GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: DOA on 26 December 2008, 23:34
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Hi there, first topic so be kind :laugh:
I recently fitted a set of FK highsport coilovers to my 8v, thinking that the price was quite good though realising they would be a bit uncomfortable ride wise. However, ive had them on the car for a few weeks now at several ride heights from about 50mm lowered to only just below stock as they are now and I have to say, they are ridiculously underdamped in rebound!
I must point out at this point that Im a design engineer by trade with plenty of fitting experience so I know they have been fitted properly by myself and the fact that Im doing a degree in motorsport and work part time for a company building and running their own racecars makes me feel I sort of have enough experience to have such a strong opinion on the crapness of this kit!
I can accept a ride thats significantly stiffer than stock as Ive had that before on a few cars including a previous gti but ive never before experienced a setup that has been so badly damped. As an example, at 50mm lowered the car was undrivable on any remotely bumpy road due to the lack of damping and the presence of massive bump steer, slightly higher slightly better and below stock slightly better still, but still terrible and pretty much undrivable though with no sign of bump steer. They are so bad that every hump in the road sends the front end flying upwards before crashing back down, to the extent that yesterday I hit a bump in the road on a corner which fired the car upwards and sideways into a ditch at the side of the road resulting in a badly bent rim and a flat tyre. Despite it being christmas day I wasnt pished and I certainly wasnt driving fast due to the lumpiness of the road and the crap damping of the suspension lol. Oh and I must point out that the car was tracked up properly at each ride height.
My question is then, has anybody else experienced this complete lack of damping on these coilovers before or is it just me and secondly, does anyone have any idea on the law concerning refunds on the grounds of the kit not being fit for use by the users opinion? Any input would be welcome lol!
I would sell these on, but I cant let anyone else loose on the road with such a sh!te setup, they really are that bad!
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Were they new?
If so, have you contacted the vendor?
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i have konigsports on my mk2 vr6 and experience the bouncyness, but i dont get a bump steer - i put it down to an incorrect spring for a 1.8 motor.
the main problem i find is high speed bumps and troughs and sucessive dips and humps (sp) in the road the suspension does not know where it should be, and in my opinion old skoool shocks and springs were better.
i contacted FK and checked the spring type and have the correct spring .
i found the boucyness was greatly reduced with 40 profile tyres as opposed 50 profile i think i am currently running about -80mm.
i am still writing this off to heavy engine at the moment any decent road and the car is much better than stock handling
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Yeah they were brand new and the vendor was an ebay seller (proper company though).
Im amazed you dont get any bump steer issues with it 80mm down whatever suspension you have on there lol and you shouldnt have to swap to lower profile tyres to make a car drivable but I think I may try calling FK at some point and at the least check the springs are the correct ones (they are FAAAAR too stiff for the rebound damping, Ive even considered putting the rears on the front lol).
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IMO send them back as not fit for pourpose there marketing bumf says it makes your car handel better if they don't they arn't fit for pourpose.
now i'm going to upset a lot of people, but i spent a lot of time looking into suspention for the optimal setup for my car ( for handeling )
conclusion been that most coilovers are crap, the entire sub £500 market is about one thing and one thing only and that is lowering it till something else stops it going lower like tyers ripping the inner arches out. handelign wise ive drive cars with new stock springs or basic -40 aftermarket and gas dampers and they have handeld FAR better than simalar cars with various coilovers. i don't think handeling is even considerd in the desing stage of most coilovers and most of the peopel who buy them don't notice how crap they are for the folling reasons.
1) compareing new shiney things to 20 yr old 150,000 mile shocks that have worn out long ago
2) they can't actualy drive a car properly so don't notice the car not behaveing properly
3) it's really stiff it must be good
£500 - 600 seems to get you the performance of a good aftermarket spring and gas strut, that can be hight adjusted on car for 3 months
£600 - 700 gets you the same performance as a goodaftermarket spring and adjustable strut, that can be hight adjusted on the car for 6 months
£800 + gets you a proper performance oriantated coilover setup that'll better good struts and springs
you seem to have noticed there lacking desing as well
i eventualy decided to go struts on the frount and coilovers one the rear ( as struts i wanted wernt avalibel for syncro) then was lucky to come across a 2nd hand setup whitch was almost the exact setup i was about to buy. adjustable gas frount struts and spax rsx rear coilovers. so put the frounts on and then adjusted the rears so the car sat level and pritty much spot on.
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What you have described is a classic case of having completely wrong spring rates! double check with the vendor, or better still, FK themselves, what you should have!
"Bump steer" unless you've changed the length of your steering arms in relation to track control (Lower arms) bump steer could never be an issue..
Tom
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I'd return to vendor and spend cash else where.
