Suspension

T

TheHoff

Member
 Wickham, Hampshire
Right then chaps, I've got a 3.0 with non RFTs, and what feels like worn Sports suspension - it's a bit crashy and uncomfortable...probably what most Zeds are like with 86k on the clocks. I can also hear the OSF damper hiss over bumps - nicht gut as ze Germans would say.

I'm replacing the front lower arms, front drop links, and front lollipops - I haven't inspected the rear yet but suspect that i will replace most of the bushes. All of the above is good, but I want to replace the struts and springs too. I won't be tracking the car, and want a decent handling without jarring over bumps/undulations. My options:

Bilstein Dampers /Eibachs
Koni Dampers / Eibachs
BC Coilovers
Meister R Coilovers (good reputation on many similar cars)
AP Coilovers
KW V1

Any informed, relatively objective views would be much appreciated :-) Feel free to be technical.
 
I'm loving my KW V2s. Running nearly as low as my H&R springs but retaining some comfort :)

Not really messed about with the settings either.

All but one of my front shocks were dead at 85k so it's well worth doing.
 
At over 1k, V2s are unfortunately out of my price bracket.

I wouldn't want to be any lower than OEM - 10mm; there are numerous speed bumps that I have to negotiate.
 
The Meisters are very highly rated on the MX5s. I was intending to put them on mine but decided to get shot and buy the Z. Apparently the Meisters and BC are the same animal, just rebranded
 
If going for coilovers, I'd go for some with stainless steel bodies (e.g. KW) seeing as you live in Britain (assuming the car is a daily drive). Had a friend with some non-stainless ones from a reputable manufacturer and they seized in months even properly treated before installation :(
 
I see your point Matt, but If you get alloy ones they usually as you say come with a treatment you can apply which prevents corrosion. When that runs out you can use AC90 - pretty much the same thing. Each to their own but there are some very good alloy coilovers out there now, I don't think I'd be paying a premium just for the sake of removing the wheels periodically (which I do anyway) to clean under the arches. As far as stainless steel goes, if it's poor quality (usually Eastern European sourced) it will still corrode anyway. I found that out the hard way :)
 
I have spax rsx on mine and i love them i brought them really cheap of hear almost new. I dont do many miles but they seem as good now as they did last year when i put them on.
 
The APs and KW v1's are the same kit just a different rust prevention coating on them.

Though I'm somewhat biased towards them, I'd say look into the V1s!

(Running v2's on my z4 and ap's on my track car)
 
I had KWV3s on my S2000, so know all about the quality of KW products - I had Koni Dampers before them, which rusted like a bugger, but we're excellent when combined with Tein springs. Meisters are proving to be popular, although the BC have a higher failure rate, so I'm not convinced they are the same product.

My Z is indeed a DD, but am mindful of salt etc, so regularly clean behind the wheels.

Very interesting to hear about KWV1 and AP similarity, given the cost difference - is there anything to confirm that, or do they just look the same?
 
Fair few seem to echo the same saying: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11265343&postcount=2 as well as the last post here: http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=12323.0

Might be worth looking into getting some covers of ebay to further protect the shock from corrosion.

To be fair, when my AP's came, they screamed KW all over them (in terms of box, packing etc, even the paperwork was similar to my kw's)

I guess the main other benefit aside from the coating would be KW supplying you with an ultra low kit for the v1's.
 
Thanks - One of those links suggests that whilst they are made by KW, they barely share any common components!
 
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