MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: scarpicus on June 08, 2009, 01:09:01 am
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I need help in deciding which coilovers i should get so any opinions and advice would be appreciated...... :happy2:
I would also like to ask does having adjustable dampers like the ones on the konis and fk konigsport really enable you to fine tune a comfortable ride while at the same time having car sit low, is it worth paying the extra for this feature.... :drinking:
http://www.venommotorsport.com/manufacturer_product.php?manufacturer=Weitec&category=Suspension&product=HiconGTCoilovers
http://www.venommotorsport.com/manufacturer_product.php?manufacturer=Koni&category=Suspension&product=Coilovers
http://www.venommotorsport.com/manufacturer_product.php?manufacturer=FK&category=Suspension&product=KonigsportCoilovers
http://www.venommotorsport.com/manufacturer_product.php?manufacturer=FK&category=Suspension&product=KonigsportSilverlineXCoilovers
http://www.venommotorsport.com/manufacturer_product.php?manufacturer=KW&category=Suspension&product=V1
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There are lots of different budget coilovers there! What would you prefer to spend and how many miles do you plan on doing on them?
I've had KW V1's and FK Silverlines on previous cars and they're both very good kits, the FK's are softer and go lower than the KWs, but the quality isn't as good as the KW's.
The Weitec stuff is made by KW, but I haven't seen it so I can't say anything about the quality.
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You should also consider Bilstein.
It also depends what sort of driving you are doing. If you're going to track it then maybe adjustable coilovers would be worth it (if you know what you are doing). If you are just using them for fast road, then you would be fine with non-adjustable damping. I've heard that its easy to get the adjustments wrong if you don't know what you're doing, and you are not likely to better the set-up on a fixed coilover anyway.
Just my two-pence worth lol!
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I have weiteck coilovers, they are the same as KW V1 but run different springs. the ride is a little harsh but i run them very low so its bound to bem i think they were about 450. :smiley:
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Eibachs are also basically a KW v1 with their own spring, this is a touch soft for the track in all honesty, but gives a nice plush ride on the road.
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I guess that VWR-KW-V3's are beyond your current budget :sad:
Professionally set up they are awesome imo.
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I mainly drive in inner london which has a lot of potholes and humps
I dont plan to track car and i don't do anywhere near the miles im sure some of you do
I probably only drive the car about 10000 miles a year probaly less as its mostly short trips and the occasional motorway trip...
You should also consider Bilstein.
It also depends what sort of driving you are doing. If you're going to track it then maybe adjustable coilovers would be worth it (if you know what you are doing). If you are just using them for fast road, then you would be fine with non-adjustable damping. I've heard that its easy to get the adjustments wrong if you don't know what you're doing, and you are not likely to better the set-up on a fixed coilover anyway.
Just my two-pence worth lol!
Thanks for that advice as i though it would be simple adjusting damping to suit driving style i am also suprised that the Standard KW varient 1 are ahead of the 2 FK Konigsport coilovers can anyone expand on why KW varient 1 are better.... :happy2:
Really appreciate opinions and advice so far...... :happy2: :happy2: :happy2:
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^^ As you say earlier, its very simple to actually adjust the damping - most just use a screw adjuster on the top or bottom of the damper - however I was told by suspension experts that its not as simple as just turning the dampers to a softer setting if you're after a softer ride - apparently there are other variables that need to be taken into consideration. But then again I am a complete novice at it, and never really looked into it properly. I guess with a bit of research you could make some good judgements about how to adjust the damping. :smiley:
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There are lots of different budget coilovers there! What would you prefer to spend and how many miles do you plan on doing on them?
I've had KW V1's and FK Silverlines on previous cars and they're both very good kits, the FK's are softer and go lower than the KWs, but the quality isn't as good as the KW's.
The Weitec stuff is made by KW, but I haven't seen it so I can't say anything about the quality.
So out of the KW and FK which one gave you the better ride also when you say the quality isn't as good can you expand on that...did u have problems with FK
You should also consider Bilstein.