I personaly prefer a set of matched springs and dampers, -60mm over stock is my prefered ride height, low without ruining sumps.
Had a few mates cars with cheapo coilovers that'll loosen your fillings if you drive over a piece of dental floss and terrifying to drive fast on anything else than flat uncambered roads.
When it comes to suspension I reckon you gets whats you pays for and as it's a safety item you can't really **** about.
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completely wrong spring rates!
wouldnt suprise me in the slightest found same spring specced for a mk3 vr6 and a 1.3 mk2 in some setups
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probably a really daft question , but did you have an adjuster on the top of the shock for stiffness inside the shock ??
my konis ware set to STIFF for 2 months till my mate told me they were adjustable LOL
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completely wrong spring rates!
wouldnt suprise me in the slightest found same spring specced for a mk3 vr6 and a 1.3 mk2 in some setups
fk highsports were what i had on the valver, they are different rates for different cars.
i had vr6 coilovers on my mk2 and there's still plenty damping going on.
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agree with someone above sub £500 are just about slamming it, looks. i know ive got some sub £200 coilovers lol :evil:
but on my seat ibiza 16v gti ive got £300 weitec 40mm springs and shocks and i have to say they are perfect and i do the odd track day/sprint. i dont think id buy cheap coilovers again just measure it all out and go for another good spring and damper set up, i mean ive only adjusted my coilovers once :shocked:
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Coilovers suck Satan's c*ck
Quite.
Stick some good quality struts and appropriate springs on it. This will probably cure your handling ills.
Alternatively, stick cheap-assed coil-overs on it and look bad-ass (and get a big, fat handling FAIL on your car).
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or get some decent coilovers that will blow struts and springs into the water (any set over 500 tbh).
the op's susp sound like the wrong specs, but even with the right set there will be roads that are just too bumpy for coilovers! but for the other 80% of roads they should work well
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ok, so from this we have worked out that its the mummies boys who fit coilovers.
i know i will never buy a set, im running these because the car had them on when i bought it, i remember lowering an 8v mk2 on venom edition shocks/springs -80mm and that was spot on...
i wouldn`t mind drinving a std 8v on the same coilovers as mine to make a comparison as i cant benchmark with the vr6 motor.
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ok, so from this we have worked out that its the mummies boys who fit coilovers.
dont believe everything you read, there is a MASSIVE difference between hottuning and kw/gaz/koni etc
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cool,cool..
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Well, cheers for the input, all good lol. I have actually advised people and friends to stay well clear of coilovers for many years and always advise bilstein dampers and eibach or H&R springs (bloody amazing on an e36 BMW) lol but sometimes you just do irrational things dont you :tongue: (Im not even interested in it going low lol). Ill give them a call and check they are the correct spring (unless they are for a completely different and far heavier car I cant see that being the case!) but if they are Ill demand a refund direct from them (FK).
Ill let you know how I go on though as if these are the correct springs I dont think anyone should buy such a sh!te kit regardless of what they want them for.
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Sounds like a rational course of action
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well i personally had coilovers on my escort XR3 with a zetec in it , and they were fantastic ,
GAZ coilovers , made to my car , spoke to them on the phone told them the spec , and the usage of the car , i.e. fast road / occasional trackday
and they altered the spring rates cos of the heavier motor and thinner oil in the shocks with smaller holes for better fast bump but slower bumps it was a little harsh on the road
but all in all it was some of the best suspension i have ever had , ther car was positive to drive and a pleasure to drive on the track
they were about £450 but the Konis were gonna be £400 so i think they were a good buy
i would recomend GAZ coilovers to ANYONE !!
you get what you pay for !!!
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Havnt read all the replys but I think i know what your on about.
Abit skittish on bumpy roundabouts?
Ive been told that due to worn rear axel bushes.
Want to go back to shocks and springs myself
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Not skittish on just bumpy roundabouts, skittish anywhere there is a bump and it isnt the rear beam bushes, they wouldnt affect it like this, its a lack of damping. Its not that it lost the back end, it fired the front up which wouldnt happen if the damping was even nearly correct.
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Totally agree, you get what you pay for. GAZ coilovers every time! Well worth the money. :grin:
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That's a sweet pic of some tripod action Johnsgti :grin:
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Cheers matey. :cool:
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I've had the same fk's as you previously on an e36 bmw and they stayed on for a few months.
As you say they are sh!tty ruined the handling and mine started to leak within a month.
They where bought as a group buy and i know of 4 other sets getting returned within 6 months
Eventually after months of complaining to fk i got my money back but it takes a lot of patience.
I would never but fk suspension for anything just don't trust them.
On the other hand Gaz coilies are indeed the dogs