Low-end Sports Suspension for Polo 9N3

[Neonix]

I was hoping some of you might have some advice on suspension for my Polo 9N3 GTI please. At the moment only the front shocks need replacing, but I would rather take the opportunity and replace all 4 shocks and springs if I can find good value sports suspension.

I've read through a lot of the suspension related posts in the Polo section of this forum and it seems like the general consensus is to go Weitec, Koni, H&R and/or Bilstein. After doing my own research on those brands I'm leaning a little towards Koni because they are available in a shock/spring kit and the reviews sound positive.

My goal is to upgrade either my worn front suspension.. or all 4 shocks and springs.. with suspension that is considered sports but not track standard. On a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being stock, 6 being the highest quality sports coil-overs and 10 being the absolute most expensive track suspension .. I'm hoping to hit around 3 or 4.

I have a VERY rough budget, but my goal at the moment is to gather as much info as possible and then purchase the most reasonable upgrade. My current budget is around $1000 for just the front two or around $1500 for all 4. My budget needs to include shocks, springs, install and anything else I'm not aware of.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

[kaanage]

While it's great to see you considering a cup kit (springs/struts and dampers) rather than the usual cheap coilover kits, there is another option and that it to only replace the dampers and keep the OE springs. sambb did some investigation on spring rates and found the OE ones to be quite stiff.

This may help things stay within your budget. Koni FSD's were found by Bullet Fast to be a great road compromise for performance and daily use

[Stuwey]

I sourced a set of Bilstein B14s for $1100 from KamRacing - although our dollar was better at the time.

The ride quality on 17" wheels was horrible when at their lowest with the adjuster perches out, but actually really nice at a proper ride height on 16s.

Bilstein B14 Coilover kit

Or, a slightly cheaper

VW Polo Mk7 9N3 (1.8 GTI, 1.8 GTi Cup Edition) - Bilstein B12 Pro Suspension Kit - Suspension Kits - Suspension - VW Polo Mk6/7 (9N/9N3) - Volkswagen - Shop By Car

<edit> alternatively, you could always just put in some fresh OEM dampers - speak to your local HSY or Imparts.

[HAR80N]

i was looking at this Bilstein B12 Pro Kit the other day the cheapest one i could find its around $1100 AUD


Bilstein B12 PRO KIT Sportfahrwerk VW Polo 9N 46 183934 | eBay

[h100vw]

MCA blue, it's $1500 but the last suspension you will buy. Comes with camber adjustable top mounts. Which would cost you $100s to buy on their own. Install would be a couple of hours.

[seangti]

If you're happy to buy overseas, the euro typically goes further than the pound, though both goes further than the AUD. You won't find any suspension for the polo in the USA.

Sites to trawl:
- PSI Tuning - Suspension > Polo 9N 02-09 > VW Polo > VW Specialists > PSI Tuning - VW Audi Specialists Stoke On Trent / Cheshire
- Orange Tuning - Volkswagen - Polo 9N - Suspension - - Audi Tuning, BMW Tuning, VW Tuning, Opel Tuning, Mercedes Tuning, Mini Tuning
- DPM Performance - https://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/car.../buy/coilovers
- Demon Tweaks - Oracle GlassFish Server 3.1.2.2 - Error report

I have all these saved as favourites
I bought my H&R coilovers from Orange Tuning, their communication was really good and parts arrived very quickly. Price was more than half of what I'd have paid locally.

If you stick with the main brands you've mentioned, certainly consider MCA too, than you can't really go wrong.

[sambb]

I think if you go with normal strut style suspension, then going with the koni or bilstein kits is the way to go for quality/performance etc and you'll definitely be hitting a "4" with these. But having said that I noticed on ebay the other night some pretty cheap ST spring/damper combos with free postage from europe for under a $k.
But like Gav said, that little bit more will net you some pretty serious kit and for the money, the MCA kit looks just about unbeatable - but if its a "4" you want to hit for performance then maybe order lower spring rates for the street because the MCA is capable of much more than that. Keep in mind that generally coilover kits are usually stiff in ride AND roll because they make use of high spring rates for body control rather than relying on bars.
Alternatively you could make the standard system work but it still takes money. Ie for standard springs to work you will probably end up with front and rear anti roll bars ($500) and a full re bush of the front end ($300 not inc labour). Definitely later uprated dampers would be needed. I've only done the rear dampers at this stage but it works out fine that way for hillclimbs so it'll probably stay like that - would be a different matter on the track though. With standard springs (or most of the aftermarket strut style kits) + bars you'll have a car that is softer in ride but stiff in roll - more comfortable cruising and pushing hard on rougher roads and less scary in the wet bit still beds down hard in the corners. So you can do it this way - it'll be possible bit by bit but you may even end up spending more than if you just shelled out for the trick MCA's in the beginning.
Like Kaanage said I did a bit of testing and some of the eibach, weitec, ST aftermarket springs came back with spring rates more or less the same and some softer than the standard springs - its just that the standard springs sit higher. I left the fronts standard to keep the roll centre and bump steer where it needs to be but dropped the rear slightly and that works well for me. Also keep in mind that there's not much use going for super stiff spring rates if you are not going to stiffen the body too. A car thats soft in warp with super stiff springs can just feel odd/choppy/twitchy - or to look at it a different way if you stiffen the body with braces to make it stiff in warp, then stock springs will feel much stiffer because they will be forced to work more effectively.
Its a big decision because most of it is a big ticket/big installation type of thing and you want to get it right. Keep firing the questions but put the replies in perspective with what it is you really want from the car and you'll find the help you need.

[Blue9N3]

Low-end Sports Suspension for Polo 9N3

I got an AP sports spring shock combo which seems to work quite well ($450 or so landed when the exchange rate was better( Don't forget to put in better LCA and rear beam bushes and rear sway bar to complete the package)


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[Neonix]

Finally Decided on Bilstein B12s

Sorry to necro this thread, but life got a little in the way of deciding on my suspension.

I've pretty much decided on the Bilstein B12 kit from this supplier;
VW Polo Mk7 9N3 (1.8 GTI, 1.8 GTi Cup Edition) - Bilstein B12 Pro Suspension Kit

It looks like I can get the kit installed by my local VW mechanic has quoted around $200-$400 to install the kit. That means I will be getting a decent improvement all around and sticking to my (now very strict) budget of $1500.

What are your thoughts?

If you agree that this kit will go nicely on a Polo 9N3 GTI, do you know of any companies selling and shipping the same product for cheaper?

-Luke B

[Slow_Polo]

I have been following this thread as I am also looking at some new suspension on the future.

The cheapest I have found the B12's was at Demon Tweeks

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/suspension-kits/car/volkswagen/polo-02-09-gti/2006/1-8-turbo-gti/bilstein-b12-pro-kit-suspension-kit-with-bilstein-b8-dampers-lowers-front-30mm-and-rear-30mm

It is $10 more expensive than KAM but only £98 postage so works out cheaper I believe.

Luke

[sambb]

The B12 kit is about as good as you can get for a non-coilover suspension and will probably outperform a great many coilover setups out there too. A guy I sometimes hillclimb against has a skoda fabia vrs wagon (which is just a stretched 9N3 chassis) with the very same B12 kit. He has convincingly won the under 2.5 litre class and from the bit I've seen and what I've been told has embarrassed a lot of supposedly more trick cars along the way. You'll be very happy with it.