It also depends what sort of driving you are doing. If you're going to track it then maybe adjustable coilovers would be worth it (if you know what you are doing). If you are just using them for fast road, then you would be fine with non-adjustable damping. I've heard that its easy to get the adjustments wrong if you don't know what you're doing, and you are not likely to better the set-up on a fixed coilover anyway.
Just my two-pence worth lol!
I Didn't consider Bilsteins because ever thing i have read about them people always say that the ride is very harsh.
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The ride's not tooo bad, but yeah maybe on the harsh side of things.
My tuner who used to have KW-V3's fitted to his GTI said that they were harsher than the Bilsteins. That probably doesn't help you because I know you're looking at the KW-V1's, but it would be interesting to hear from someone who knows how the V1's differ in ride quality from the V3's, and maybe that could give you a reference point :smiley:
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The V3's have adjustable damping and rebound, so the ride quality is going to be varied, the V1's are just height ajustable, and they're hard.
Personally for slow driving and potholed roads, I wouldn't go with V1s unless you have a granite spine. If you're only driving in a congested place, I'd look at something with ride adjustment so you can find some some form of comfort setting.
As far as I was aware, the Weitec and KW kits weren't the same. The KW's are stainless while the Weitecs are galvanised. Is that it?
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I Didn't consider Bilsteins because ever thing i have read about them people always say that the ride is very harsh.
....Having ridden in Chris' Bilstein GTI on Saturday on the same bit of road as mine with VWR-KW-V3's, I can report very definitely that neither are what I call harsh.
Harder but not harsher.
Much will depend on how expertly the suspension is set up.
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The V3's have adjustable damping and rebound, so the ride quality is going to be varied, the V1's are just height ajustable, and they're hard.
Personally for slow driving and potholed roads, I wouldn't go with V1s unless you have a granite spine. If you're only driving in a congested place, I'd look at something with ride adjustment so you can find some some form of comfort setting.
As far as I was aware, the Weitec and KW kits weren't the same. The KW's are stainless while the Weitecs are galvanised. Is that it?
So would you recommend FK Konigsport or FK Konigsport Silverline x which i believe are stainless and have damping adjustment
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Hi, Sorry for the OT, but do your FSD's & Eibach's lower the ED30? if so by how much ??
Cheers.
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Replied in For Sale section.. :happy2:
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I used to have the eibach Pro-street-S coiolvers and they were pretty comfortable (I live in london), now i have the KW V3's which are alot firmer!
I'll be selling my Eibachs :)
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We really rate the Weitec Hicon GT's and by far our best selling coilover kit.
Damian @ DPM Performance
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We really rate the Weitec Hicon GT's and by far our best selling coilover kit.
Damian @ DPM Performance
....Are they stainless or galvanised?
I have to say that just because a product is best selling it doesn't necessarily make it the best in the long term. Often something is best selling because it's cheap.
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We really rate the Weitec Hicon GT's and by far our best selling coilover kit.
Damian @ DPM Performance
....Are they stainless or galvanised?
I have to say that just because a product is best selling it doesn't necessarily make it the best in the long term. Often something is best selling because it's cheap.
And that is one of my problems in deciding which to get as the weitics are cheaper of the big brands but i would like them to last a good few years i would'nt want after a year or so if i want to adjust them having them seize up or anything... :scared:
But having said that a few people have voted for them so maybe nothing to worry about..... :confused:
I'm still completly undecided as KW have more votes so far but everyone has said they are hard
I should have added eibach Pro Street S Coilovers to the poll as they seem to have had a good few comments.. :happy2:
Eibach Pro Street S Coilovers added :smiley:
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If you want good handling you'll have to accept some hardness. Hardness is fine, harshness is what you don't want for road use. But as I posted earlier, much is down to the expertise of the guy setting it up.
Personally I hate soft suspension - I don't like driving a marshmallow!
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if handling isn't the ultimate aim why don't you go for lowering springs and uprate the dampers say Eibach springs and Koni FSD dampers unless you want to be able to drop the car right on the floor in which case ignore me !
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....Eibach springs plus KoniFSD's is what I had and, together with Eibach anti-roll bars, it improved the handling slightly but gave a comfortable ride without too much lowering.
