Suspension talk

[Rushn]

Hi guys & gals

Thought I'd start a thread about general suspension chat. Questions, options, ideas, opinions, costs, etc.

I'm going to start off by asking a question about my GTI.

My wife's WS Fiesta Zetec that we traded for the GTI handled expertly (better than the GTI), but it also rode supremely well, with an uncanny ability to feel like a vehicle two or three sizes bigger with its bump blotting ability, particularly mid-corner acne when one was Having A Go.

The GTI is my daily ride now, and I'm finding the suspension a Little Busy Not harsh by any means, but it doesn't have that supple initial compliance that the Fiesta had. A lot of bump-steer mid-corner particularly. If Ford (Europe) can provide an excellent compromise between handling and comfort, why can't VW?

My question - what options do I have for retaining the handling but also softening the initial 10% (say) of suspension travel to help iron out day-to-day typical OZ B roads and provide the ability to tackle mid-corner bumps without being thrown of-line? I don't want to upset the look by lowering or (God forbid) raising the car. Would a good damper replacement help? Progressive rate dampers? Softer (or progressive rate) springs and firmer dampers? Other?

It's not bothering me too much, however if I could get the same level of compliance + handling of the Fiesta for reasonable coin I'd be a happy dubber

EDIT: Fiesta had 45 series tyres, so changing boots isn't an option.

Cheers

[Melon Head]

I don't have specific experience with the Polo Gti (still waiting to get it), but I have plenty of experience with both Bilstein and Koni, and found that Bilstein is very good at what you are after, excellent absorption of small bumps but still excellent for aggressive cornering.
I also like Koni, but I feel the Bilstein shocks are definitely better for what you want

[Melon Head]

If you get a Bilstein B12 Pro Kit, you will be very happy with the results

[Rushn]

Cheers. I'll do some research.

[pologti18t]

If i remember correctly its the use of digressive shock valving thats the secret to a compliant, yet controlled, suspension setup.

[Polo_GTI]

What's everyones opinion on the KW Variant 1 Inox-Line Coilover Suspension Kit...

-How is the ride compared to stock on the confortable setting?
-I know the variant 1 has 3 x damper setting adjustments. How good is it on cornering with sports setting?
-How is the damper adjusted? Turning screw?

[fred27]

eibach pro kit and the kw's give a very good balance of ride and handling. you have lots of options as Koni, Bilstein, Eibach and kw's are very high quality. you should not have any problems with your ride with 45 series tyres.

[Melon Head]

Here is a video on the B12/14/16 kit

The girl annoys the hell out of me, but anyway hope that helps a bit

[Rushn]

I made a few local enquiries today, but the problem with living in the bush is that no one really has much of an idea, unless the vehicle is a Falcadore or their derivatives Does anyone have any metro suspension guru contacts they've dealt with previously that I can talk to?

Cheers

[Melon Head]

If you get the B12 PRO kit all you need is any reasonably competent mechanic to install it
They are made specifically for the Polo. The Bilstein factory has done all the development work so you don't have to guess

[gavs]

I would go with the KW V1 kit you mentioned. I have driven a range of vehicles (light little hatches up to 3+tonne off roaders) on different suspensions including Bilstein and Koni and unless you pay massive dollars I cannot recommend either of them over the KW setups.

The difference I find and as ATYPIC will tell you is that they trasform the car to like the fiests Zetec you talk of. Compliant intially but then ramp up to handling monsters one the dampers start to load up with the forces. The secret to this is the internal bypass valves that kw use much like (with my personal experience) off-road performance dampers. THis gives for a supple compliant rid with the normal run of the mill bumps and jiggles but with bigger hits the valving automatically adjusts to the hit to give a superior damping response.

If the "adjustable" option is selling you, I can tell you that what Koni offer as "adjustable" on their dampers is actually a wear compensator, bilstein don't offer adjustability on their low end product because realistically, nobody really uses it on their lower end products.

Don't get me wrong, Koni and Bilstein, along with Tein and H&R are all great suspension systems. I personally though with experience will only ever recommend KW. And now if you are after real "impress your mates" adjustability, KW have got suspension systems that are adjusted by an iPhone app but they have not developed this kit for the 6R polo yet.

[Polo_GTI]

Hey guys, my KW Variant 1 inox coilovers arrived today and I hope to install them myself on the weekend.

Is there anything I need to look out for when installing these? Any torx screws ? Do I need spring compressors to remove the old etc?
I'm hoping its quite a straight forward install but if not I'd like to be prepared

[cstb_87]

Suspension talk

Hey guys, my KW Variant 1 inox coilovers arrived today and I hope to install them myself on the weekend.

Is there anything I need to look out for when installing these? Any torx screws ? Do I need spring compressors to remove the old etc?
I'm hoping its quite a straight forward install but if not I'd like to be prepared

It isn't straight forward sadly. I tried doing it but it requires a few special tools that I didn't have. I did get the torx piece after a lot of hunting though, but wasn't cheap.

Even with the manual I failed (and I've installed a few coilovers.). Paid someone to do it in the end.

[GTI JOE]

Hey guys, my KW Variant 1 inox coilovers arrived today and I hope to install them myself on the weekend.

Is there anything I need to look out for when installing these? Any torx screws ? Do I need spring compressors to remove the old etc?
I'm hoping its quite a straight forward install but if not I'd like to be prepared

Would you be able to advise where you sourced them from and price?

[Polo_GTI]

It isn't straight forward sadly. I tried doing it but it requires a few special tools that I didn't have. I did get the torx piece after a lot of hunting though, but wasn't cheap.

Even with the manual I failed (and I've installed a few coilovers.). Paid someone to do it in the end.

So was it just the Torx screws that held you back?
Is there anything else that I need to know about the install?

GTI JOE, I bought them from DPM and paid $1300 delivered