Stupidly stiff suspension now ive fitted coilovers?

well my original springs finally bit the dust so i bought some coilovers. not the most expensive ones as i was on a tight budget. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360898513561?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
my problem is they are too bloody stiff! as in when i push on the corner of the car there is no give what so ever. the only give is from the rubber struts which i replaced also, and one of them has already popped up a bit after a half a mile ride.
i have them set with about an inch of arch-gap and the springs wound right down as to give the smoothest ride? have i done something wrong or are all budget suspension this stiff? do they need running in a bit?
any help would be amazing as i dont think my spine can take it!
cheers!

Unfortunately all budget coils are the same, harsh as hell. Many save the cash and up the budget a bit to get some comfort back. 

Sorry buddy, it's just the way the suspension is man 

damn will it damage the strut rubber or will i be ok driving on it? bit scared il hit a pot hole and rip the rubber.

Your not the first or the last mate!  

I removed the half decent coilies from mine as soon as I got it as they are all harsh.

Its looks over comfort with coilies I'm afraid.

boge/sachs/bilstein/eibach make 30-40mm spring kit and gas shocks is what you want for good ride and cheap price

if you absolutly must fit coilovers you have to spend a fair bit for them to ride nicely, just the way it is. theres no real need to fit coilovers unless you want endless adjustifiability.

if you have a lowering figure in mind buy a spring kit that offers it and be happy!

kind of wishing i just bought an original suspension unit and not gone with shocks now  looks like im going to have to learn the art of dodging potholes!
another thing, after driving to the shops and back on my lovely new coilovers i found that the strut top has stretched like this? its a brand new part, i put it on with the new suspension. is this something to be concerned about?
http://i.gyazo.com/16903ecf912fa62c56f68d507a3d2adb.png

3 weeks after I fitted coilies and new shock top mounts (Bilstein brand) the one mount collapsed similar to yours, causing the fender to take a chunk out of my tyre. I replaced both mounts again and had no problems for the next 60k km's. My coilies were track rated so very stiff and that probably caused the less than 100% new mount to give way. Same coilies on two of my other Mk1's are stll going strong.

I feel your pain mate.
http://i.gyazo.com/92e8ddeb35b291917cb9178f69b61535.png
thats what my old one did before the replacement.
il take your advice and put another one on order just incase.  

Feel for you mate, not good news !, I'm gonna add to this in defence of the coilovers I just fitted to our caddy, usual dilemma springs or coilovers ?, opted for coilovers in the end as i wanted adjustability so I could match the leaf spring back end drop and after a good look round found these http://www.t4srus.co.uk/vw-caddy-mk1-pick-up-v-maxx--25125mm-height-adjustable-coilovers-years-82--92-2155-p.asp can only comment on personal experience and have no connection to the supplier but I was actually pleasently surprised, they're not bad quality with a 2yr warranty and the ride is NOT harsh, I have H&R twin tube stainless coilovers (non adjustable) on the Golf and they are a harsher ride than these vmaxx, running Koni adjustable beetle shocks on the Caddy back end, one click away from softest setting and happy with the ride in the Caddy, mrs drives it with no complaints too ?, just a personal experience of what I have and agree springs and shocks are a better ride, with the top mounts, I've fitted cheaper brands in the past and they're not worth it, Febi Bilstein are easy to get hold of and are far superior to cheaper ones out there, hope you get it sorted ok.
 

Thanks mate il keep that in mind. kind of broke the bank on these things so im gonna have to brave it until after christmas   deffinetly learned my lesson though.

See if someone can lend you a 'Lumber support' and a 'Surgical Truss'!    

quote :
i have them set with about an inch of arch-gap and the springs wound right down as to give the smoothest ride? have i done something wrong or are all budget suspension this stiff? do they need running in a bit?

Just read this again, springs wound right down with an inch gap won't give you the smoothest ride, the further they're wound down the less travel the piston has, maybe they bottomed out and that's why the top mount popped, try winding them back up some, that should help, also there is a thread on here somewhere regarding Coltech classics raised top mounts, haven't tried them myself but they get good reviews, link to site http://www.coltechclassics.com/for-sale/mk1-golf-jetta-caddy-strut-extensions

hubbadubba said

quote :
i have them set with about an inch of arch-gap and the springs wound right down as to give the smoothest ride? have i done something wrong or are all budget suspension this stiff? do they need running in a bit?

Just read this again, springs wound right down with an inch gap won't give you the smoothest ride, the further they're wound down the less travel the piston has, maybe they bottomed out and that's why the top mount popped, try winding them back up some, that should help, also there is a thread on here somewhere regarding Coltech classics raised top mounts, haven't tried them myself but they get good reviews, link to site http://www.coltechclassics.com/for-sale/mk1-golf-jetta-caddy-strut-extensions

found the link, yes it's more money but even if you don't get a pair it's an interesting read. http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=how-to_2%2Ffitting-strut-risers

hubbadubba said

quote :
i have them set with about an inch of arch-gap and the springs wound right down as to give the smoothest ride? have i done something wrong or are all budget suspension this stiff? do they need running in a bit?

Just read this again, springs wound right down with an inch gap won't give you the smoothest ride, the further they're wound down the less travel the piston has, maybe they bottomed out and that's why the top mount popped, try winding them back up some, that should help, also there is a thread on here somewhere regarding Coltech classics raised top mounts, haven't tried them myself but they get good reviews, link to site http://www.coltechclassics.com/for-sale/mk1-golf-jetta-caddy-strut-extensions

cheers mate you might be onto something there! il give that a go over the weekend.

My NEX coil overs works a bit different than the norm, you pre-tension the spring (normally just enough so it won't rattle), and the height adjustment doesn't affect this setting. If you want to make the coilies stiffer you can add tension to the spring, handy if you want to make the back of the car stiffer to prevent squatting when launching hard. Although the coilies appear very stiff (you can hardly budge the car if you push down on the corners), ride quality is great and the car feels as if it's on rails.

hubbadubba said

quote :
i have them set with about an inch of arch-gap and the springs wound right down as to give the smoothest ride? have i done something wrong or are all budget suspension this stiff? do they need running in a bit?

Just read this again, springs wound right down with an inch gap won't give you the smoothest ride, the further they're wound down the less travel the piston has, maybe they bottomed out and that's why the top mount popped, try winding them back up some, that should help, also there is a thread on here somewhere regarding Coltech classics raised top mounts, haven't tried them myself but they get good reviews, link to site http://www.coltechclassics.com/for-sale/mk1-golf-jetta-caddy-strut-extensions

hubba your a life saver mate! that was the issue the shocks were completely bottomed out so it was like driving a go cart. ive messed with the springs now and i have a little bit of suspension not much but a lot better than it was!  only problem now is that my steering wheel is at a 45 degree turn when im going straight. is that a simple allignment job?
thanks again for the help!  i think im gonna save for some of them top mounts, they look like they could come in handy.