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Anyone ever try these coilovers?
by
rabbitman
on 29 Mar, 2010 19:51
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#1
by
Runt
on 29 Mar, 2010 20:40
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If you try them, let us know what you find. I've looked at them a few times, but I have two issues, first I figured 20-120 meant that the highest position was lowered 20mm, and I really dont want to buy coilovers for adjustability but be stuck with lowering. I will probably run 30mm lowered or so most of the time, but there are times that I really want, if not need, full height. Ever seen a mexican speed bump? Often they have two 8" bumps, 2-3 feet apart. I dragged quite a few times in my stock small bumper 91 with stock tires. 195/75 14s got me enough clearance to be comfortable, but I don't know how I'll make out in the big bumper car even at stock height. Second, I am looking for an improvement in spring rate (stiffer) for handling, and I cant make sense of their spring rate as advertised, plus I can see that they are running the semi-progressive two spring setup, and I am not interested in having the first inch or two being soft, as it's the first inch or two of roll that I'm trying to correct. I like my cars to ride almost like a go-cart, that is what suits my comfort and driving style.
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#2
by
mystery3
on 29 Mar, 2010 21:51
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I don't really like to cheap out on suspension parts so I'd try to find a good used set or at least buy weitecs or jom for only a couple hundred dollars more and get a known commodity.
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#3
by
rabbitman
on 30 Mar, 2010 00:15
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I'm so ignorant about coilovers.
I know the main thing is people use 'em for lowering the car, so the ads never say anything about if they
can be set at stock height or not
They go on and on about how low they'll drop.........
The last thing I want to do is buy a set, find out they won't go high enough and have to send 'em back paying shipping both ways
.
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#4
by
rabbitman
on 30 Mar, 2010 16:23
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Everything I read sounds like coilovers can only sit lower than stock so I either have to lower it an inch and live with it or I'm going to buy bilsteins and call it done
So I go to partsgeek.com and price struts, shocks, and front springs. ouch.
Comes out to $600.50, without the springs it's $477. There's no way I'm spending that much......until what I've got goes bad
. That's the best deal I can find
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#5
by
Runt
on 30 Mar, 2010 18:55
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Yup, I've found the same thing with coilovers in general. Or at least cheap ones. Also the same thing with strut prices. Even Monroes were going to run me more than those coilovers, and almost what I can get the JOM's for. I broke down and picked up a used (nearly junk) RPI sprins and struts, for $150. I'll slam them in to stiffen things for now, and so I can get it aligned and not destroy tires. (I just swapped spindles, etc.)
Good luck in your search.
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#6
by
rabbitman
on 30 Mar, 2010 22:16
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I did some emailing and here's the replies about JOM and Raceland coilovers:
Thank you for your interest in Raceland products,
These coilovers will sit lower then stock at highest adjustment and will not be able to be stock height again. If you have any other questions please let us know.
Thank you,
Raceland USA
Minimum lowering on the JOM Coilover Suspension Kit - VW Mk1 is 1" or 25mm which is barely noticeable if you are trying to retain a stock looking Mk1.
Thanks,
BFI CS
I just noticed today that sitting at the stock height (at least I think it's stock) the front is only about 1 inch off the bump stops
, that would be why it feels like it bottoms out so easy.
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#7
by
truckinwagen
on 30 Mar, 2010 22:22
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yeah, the stock suspension does not leave much room for travel, my old saggy springs(stock) had me sitting on the bumps all the time.
the JOM and raceland coils will put you at right about the same height spun all the way up.
which is about 1" lower than stock, which is usually where the car sits with old worn out springs anyway.
and will put your control arms just above horizontal, which is as low as you really want to go anyway(lower than that and the car starts to handle like a bag of onions on a roller skate)
I will be getting a set of Rokkor(just like the raceland, but stiffer spring rate) coils for my MK2 in the fall, cheaper than new stock struts/shocks and springs.
-Owen
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#8
by
theman53
on 30 Mar, 2010 22:26
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I am at the same spot. I hit a bump today and rubbed under my seat. These aren't pot holes they are full sized bumps that sometimes are about the length of a full size pickup with a longbed with pot holes in them. I started my thread as I am always replacing suspension parts as the road here stinks. Not all are that bad obviously, but the roads I need to travel for work sometimes are. I can't slam a car and take it down a county road around here and expect most of the underside of the car to be there. A 1" lift would be better for me.
I would like to know if any other brands besides the PSS9/10 bilsteins offer a higher ride as I don't have the extra 2,000 to spend on them
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#9
by
rabbitman
on 31 Mar, 2010 04:07
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Thanks truckinwagen, that's about what I wanted to hear, the height it sits at now is fine I was just afraid I'd drop a few hundred on some coils and promptly scrape the bottom off.
From looking on ebay and the vortex I did figure out about the about the rokker/raceland thing and wasn't sure if I wanted the stiffer ones or not, maybe you should hurry and buy some so you can let me know how they ride
.
I saw on the raceland website they have upper and lower strut braces but they look like absolute junk.......
Sometimes I wish I was rich and could buy $2000 bilsteins, sway bars, nice wheels, a paint job, new windshield, fix all the rust spots/holes, new door seals nice seats bla bla.......but what fun would that be?
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#10
by
theman53
on 31 Mar, 2010 09:29
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Something I also want to know is do MKIII suspension part fit MKII? There seem to be more stuff for sale that is MKIII, but some companies have the same part number for the 2 platforms. Would make shopping a little easier if we knew.
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#11
by
truckinwagen
on 31 Mar, 2010 13:26
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yep, mk2 and mk3 use the same shocks and struts.
the track width is different, so all the other bits(control arms, steering knuckles, axles, etc...) dont, but the shocks and struts do.
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#12
by
ShoulderMan
on 31 Mar, 2010 16:08
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I have the german JOM shocks on my 86 golf, i had them all set at 30 threads up form the bottom , dropped the body down a good 3-4 inches. Its hard to get a jack of anykind under there now.
never bottomed out while driving. ride is compairable to an M3 or a truck, just a little stiffer.
I have a(unusually) high curb while pulling into my driveway, everyonce and a while when im front heavy, ill scrape a little metal on the front frame (also always scrape the bumper on the M3)
I would assume (and we all know what happens when one assumes) that the closer to stock setting you keep it, the less stiff it should be, also give it a month or so to break in, cause they are stiff when you first run them.
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#13
by
rabbitman
on 31 Mar, 2010 16:35
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I have the german JOM shocks on my 86 golf, i had them all set at 30 threads up form the bottom , dropped the body down a good 3-4 inches. Its hard to get a jack of anykind under there now.
never bottomed out while driving. ride is compairable to an M3 or a truck, just a little stiffer.
I have a(unusually) high curb while pulling into my driveway, everyonce and a while when im front heavy, ill scrape a little metal on the front frame (also always scrape the bumper on the M3)
I would assume (and we all know what happens when one assumes) that the closer to stock setting you keep it, the less stiff it should be, also give it a month or so to break in, cause they are stiff when you first run them.
Have you ever checked how high they go........yeah dumb question
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#14
by
GEE-BEE
on 31 Mar, 2010 19:57
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Nice strut cap's here :oldskoolvw.com
Gee-Bee