Thinking about better shock abosrbers

[noone]

Hi,

I've have had H&R springs on my Polo GTI for almost as long as I've had it (around 6 months). I'm happy with the overall handling since coupled with the RSB, but am thinking about doing a bit more for better cornering and less floaty-ness when at higher speeds (above 70kmph).

I was thinkinh about the Bilstein option (B8's as others have these with the H&R's) is this the correct part: 005107

If I only changed the front, would the mismatch between stock on the rear and B8's on the front with the H&R springs be a dangerous / strange combo? Asa my springs and shocks are already unmatched, I couldn't see why it would be worse... I ask as the majority of the weight is over the front wheels and only changing the front would be a cheaper option.

I noticed that Plautos has modified his shocks, is there a cheaper alternative to buying new shocks for those of us without access to a full workshop?

New to suspension work, have done some searching, but finding good info hard to come by. Any comments, opinions, etc would be appreciated...

[noone]

Please guys, an opinion at least?

[jasn78]

mate im looking at adjustable konis part number 1130-2706

[noone]

How much is that going to set you back?

[jasn78]

approx 2k fitted and aligned

[VWindahouse]

Hey mate I have the Koni shocks and H&R springs and really love them. The adjustabilily function is an awesome thing and the car sits pretty low but has never scraped on anything. I think the springs were $320 delivered from Orange Tuning in Germany and I have a contact for Koni stuff if you want me to get a price for you. Think they set me back about $1100 from memory.

This combo has been put through it's paces quite a bit. I do a big mountain run pretty much every weekend except when it's at Jimmy's for the weekend getting yet another 1 or 2 mods slapped on it.

[Ben_GTI]

The B8's are great at high speeds, but I've found the B8/H&R combo at the limit are less forgiving than stock. Although the limit is much higher you have to be a lot more careful.

Overall I am happy with the Bilsteins and they will make a huge difference over stock, particularly if you drive mostly on smooth roads. On bumpy roads the Polo can start skipping sideways a fair if there are bumps.

[RoSonic]

I was thinkinh about the Bilstein option (B8's as others have these with the H&R's) is this the correct part: 005107

Can't access that link.
But here are the part numbers that I received after sending an email to Bilstein:

We recommend you to use the Bilstein B8 dampers together with the H&R springs. The part-numbers are VE3-5218 (front) and BE3-6790 (rear).

[noone]

The B8's are great at high speeds, but I've found the B8/H&R combo at the limit are less forgiving than stock.

Overall I am happy with the Bilsteins and they will make a huge difference over stock, particularly if you drive mostly on smooth roads. On bumpy roads the Polo can start skipping sideways a fair if there are bumps.

I thought that the Bilstein's were the only way to go, but seems other shocks have been used (successfully) with the H&R's.

What options do I have? There is the B8's, Koni's, any other shocks that would suit the H&R's?

Ben, what other handling mods do you have? I've not been able to get my car to do anything strange, but as I'm using pretty normal tyres, I'm not expecting super cornering speeds.

I'm not happy with the high speed bouncyness and the crashing I've had once or twice when I hit a bad Sydney pothole (assume I found the bump-stops). Its a little scary...

[Ben_GTI]

Ben, what other handling mods do you have? I've not been able to get my car to do anything strange, but as I'm using pretty normal tyres, I'm not expecting super cornering speeds.

I'm not happy with the high speed bouncyness and the crashing I've had once or twice when I hit a bad Sydney pothole (assume I found the bump-stops). Its a little scary...

I've just got the strut tower brace on the front so nothing too exciting. I'll put the skipping in context, there is a corner on the great ocean road which has some fixed potholes right before the apex (it may have been resurfaced since I went on it last). The Z4M infront of me didn't seem to have the same issue, but then again its a different car and he was running cup rubber off an M3 CSL . You can corner better than stock, I would never dispute this, but I feel the % improvement with Bilsteins is lowest on this type of surface.

Also it depends on your tyres. I find there is a big difference depending on the sidewall stiffness. The PP2's I'm using at the moment have waaaay stiffer sidewalls than the conti CS2's I had before.

If the higher speed bouncing is what you want to fix, the B8's will solve your problem nicely. I've hit potholes which I thought would damn near bend the suspension arms and the car hasn't bottomed out.

[noone]

Thanks Ben.

Did you run the H&R's stock shocks at any stage?

I'd love to hear from anyone else who had the spings and added shocks later and their impressions...

[mikepologti]

thinking of getting some h and r coilovers myself. most reviews from people who own them have rated them some where round 8-10/ 10.

[Ben_GTI]

Nah I changed everything out at once.

My brother put eibachs and stock shocks on his 318iS.... handled like an obese cow until he put bilsteins on as well.

[noone]

Yeah, I think I'm selling myself short handling wise...

Really didn't want to pour more $$$ into the little beast, but I guess thats the way of these things...

If I'm going to change the shocks, does it make sense to get the FSB and Suspension mounts changed at the same time (from a labor perspective)? As the front suspension needs a bit of work to change over, I assume that the FSB, etc would be best done at a similar time or is there little cross-over in the work?

[seangti]

Yeah, I think I'm selling myself short handling wise...

Really didn't want to pour more $$$ into the little beast, but I guess thats the way of these things...

If I'm going to change the shocks, does it make sense to get the FSB and Suspension mounts changed at the same time (from a labor perspective)? As the front suspension needs a bit of work to change over, I assume that the FSB, etc would be best done at a similar time or is there little cross-over in the work?

I'm following this thread with great interest as I'm in the same "boat" (pun intended ). Doing all at the same time makes sense as to my understanding you need to drop the subframe for the FSB, you also need a wheel alignment after putting the new bushes in... so save yourself some hassle from going back and forth and wasting money on alignments. The increased labour charge would also be buggar all (perhaps another 1-1.5hrs) as it's all dropped in the first place.