MK 2 Jetta coilovers

[funkaholik]

There seems to be a huge difference in prices for coilovers - even within the same style (preset, single adjustable, dual adjustable). 

Anyone have any recommendations for some good value for $$ coilovers?  Need to replace crappy old struts & springs soon.

Thanks!

[rallydiesel]

Depends on what you want. You can get some Racelands and have a cheap coilover that goes low and rides ok and will last a year or get a dampening adjustable stainless body with a lifetime warranty. If you want cheap but decent build quality look at the budget lines of the established manufacturers. Examples would be Suspension Techniques (budget KW) and FK AK Streetline.

[8v-of-fury]

I know everyone runs to coil-overs for their ease of use, wide variety of applications.. and most certainly the cheap kits to make you go oil-pan-puncturing-low.

I would also like to point out that there is absolutely no need to use coil-overs. If its low your after, why even bother? Lowering your car to the point that your control arms are pointing up (anything more than like 1" drop) you are completely changing the geometry of the suspension and stuff doesn't work like how it was intended. I have in two identically powered mk2's (to compare suspension actually ) one with a reasonably middle classed coil-over and the other with (my favourite) a well matched Strut/Shock combo.

Get yourself a pair of Koni STR.T's, an entry level Koni strut/shock that is the best bang for your buck out there. Add to that a 1" progressive sport spring, and you have yourself one mean handling vehicle. Without sacrificing ride height, quality, or money! The STR.T's are a very affordable strut.

Seriously just check out the prospect of a good Strut/Shock/Spring combo before going coil-over crazy

[R.O.R-2.0]

my car (85 GTI) has KYB gas-a-just struts, and GR2 shocks. with some sort of low unknown brand silver sport springs..

it handles better than my 92 jetta with some sort of coil overs (i didnt install them, so i dont know much about them) and my jetta also has front and rear upper tower braces.. and sticky 205/40/17s on it..

gti still handles better. and you can go plenty low on struts.. my car is as low as i would ever want it. tires rub so bad now when you turn.. its actually lower than my jetta on coils..

[funkaholik]

Thanks for the input.  I am not trying to go super low, I just like the adjustability of coilovers so that I can get the "stance" perfect.  Seems like some of you are very happy with your strut / spring combos, and they sure are cheaper, so I may go with that after all.

[Vangruver]

My .02 cents?

Unless you're planning on constantly raising and loweing the car for potential road racing or auto crossingg purposes, or corner weighting the car to ensure that its as close to 50/50 weight distribution, its not worth the effort.

Almost all of my friends that drive gasser veedubs use a quality cup kit,h&r makes a very good set. A 60/40 cup kit will be perfectly fine for daily driving giving you a lesser wheel gap and lowering the car a decent amount, however if you want to go even lower, a 60/80 cup kit will satisfy that need.

40,60,80 refer to the millimeter measuerment of drop, and it is a good way to give you that static drop.

If you do eventually get yourself a cupkit and want to break in the springs to get the proper sag, get a 100 pount weight and put it in the passenger seat to balance the weight so the car rides correct after.

And don't forget to upgrade the front control arm bushing! It makes a world of difference when driving with the new suspension!

As an aside, if you want fron chin scraping low, again with h&r, they make the ultra lows, which can dump the car to give you massive wheel tuck to the point where the control arm mounts are almost scraping the ground.

Remember to bank some cash away for oil pans though