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The original poster already has FSDs and Pro-kit fitted, I think he wants to go lower.
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The original poster already has FSDs and Pro-kit fitted, I think he wants to go lower.
Yeah i have fsd with eibach and the ride is very Very nice :happy2:
but i want to go lower,Basically i want the Koni fsd with Eibach prokit ride but with a much lower ride hieght.... :happy2:
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I've had a think...go for FK Silverline X's, they have Koni Dampers, their kits go lower than any others, and they have stainless bodies so they can be adjusted again.
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To be fair, he's only going so low with those rims anyway - so I think all are contenders.
Galvanised are ok if you're prepared to look after them, something like Waxoil will keep the crap out of them. If you just want to go low, then comfort and price are key, adjustability is pointless..
A GOOD coilover will have been through a very lengthy development process and then preset with rates that match the car, so look for a make with good R&D and a TUV approval, basically the ones you've listed. Eibach/Koni will lean towards street settings, i.e. compliant where as KW/Weitec (and as I believe the Weitec is basically a V1 too) will be more track orientated, i.e. hard. FK I have no knowledge of, but Jonny used to run a set, so they can't be bad!
Cheap crap will most likely be a copy of one of these, but with no consideration for the spring rates, rebound settings etc.
The general consensus for a daily hack with decent handling is to go for compliant springs and hard ARBs. That way you soak up bumps easily but it doesn't roll like a ship full of custard in corners.
Mine handles really well on the Eibachs, if it didn't, they'd have been taken off in a flash. They were on the car when I bought it and I'd highly recommend them... if I was spending my money though, I'd have Bilsteins, no question. I get arch liner rub occasionally on high compression and they're not as good as they could be on the track, but my commute (which is where it does 90% of its work) is a dream.
Hope that helps somehow?
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Yeah i have fsd with eibach and the ride is very Very nice :happy2:
but i want to go lower,Basically i want the Koni fsd with Eibach prokit ride but with a much lower ride hieght.... :happy2:
....If you are using KoniFSD's you are limited on how low you should go - Otherwise there can be problems. It's the way the FSD system works - They smartly adjust themselves and need the travel.
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Thanks for all you advice and opinions so far... :happy2:
I think i'm leaning towards the koni coilovers as TONY_DANZA has said which others in my google research have said also are that the Koni seem too give a very good ride (iv not read one post were someone has said ride was harsh) while still lowering car maybe not as low as FK but my main goals were to have a good ride like my current setup but with having car not slammed but sitting lower especially in the rear and i think the Konis will give me this... :happy2:
Also when front tyres need changing i plan to put some 215/40/18 or 215/35/18 on too give tyres abit of stretch and have arches rolled so i could go even lower in the front eventually which was also one of the reason for wanting coilovers to have that ability to adjust in the future.. :drinking:
Plan to get them begin of next month
CANNOT WAIT..... :jumping: :jumping: :jumping: :jumping:
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We really rate the Weitec Hicon GT's and by far our best selling coilover kit.
Damian @ DPM Performance
....Are they stainless or galvanised?
I have to say that just because a product is best selling it doesn't necessarily make it the best in the long term. Often something is best selling because it's cheap.
They're galvanised, it's the KW's that are stainless.
Totally agree but along with them being our best selling coilover they're also the ones we get the least problems with and also the most positive customer reviews about.
Damian @ DPM
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@ scarpicus:
I would advise also getting some aftermarket anti-roll bars - Very underrated but effective suspension mod.
Beware the slippery slope of modding!
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi22.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb308%2FRedRobin_05%2Fslippery_slope.jpg&hash=66d7316bc1cd98f74a74982c9e9377b2dd106761)
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@ scarpicus:
I would advise also getting some aftermarket anti-roll bars - Very underrated but effective suspension mod.
Beware the slippery slope of modding!
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi22.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb308%2FRedRobin_05%2Fslippery_slope.jpg&hash=66d7316bc1cd98f74a74982c9e9377b2dd106761)
Got to agree with that, I personally think uprated ARB make one of the biggest differences.
Damian @ DPM Performance