GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: fidget on 27 October 2012, 16:31
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Hi all
After a couple of years without a golf Ive brought a 8v gti to get me through winter while I have taken me VW T25 off the road.
Im going to be fitting some coilovers tomorrow and am after some rough ideas on height settings before I fit it all, to try and cut down on the fiddling about once the coilovers are fitted.
The coilovers are the bobby budget JOM ones ( I know you get what you pay for but the golf only cost £500 with a years mot and if it lasts the winter Im selling it on or breaking it and putting the engine in me van lol ). Im aiming for a 50mm drop and Im running the standard alloys.
Just really after some measurements from the top of the spring cap to the locking nuts really to get me on my way
thanks in advance
James
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Just wind them all the way down :laugh:
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All make depenent but, for a safe start, measure up from the bottom of the thread and go for around 70mm to the bottom of the spring all round, that should be safe and give you somewhere to start.
The above is for a guide only and the individual will no accept liability for any damage caused :whistle:
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cheers for the replys
I just wound them all the way down :laugh:
James
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All make depenent but, for a safe start, measure up from the bottom of the thread and go for around 70mm to the bottom of the spring all round, that should be safe and give you somewhere to start.
The above is for a guide only and the individual will no accept liability for any damage caused :whistle:
this is what i did, mine was 3" from bottom thread to the ring nut, came to 76.19999999999999mm lol
i did 3" on all 4 coilovers :cool:
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cheers for the replys
I just wound them all the way down :laugh:
James
Nice work!
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When setting up coilovers it is best to do several checks.
After running the new set up for a few days get your car onto a really flat and level surface. Then measure the height at the wheel arches, ground up to underside of arch. You can then see if there are any differences side to side and make adjustments as necessary.
THEN!!!!
Take your car to a good wheel/tyre specialist and get the alignment done!
(tracking/toe etc)
If you do not do this you will be buying some new tyres quite quickly!
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Can't do that when your low. Took mine to quick fit and they said no way lol.
Needed to see what rear toe is to adjust on shims
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all the way down is fun but very bouncy! i just cba to move them up a bit till i get new ones in the new year lol.
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Can't do that when your low. Took mine to quick fit and they said no way lol.
Needed to see what rear toe is to adjust on shims
I did say a good wheel/tyre specialist! NOT f**kin Kwik Fit you numpty!
Place I take mine also do supercars like Ferraris etc and they are low with big overhangs.
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When setting up coilovers it is best to do several checks.
After running the new set up for a few days get your car onto a really flat and level surface. Then measure the height at the wheel arches, ground up to underside of arch. You can then see if there are any differences side to side and make adjustments as necessary.
It is better to take the wheels off and measure from the bottom spring plate down to a fixed point on the car.
This is the only way to be sure the car is level.
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Explain!
In my vast experience it is better to have the weight of the car on the ground, then if their are any slight diferences in the twist of the chassis or the weight of the car on a given wheel they will be dealt with.
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Explain!
In my vast experience it is better to have the weight of the car on the ground, then if their are any slight diferences in the twist of the chassis or the weight of the car on a given wheel they will be dealt with.
All coilovers should be set the same, if you set them your way they will not be.
If you run the coilovers at different settings the handling will suffer.
Loads of threads on many forums on the subject but it is the way I have always done them.
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Hi all
heres how she's sitting at the moment
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1312/4841229/23887947/404420614.jpg)
I set the heights the same for each side front to back by measuring for the front from the top of the spring plate to the top of the first lock nut 270mm, for the rears I measured from the underside of the top plate to the top of the first lock nut 320mm. This gave a drop of a bout 1 1/2 ".
I have lower ball joints to go on to so am running it for a week doing them then getting the tracking/camber reset. Its not to much of a issue as the tyres are at the end of their life anyway and getting new ones once everything is back in line.
Ride is better than I was expecting and I havent beached on any speed bumps so far. Although I may go back up 10mm .
James
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not bad but a bit arse heavy. Mine was like that when i first dropped it. Think i picked the back up 10mm and dropped the front 15mm and it was proper, until i put the deeper front splitter on, then i was scrapping all sorts!
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As usual...there is much miss-information and rumour being passed off as fact.
Coilovers were designed to allow the vehicle to be corner weighted, where each corner takes an equal - or as close to equal weight/load as possible.
They NEED to be at different heights on most cars to achieve this...and should be set up with the car on it's wheels, with all 4 wheels sat on corner weight scales, and the spring platforms adjusted to get equal distribution of weight with the driver on board.
Since most people lower their car so stupidly low, and run it on the bumpstops, all trace of handling has long since gone...so it matters little to most...as long as it looks 'good'.
So they set it by eye, on a flat surface, after the springs have settled.
...and it works just fine.