'm still torn between these ($ incl. shipping, main options in bold):

A) A cheap replacement Coilover set... (Solo-Werks ~$980 / FK Street ~$750-900),

B) A 'decent' or good quality Cup Kit... (H&R Sport $1280 / Bilstein B12 ~$1630 (Bilstein B8's + Eibach Pro-Kit Springs 1.2")),

C) Or 'decent' coilovers... (BC Racing BR (separate height adj, damp adj) ~$1500 / Bilstein B14 (height adj, fixed damp) ~$1850 / Megan Racing or Godspeed on ECS?).


I am waiting to hear back from BC Racing because they don't seem to know what height adjustments the shocks are capable of. And the only part supplier that says what the heights are is ECS... who might not be on the ball with this one either...
They have both the 'normal' BR coilovers saying very low (2 inch minimum and 3+ Inches of total potential drop), and then the special order 'Extreme Low' versions that also say the same (2 inch minimum and 3+ Inches of total potential drop).
So kinda makes you think they've just copy and pasted the extreme low bullet points. Very confusing.

I keep crossing my fingers that a decent quality second hand set will pop up...

[Lucas_R]

Replacement Coilovers, New? Second Hand? Where? Please help.

Before you get too excited about Solo Werks - they are out of stock. I looked at these as an option for you the other day, but didn’t bother putting up a link as they are sold out.

[kendog]

Thanks, yeah noticed that, so it was one of the options I was trying to get ECS to do 'realistic' shipping prices on (that is an ECS price).

The guy at ECS just told me not to buy as they're cheap, but also said they don't really get that many returns... but also said apparently people had them blow out after warranty... but they just added FK's and Solo-Werks to their 'lifetime warranty'... I don't know.

Possibly leaning back to BC again... all the options for $500 more...

[dylan8]

Love seeing the old names pop up.
I've currently got BC in the rear of my car (air suspension needed some love after all these years) and they seem OK. I just chucked them in without playing with the dampening etc. 1 thing to note is I had to wind the rears all the way up to get it to match my ride height of the air suspension. Not sure if that's just the extra weight of the long roof or if that applies to all body shapes.

Firmer than my bilstein/air spring combo but seems OK to me.
Need to do the fronts at some point too.

Mate has had BC in multiple cars and the ride comfort seems good considering how low he had them.

Pretty sure someone on the east coast of AUS is selling solowerks, few people talk them up but just look like a fixed dampening/ fixed preload arrangement to me (similar to budget coils or KW V1)

[kendog]

Hey mate! Thanks for the info. I hope the wagon is still looking good!?!

BC Coilovers
Ok, that's interesting about having to wind them all the way up on the rears. Apparently they sell a 'normal' set, and an 'extreme low' set of the BR series. I wonder which set you have.

from ecs...



Solo-Werks
I think these are very similar to FK Street coilovers, sowould consider them if the price was right. Do you know who was selling them (on east coast of Aus)?


I've already had to start these road trips for this job before I could replace the suspension... I had to drive the infamous Dungog roads on Friday... it was painful enough on the "1 million pothole repairs" "paved" roads, let alone when waze sent me down a dirt road that was heavily corrigated!! Jesus! I'm surprised I have the fillings in my teeth still in place! haha.

Anyway, coolant level light came on, looks like water pump seal leak... so just ordered parts for that, metal impellar water pump + timing belt kit, v-belt. etc. Timing belt looked fine but will replace it all anyway, v-belt needed doing anyway.

Ordered the strut mounts for front and rear at the same time, even though I don't know what actual suspension is going in it.

So yeah... other work and money on parts before getting to do the suspension... not what I was planning. haha.

[dylan8]

Turns out they have the site
Solo-Werks S1 Coilover - Volkswagen MK4 Golf / Jetta, Audi 8N TT, 8L A
– Solo-Werks Australia

I had a quick look, pretty sure I got normal br rn. It's likely just the extra weight of the wagon but still worth mentioning if you have a boot full all the time.

[kendog]

Solo-Werks
Yeah, I've reached out to Solo-Werks Australia, by both email and their Facebook page... No response yet. Their FB page didn't look like it was active for a few years maybe.


BC Racing
Cheers, thanks for checking!

Yeah I've had mixed info/feedback on the BC coilovers' height adjustment range..

I spoke with a different person this time (on Monday) at BC Aust distributor (JustJap), and they said min 35mm drop (they previously had no answer).

ECS (US) site product page says min 2" drop... but when I asked if it was correct brand info, one of their team said "..everyone just knows they're 2" drop min..." and "..well my brother has them on 2 BMWs, and he said they're 2" min drop..". So yeah, terrible info there.

