Mk1 Suspension (fast road)

Bit new to this forum and could do with a bit of help with choosing some suspension for my Mk1.

Mk1 1.8 16v (Driver)
Close ratio gearbox
Standard GTI front anti-roll bar
Neuspeed rear 28mm anti-roll bar
OMP front lower strut brace
Bugpack polybushes (apart from rear beam and side engine mounts)
256mm brakes (standard discs and pads - for the moment, DS2500 pads possibly), 9" servo, 22mm master cylinder

First question, has anyone on here done a few trackdays in their Mk1?

I am interested in buying a decent setup that will last a good few years that has damper adjustsments, minimum!

The minimum setup would be the Koni/Eibach combination which is around ?350.

The outcome would be something like this: http://img.photobucket…v297/paul386/DSC01936.jpg which is about where I am at the minute with a soggy suspension kit on the front. Of course though I would gain stiffer damping and keep the wishbones level/optimal.

Next up would be coilovers, cheapest adjustable setup being either FK Konigsports or Weitec's for ?550-?600.

Now I know that quite a few Mk1 owners use Konigsports but how well do they perform in a non-slammed state in fast road/enthusiastic driving conditions… more importantly how long have you had them for and what condition are they in now? I think they are based more on going as low as possible than overall driving pleasure…

Next up would be KW Varient 2's for ?855 or even a Leda setup on the fronts (?600 or so) and use a Koni/Eibach combination for the rear (?200-?300).

This is a lot of money to be spending on suspension but is it truely worth it? Will they actually last longer than setups worth ?600? The other thing to mention is that the KW V2 rear dampers are not adjustable on the car, so when I go to a trackday I'll have to sort all that lot out, jack it up etc.


I've spent a fair few weeks on this subject trying to grab information from various people but I am still undecided. Anyone that has changed their standard suspension to coilovers, or anything newer or firmer to the previous setup, will no doubt feel the big difference it has made and the outcome will be some what obvious, a big improvement.

The sort of main problem I have with the different coilover options is how long they last both in terms of longevity of the dampers and the bodies themselves. I dont want to spend ?500+ if the performance decreases over a short time (2-3 years) or is this what I can expect from any sort of coilover packages?

Summary:
?350 - no option on ride height (other than custom springs ?40/corner), all dampers adjustable on car.
?550-600 - can be lowered, all dampers adjustable on car, possibilty of rusting prematurely.
?850 - a lot of money, KW rears only adjustable off car, no idea of how long they will actually last, Leda top name, unsure of longevity on the road.

My focus is more on fast road driving than styling but the extra few mm lower will be a bonus. I dont want to end up buying something that is inferior towards another setup, nor do I want to pay over the odds for a setup of which I could reap the benefits from something cheaper that will last just as long.

All comments and opinions greatly appreciated! (I know I may be looking too far into this but it is a lot of money and I've never had to buy suspension before plus it never hurts to ask ops

James.

I don't think I would have coilovers for track use only. What's the point as you will not need to vary ride height from track to track that much?

Sounds like you already have a decent set up and I would add the Eibach springs and top adjustable Konis.

Agree with dubboy…

Coilovers are only really used to slam the car.
For the track, either go with the koni adjustables and eibach springs or go for the full Leda race set up. Benfit with Leda so I believe, is that they will be fully rebuildable and should last as long as the car does…

i've got a koni setup on my golf, with damping adjusters paid ?270 for them at venom motorsport. Gotta say they are best thing ive bought. Theres no need to spend a fortune on the suspension.
Just my two pence worth.

ive got the same koni kit and i think its great one of the best things ive done to my golf !!!!
 

frankie said

i've got a koni setup on my golf, with damping adjusters paid ?270 for them at venom motorsport. Gotta say they are best thing ive bought. Theres no need to spend a fortune on the suspension.
Just my two pence worth.

I just looked at the venom site and they are ?387 + postage how did you get them for ?270. I really want them they seem perfect  the non adjustables are ?270 but I want to play :twisted:

Eibach & Koni TA's are superb - you must get adjustable damping though IMO - are firm enough for road use on the light mk1.

I have gone for the Konigsports ops:  primarily due to the fact I want it to sit nicely and from people who have the Koni/Eibach or similar setups, to me, still look a little to high.

If it was going to see a track every other weekend then yes, I would certainly have gone for the Koni/Eibach setup without a doubt but with thee Konigs I can adjust them to a happy medium.

