Despite the terrible weather over the weekend I managed to get the coilovers finished by yesterday afternoon. So far I'm really impressed with them, and love the way the car handles now. I know everyone loves photos, so here goes:

The lovely box of treats!

The rain tried to spoil my day several times!

Pic

Skoda spreader tool inserted:

Passenger side strut fitted:

Drivers side strut all fitted:

Rear end was very simple:

The final result (after a quick clean):

Pic

Passenger side strut came straight out, without having to compress the spring. Drivers side strut required compressing with two spring compressors to get out. I also had to clean out the rust in the bottom of the strut hole on the uprights, as the Weitecs went slighly deeper than the standard items. Rear end was very easy, apart from getting the old corroded aluminium bottom spring rings off! I thought they were glue due to them being so corroded! Flicked them off with a small chisel once I realised!

I've got them set pretty high to start with, and I'll drop them a bit in about a month or so. Ride is stiffer but not uncomfortable. Performance is excellent, the car handles so much better. It's like a different car now! Cornering is so much fun! The car is also alot better under braking, no more wobblyness!

So the verdict is..... I love them!

Edited 7 October, 201015 yr by Bodge

Very nice!

In contrary to what The Prodigy said, wind it down!

At last someone fitted coilovers and didn't slam it

Haha I'm already getting abuse from my slammed VW driving friend about it not being low enough!

Although it can look cool super low, it's not in my plan for the car. I'm in it for road going performance, so I want to be capable of entering carparks and clearing dead rabbits mid corner! I'm assuming the dampers are less effective when the springs are wound right down too? It feels spot on how it is now anyway.

I need to get out and measure how much I've dropped it by tonight, then I'll let you guys know. I wouldn't mind just lowering the front a touch more. Maybe 10mm. I can't go much more anyway, as I only have 2 fingers of clearance for the jack as it is. The rear is exactly how I want it, so that won't be moving.

Can't wait to get back in the car! I sense my tyres might not last long. Cornering is addictive now!

Oh that reminds me, I better get the geometry checked soon........

Looking good Bodge. I'm tempted to get Weitecs myself, they're only a hundred quid or so more than standard shocks and I have a feeling my front ones will give up the ghost sooner or later. Also depends on whether the insurance will shaft me :thumbdwn: Have you got a RARB too?

Looking good Bodge. I'm tempted to get Weitecs myself, they're only a hundred quid or so more than standard shocks and I have a feeling my front ones will give up the ghost sooner or later. Also depends on whether the insurance will shaft me :thumbdwn: Have you got a RARB too?

Nope. The rest of the suspension is standard. But I have recently replaced pretty much the whole front suspension with new OE parts! FARB bushes, wishbones, (inc. bushes), ball joints, drop links, top mounts, top bearings and everything has been fitted with new bolts/brackets where possible. So it's quite nice and tight now!

I'm considering a rear ARB, but I'm soooo skint now that it won't be for a few months!

I'll see how I get on with the handling as it is I recon. Can it get any better than this?!

Jesus Christ Babs!!

I'm guessing you want me to slam it then?!!!?

If I say yes, will you calm down?!

On another note.... Imagine drinking a tequila slammer that big!!

Jesus Christ Babs!!

I'm guessing you want me to slam it then?!!!?

If I say yes, will you calm down?!

On another note.... Imagine drinking a tequila slammer that big!!

If you ain't rubbin'

The Mk1 is very low at the front as standard, but they do look nice lowered

I just did mine...

I have to say I did all the bushings, R32 FARB, whiteline RARB, S3 steering rack and both strut braces first so it was a gradual improvement but jumping into a std car the other day felt like it was broken.

Mike's got the car for a week or so then I get it back with more new bits.

Then I will hammer some miles onto the new struts and finalise the ride height.

I know what you mean about roundabouts though.

My "control roundabout" was do-able at 26 mph when I got the car, 28 with new tyres, a bit more with the bushings and strut braces, 31 with the FARB and RARB and 33 with coilovers today.

The tyres will bed in even more as they go and with the Quaife ATB I want even more.

Reet, I've been out and measured the height drop:

Front: 17mm drop from standard (bearing in mind one of my old front springs was only 2 weeks old)

Rear: 5mm drop from standard

The front is currently 7mm higher than the rear, so it looks like my guess of dropping it another 10mm was bang on.

I'm gonna hit up the Peak District tonight to see how they cope.......

Mine are getting fitted on Friday! Normally I would help out but cant get time off work so im leaving it in the capable hands. Since the jack probably wont fit under it by the time they get done I was thinking of telling him to lower it about 10-15mm from the top of tyre to the arch (50/17" tyres), would this be to low?

Mine are getting fitted on Friday! Normally I would help out but cant get time off work so im leaving it in the capable hands. Since the jack probably wont fit under it by the time they get done I was thinking of telling him to lower it about 10-15mm from the top of tyre to the arch (50/17" tyres), would this be to low?

That's probably fine, but it depends how low your jack goes really. I've got a low entry-high lift one which is handy. My standard jack barely went under at standard height though!

Sorry ment, to low to cause problems. So long as I dont smash the sump or affect the handling to much im happy enough to have it that low. (I avoid speed bumps anyway).

Will invest in a low jack though. =-)

Yeah, jacks are the problem with lowered cars!

When I had my Vento I had to pull the VR6 splitter off the front, drive one side half way up a ramp and put a jack under

i think costco are doing arcan lowlift jacks for around £80ish, gotta get me one next time i go as my old useless jack (which i couldnt get under the front end of my car) is now dead!

Don't forget guys Gwerks have a special offer on the leon Mk1 kit just now and are doing the kit for £390. Details in the freedom chat section

Can i ask if you got a part number for that hub spreading tool?

i think its 3424, that should be the vw part number, think it will be the same.

Not really needed, I just hammered a cold chisel into the gap.

Worked a treat.

Instead of using ramps or buying ultra-low lifts, why dont you just put two two-by-fours at suitable distance apart and drive onto that. If you want to make it extra smooth, saw a 45 degree angle onto the short edge. No need for hitech solutions to lotech problems.

i think its 3424, that should be the vw part number, think it will be the same.

That is the correct part number. Although a chisel would do it at around a tenner this tool makes it really easy.

Bodge, Glad you fitted them and enjoying them. I still love mine too. Especially with the RARB and R32 FARB fitted, cornering is superb. I lowered my Weitecs by 25mm front and 20mm rear and still have reasonable clearance. Although I have to use racing trolley jacks to get under the car.

Looks great mate!

Thanks again for the order!

Damian @ DPM Performance

i think its 3424, that should be the vw part number, think it will be the same.

I went to my local Skoda dealer yesterday and he says he can't sell me that tool????

WTF?