And from 'one of' the company's websites... "Our standard kits are approximately 1” below OEM ride height at max high, and approximately 2.5-3” below OEM ride height at max low. Extreme drop kits are approximately 2” below OEM ride height at max high, and are approximately 4” below OEM ride height at max low, depending on the coilover kit.".
(FAQ - BC Racing).

So... Aust distributor saying 35mm, ECS saying 2", and US brand website saying 1" (across all models generally). What to believe?


BC also have the slightly lower spec'd 'V1' series, for around $150 cheaper. I don't know enough either way to go the cheaper set (~$1350), or the most popular BR series (~$1500). I notice alot of countries and companies out there don't even bother selling the cheaper V1 series at all, it's just not even an option. Not sure why.

I spotted a set of 'still in box' new V1 series ones for sale on Facebook on the central coast... but looks like for an R32/AWD model, so I think the fronts would fit, but not the rears. So close to a win.

[kendog]

Update :
(& info if anyone else needs to look back on the research)

- Couldn't find any second-hand coilover sets. Only scammers. Sad but true.

- Several overseas parts places were either hard to deal with (say they'd help, but not return emails), had shipping costs that were all over the place (shipping prices changed radically with the cost of the set), had shipping costs that were WAY too high and they refused to acknowledge this (like $350, $500, $800, $1000... to ship 1 set of coilovers (or struts + springs).

- The conversion rates on the AUD also throwing calculations out up and down, and confusing when dealing with weighing up multiple options from multiple vendors from multiple countries/currencies too.

- The only set that were already in Australia (and ready to go get at any stage) was a set of Bilstein B14s, but even with trade price they were still around $1850, and still no damp adjust. I was still keen, but research from real world users said they handled AMAZINGLY WELL, just gripped and handled so well in corners etc when driving hard... but when not driving hard/on poor roads... were so harsh with poor comfort that many considered taking them back.

- I was keen to try out a Bilstein B12 Pro Kit (Bilstein B8's with Eibach Pro Kit Springs (comfortable, and only ~30mm/1.2" drop)), but the prices always ended up around $1750 AUD and much higher still ($1635 lowest 'possible' price, but uncertain on changing shipping and conversion rates). And it was still very unclear just how high the fronts and rears would sit/look (and you'd be stuck with it). I didn't want to spend almost $2k and not have it look 'right', or at least close.


BC Racing V1 series Coilovers
I've ended up ordering some new BC Racing V1 series coilovers. They're $1349 total (locked in, no conversion rate changes, no hidden import duties, with free shipping to my door, (only $50 off for trade)).

$150 less than the BR series. I could've spent the extra and got the BR, but it's an ageing MK4... I just forked out a bit this week unexpectedly for timing belt kit and water pump etc. replacement just in parts alone. And by most accounts, the only difference I'd notice between the 2 series' is, that if I was going out and doing a whole day of spirited driving, the V1 series would feel a bit fatigued, whereas the BR series won't (slightly thicker cylinder, oil won't get as hot). That's barely ever going to happen, not a whole day, barely an hour or so.

So saving a few $$, still height adjust, still damp adjust, feels closer to a maintenance price (not a "that's half the price of the car" ****head comment price).

I spoke to a few people who had them on other cars, they said hard to tell the difference in handling between the 2 sets (not much feedback from people who'd had them on MK4 Golfs though).

Both sets have: independent height adjust, same spring rates, same height drop/range, 30 levels of damping adjust, 12 months warranty, rebuildable, etc.

So for $1350 to my door, I think that's a decent set/deal.

(Link for reference... pic seems to be AWD rears tough)
BC Racing Coilover Kit V1-VN fits VW GOLF IV & JETTA IV (2WD) MK4/A4 9



Spacers
Fingers crossed I can get them to a "comfortable" height. I think I might still aim for some spacers to help with scrubbing...

I have 15mm H&R spacers on the rear, look great, but could maybe try to find some 12mm ones to reduce scrub on (as the UK mob say) "B-roads".

On the front, scrubbing is usually while turning in and hitting bumps (should be a LOT less often with new coils), so I'm guessing adding some spacers there should help... maybe only 5mm or 8mm on the fronts?

I'll get pics of front and rear clearance once new coils fitted, settled, adjusted, etc.

Anyone know of any second-hand decent quality 5x100 hub-centric spacers around?



Tyres
Also going to replace the front old Kumho's and get Continental Max Contact 6's (MC6) in a 225/40/18 to match the rears. Not sure if they've been superceded yet though (MC7)?

They look so much better, and the tyre actually protects the lip of the rims (Kumho's in same size definitely do not).

Can't really comment on actual tyre grip/performance, as only have on the rears so far, and only whilst front suspension has been failing badly...

Hopefully will have some new rubber lined up by the time I need to get the alignment after new coilovers too...

Any suggestions for good prices? I normally check Tempe Tyres or St George Tyres and then get Kmart/mycar to price match.