Ordered them from Awesome-GTI and they are on back order :evil:, been a week already…

Old thread I know, but it contains some very interesting reading.

Robb - is this the kit which you were looking at?

It's ?290, so not too expensive, and having read through the threads on coilovers I don't think I really need them. The only advantage I can see is that you can set the ride height, but I'm not into slamming cars so I can't see the point in spending double the money!

Just in case anyone else is interested in them, here are some more posts which I read which were extremely helpful… click here, here and here

Cheers

Rich

I'd just like to make a point, if you are going to get really into trackdays you may end up wanting to get you car corner wieghted, this can only be done properly with coilovers.

also I dont get people saying your less likely to want to adjust settings on the track??! thats exactly where you want most adjustment, so you can set everything up to get the balance and handling as you want it

if you can afford to personally I'd go for coilovers every time simply for the awesome adjustability 8)

Yip, have to say I agree with what your saying there mk1vDub.

From the research I did it came back that coilovers were just not suitable to UK roads because they were too tuff with little movement - which is why they are good at preforming on the track - not much body roll etc etc.

I would look to see if H&R do a set for the mk1 which is dampining and hight adjustable, then you can have the best of both worlds.  They will no be cheap tho!!!

Keep us updated with what you get fitted.

ive got koni adjustables onmine and would reccomend absolutly awsome bit of kit!

if u want some coil overs search ebay
and mk1 golf coilovers, as there is a set on there more or less new, 2days left just touched hundred quid, keep ur eye on it as i reck it will be a bargin, was gona go for them my self for an upgrade, but have chose to get my dasshboard and interior in this month,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vw-golf-mk1-spax-rsx-suspension-VW-Golf-Jetta-Mk-I_W0QQitemZ8052337117QQcategoryZ40192QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

i'm running weitec coilovers which i find are good for the road but lacking slightly on the front when used on track ,hopefully going to get the koni eibach set up before nurby 06 funds pemitting .

Now I'm well confused!!! Some people reckon coilovers, some not…

I don't think I'll ever use the Mk1 on a track, but I will hopefully use it as my daily driver. Also, I don't reckon I'll want to lower it by silly amounts…

So, I'm still thinking that the koni adjustable kit is still the best bet…

Anyone help me out here?

Cheers

Rich

Personally i wouldent go with coilovers again - but thats just me .

Am I right in thinking that driver models are lighter than GTI's?  And that standard GTI dampers/springs fitted to a driver would make it ride 15mm higher than a GTI, as they wouldnt compress the springs as much?

Does this mean that a 60mm lowering kit intended for 'all models inc GTI', would give an approx 40mm drop for a driver?  Or would it be an even smaller drop due to them being uprated?

The reason I ask is that most reputable uprated susp. companies to not have kits for the different mk1 models, but kits for 'all models' in different height choices.  And I dont wanna invest in an 'all model' kit which wouldnt lower my car as much as it should!

 :dontknow:
Cheers
Arun

mcscrew said

Now I'm well confused!!! Some people reckon coilovers, some not…

I don't think I'll ever use the Mk1 on a track, but I will hopefully use it as my daily driver. Also, I don't reckon I'll want to lower it by silly amounts…

So, I'm still thinking that the koni adjustable kit is still the best bet…

Anyone help me out here?

Cheers

Rich

ok well if this is the case then I'd definately go for adjustable konis and springs of your choice - with lots of good things being said about eibachs :mrgreen:

certainly no need for coilies if your not going on track or want to lower it by loads.

Cool - thanks to everyone for their advice.

I'm going for that koni adjustable kit I think - ?300 is almost what I paid for the whole car in the first place, so I don't want to go totally overboard

Rich

Arrrghhh I'm having another dilemma. I am ordering new suspension this week, and I thought I'd do a little more research into things.

Using froogle, I came across www.motorsportworld.co.uk, who appear to be quite cheap.

I'm now toying with the idea of some Bilstein shocks (these will be the same as the standard VW shocks) and some Eibach springs. All in I'm looking at ?250, as opposed to ?350 for the Konis.

I'm under the impression that Eibach and Bilstein are the best names you can buy for springs and shocks respectively. Is this the case?

If so, do you think standard new shocks and some lowering springs will be better than the Koni kit?

Thanks in advance

Rich