Suspension Q&A Thread

[Calabi]

Thank goodness for Dubnetworks.net. I'm sure if I asked this question on the vortex it wouldn't be pretty.

Anyway, my question is concerning springs, shocks, and coilovers and trying to get a better idea of which combination offers the best performance and aesthetic value.

-Can you just buy a set of coilovers and install them with stock springs and shocks, or do coilovers come with their own springs you're supposed to install?
-Are coilovers the best/safest way to get a large drop on your car?
-If you install coilovers, do you have to upgrade your shocks, too?

I know there are a lot of questions, but I hope this thread will prove to be useful in the future for other dubbers as well. Thanks.

[Mr_Diesel]

Thank goodness for Dubnetworks.net. I'm sure if I asked this question on the vortex it wouldn't be pretty.

Anyway, my question is concerning springs, shocks, and coilovers and trying to get a better idea of which combination offers the best performance and aesthetic value.

-Can you just buy a set of coilovers and install them with stock springs and shocks, or do coilovers come with their own springs you're supposed to install?
-Are coilovers the best/safest way to get a large drop on your car?
-If you install coilovers, do you have to upgrade your shocks, too?

I know there are a lot of questions, but I hope this thread will prove to be useful in the future for other dubbers as well. Thanks.

Yeah... vortex is cool for finding info on some of the more obscure stuff, but for questions like this, ya better bring a few sets of fire extinguishers... 8O


It all really depends on what you want to do with your car... Coilovers are more costly, but provide better performance. If you were into serious auto crossing, I'd probably be looking at H&R Coilovers. Most coilovers come with springs as a kit, but you can get/install different springs if you want... If you want a little bit better performance and the drop for looks, then just get lowering springs... You can get a set at a fraction of the cost of coilovers. You can use your stock struts, but after a few years on stock struts with lowering springs the struts will get really soft and performance will be affected.

I cut my stock springs to lower the front, since I had a nasty backward rake... I know it's a ricey thing to do, but I had coilovers on the way at one point, but yeah... To be completely honest, I am very satisfied with hwo my car handles with cut springs... Granted, body roll is still pretty bad, but it's better than stock.

In my opinion, lower springs are a temporary solution waiting to be replaced with coil overs... In all honesty, I would wait and save up for some coilovers... You can get a cheap no name brand set of coil overs for a pretty good price and they will outperform lower springs and cut springs any day of the week.

Consider this when making your decision:

Pros of coilovers:

1. Better performance
2 Adjustable coilovers are availible, so you can raise your ride in the winter time if you get lots of snow.
3. Much stiffer... tires rarely scratches wheel wells on bumps and dips no matter how much cargo you are carrying.

Cons of coilovers:

1. Much more costly than just springs.
2. Ride quality and smoothness will be reduced.

Pros of lowering springs:

1. A dime a dozen.
2. Better ride quality, depending on how low the drop.
3. You can use stock struts.

Cons of lowering springs:

1. Ride will likely be more bouncy than stock
2. Cant load your car down with friends or cargo or the rear tires will scratch the wheel wells on every bump.
3. Will wear out stock struts much more quickly than stock springs.


Disclaimer: This is what i know and understand about suspension. This is in no way to be considered the "Text Book Answer" for this. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[Calabi]

Thanks a lot for the answers and clarification.

So do coilovers take the place of the stock struts, then?

[TisforTurbo]

that pretty much covers it. just know that coilovers are basically an adjustable spring/shock combo.

just a couple additions though.

-coilovers will have better ride quality than just springs
-your car will be bouncy as hell in time if you do springs without upgrading shocks. and it will handle worse
-you can go lower with coilovers than you can with just springs
-depending on the setup, a spring/shock combo will handle just as good or better than coilovers
-on mkiv's, you get positive camber in the front if you lower it more than about an inch, which will negatively affect handling
-to remedy that, look at camber plates(cheaper) or an audi tt spindle conversion(more expensive)

[Calabi]

-on mkiv's, you get positive camber in the front if you lower it more than about an inch, which will negatively affect handling
-to remedy that, look at camber plates(cheaper) or an audi tt spindle conversion(more expensive)

I checked on Vortex about the camber issue. I read there that it results in a negative camber, but either way I'd probably want to correct it.

Did you put a coilover kit (or other lowering kit) on your GLI? If so, how did you deal with the camber issue?

[GoodDayForADrive]

I have Patec Holeshot coilovers on my mk3, and they're awesome. Don't know if they make them for mk4, but I would assume so. I got mine for 500 something with less than 3k miles on them. I love the adjustability, especially because I'm very picky about how my car sits. I'm lowered beyond the ideal point for handling though, you can see the butterflies underneathe me car :wink: But anyhow, that being said, it handles like 50 times better than stock, it's amazing. I definitely support coilovers all the way :D

[TisforTurbo]

I checked on Vortex about the camber issue. I read there that it results in a negative camber, but either way I'd probably want to correct it.

Did you put a coilover kit (or other lowering kit) on your GLI? If so, how did you deal with the camber issue?

i would check again, its most definitely positive camber. negative would be a good thing!

i was planning on coilovers for the gli, but i lost my job so it looks like springs for me. i dont really care right now as long as its dropped, and by the time my shocks go, i should have money for coilovers :lol: as far as dealing with the camber thing, im either gonna just leave it, or there is a local vw shop guy that was talking about making camber plates so i'll have to talk to him. (hans at streamline for those in slc)

[Calabi]

its most definitely positive camber. negative would be a good thing!)

Well, that depends how you look at it I guess...lol. :D

i was planning on coilovers for the gli, but i lost my job so it looks like springs for me. i dont really care right now as long as its dropped, and by the time my shocks go, i should have money for coilovers :lol: as far as dealing with the camber thing, im either gonna just leave it, or there is a local vw shop guy that was talking about making camber plates so i'll have to talk to him. (hans at streamline for those in slc)

I've heard H&R Sports are some good springs to go with. I'm starting to think coilovers are not the best choice for me since I wouldn't be racing regularly and even when I did race, I wouldn't need the adjustability to fine-tune the car.

On my Jetta, I'm running Eibach springs with stock springs/struts (which I know isn't the best, but I haven't had any trouble). When I finally buy another car, I'll likely get an H&R spring kit with Bilstein shock/struts for the best combination of performance/aesthetics.