Coilovers.

[seangti]

Or as everyone says do it once and do it right. Looking like sell the kidney for a good set of coils is what I'm getting from most people. haha

That's the spirit, sell them kidneys.

For a very short period I ran H&R springs on stock struts, it drove just ok around town but awful at highway speeds, lacking rebound control (think pogo stick). On Queensland Raceways Sprint track, it was marginally slower and a lot less cohesive on the track compared to all stock gear. Put the biltsteins in, was 2sec quicker, and a hell of a lot more fun. Poor set-up carries through braking, acceleration and cornering. It also makes it less forgiving and predictable when you overcommit. Depending on the rest of the suspension, be careful with swaybar adjustments, setting to hard thinking that'll be awesome can result in entering a corner backwards.

[h100vw]

That's the spirit, sell them kidneys.

For a very short period I ran H&R springs on stock struts, it drove just ok around town but awful at highway speeds, lacking rebound control (think pogo stick). On Queensland Raceways Sprint track, it was marginally slower and a lot less cohesive on the track compared to all stock gear. Put the biltsteins in, was 2sec quicker, and a hell of a lot more fun. Poor set-up carries through braking, acceleration and cornering. It also makes it less forgiving and predictable when you overcommit. Depending on the rest of the suspension, be careful with swaybar adjustments, setting to hard thinking that'll be awesome can result in entering a corner backwards.

Or worse, exiting it backwards. So easy to get suspension wrong. Going too cheap would be the primary reason.

Gavin

[Bayan37]

Ok well I am lucky I will have an expert putting my **** together otherwise ill be entering and exiting upside down if it was a DIY I suck!

Probs will lean towards getting coils realistically something that can do height and dampening looking like the best option by the sounds of things. Correct me if I'm wrong but ive heard that just ride height adjustment coils are waste of time.

Also just FIY found this website if people didn't already know have a great option of coils on there and do ship to australia. But pretty pricey ****.

Coilovers to fit the Volkswagen Polo


Bayan

[kaanage]

They have KW Clubsports for our Polos!

[Bayan37]

They have KW Clubsports for our Polos!

And they ship to Australia

[seangti]

Correct me if I'm wrong but ive heard that just ride height adjustment coils are waste of time.

Bayan

I'd say you're wrong

Depends what you're wanting to achieve and whether you need the adjustment. I'd buy the top quality for my budget with adjustment down the chain. If chasing adjustablity, I'd only look at Bilstein, KW Clubsport or go MCA custom. Those alternatives are way beyond the price point you've alluded too, even without your kidneys. Bilstein and Clubsports are $3k+, add adjustable strut tops, corner weighting and associated bracing and mounts And you're into the 4's. They are a high performance oriented suspension so you'd never reach their capability on the street.

Check orange tuning in Germany, I'm sure thats where I bought my H&R coilovers (monotube). The euro compares better than the pound so found best to source from europe.
Volkswagen - Polo 9N - Fahrwerk - Orange Tuning

[rgvlee]

I'm hanging out for more specs on Gavins MCA suspension...

[Buller_Scott]

i went the FK's with Koni struts. i thought they were good, and it was nice to be able to adjust more than just the "amount of lowz".

set on full height, on medium stiffness, they felt VERY good on twisty mountain passes.

get something adjustable. once you're over having to step out of your car and walk away from it so that you can turn around and admire how low it looks whilst stationary, you'll want to start playing with making the car actually drive better. my 2 cents.

[h100vw]

I'm hanging out for more specs on Gavins MCA suspension...

It's coming, I got the front end aligned today. Circa 3 degrees of camber both sides. Now toeing in 1mm a side as Josh said.

Feels nice, I think I might have to refit the seats and spare wheel. The back end is just the slightest bit bouncy as it is on the street, it is pretty sweet on smooth tarmac. Joints on the highway that caused some nasty bangs before, just get rolled over. I could try the softer rear springs though.

Hoping the catch Sean in the near future to get his opinion.

Gavin

[kaanage]

The back end is just the slightest bit bouncy as it is on the street, it is pretty sweet on smooth tarmac. Joints on the highway that caused some nasty bangs before, just get rolled over. I could try the softer rear springs though.

And refit the rear anti-roll bar?

[h100vw]

And refit the rear anti-roll bar?

I might but MCA are not a big believer it seems. The theory that the correct shocks and springs should mean that you don't need one...... We'll have to see.

With the wheels aligned it drives so much better, done 80km into Brisbane and back today. The ride is bouncy and if you run over a dropped man hole or similar the back doesn't like it. The front is happy.

Need to find somewhere with really tight corners, out on the open road the speed involved in testing the limits wouldn't be funny

[rgvlee]

Not enough weight and/or rear springs too hard?

[h100vw]

Not enough weight and/or rear springs too hard?

I could fix it with either I think. Refit the seats and spare, which would also improve weight distribution. Or go with the softer springs. I have no doubt the ones in there would be spot on at a track.

Gavin

[kaanage]

I might but MCA are not a big believer it seems. The theory that the correct shocks and springs should mean that you don't need one...... We'll have to see.

I think it's a great theory for offroading and dirt rallying but the spring rates needed to control the roll would be hard to live with on tarmac. But it will be interesting to see.

What front anti-roll bar are you running? (I'd be astonished if they could fit springs heavy enough there to cope without one)

[h100vw]

I think it's a great theory for offroading and dirt rallying but the spring rates needed to control the roll would be hard to live with on tarmac. But it will be interesting to see.

What front anti-roll bar are you running? (I'd be astonished if they could fit springs heavy enough there to cope without one)

Standard bar on the front. I think the main point was that the beam should be pretty much capable of doing the job on it's own.

PS Hung it round a round about at the airport tonight, definitely cornered harder than it did previously with the roll bar on.