Hi All,

I wondered if anyone had upgraded a car with standard suspension to improve the handling, without making the ride overly hard? I feel she wallows a bit in corners, and would like to improve things without breaking the bank.

Any ideas and suggested costs?

Coilovers?

Upgrade rear anti roll bar or ideally both and go for coilovers and just don't run them too low.

I wonder if people are over the whole Koni FSD fad now? A couple of years ago by this point there'd be about 5 replies banging on about FSDs.

I wonder if people are over the whole Koni FSD fad now? A couple of years ago by this point there'd be about 5 replies banging on about FSDs.

I quite like Koni FSDs on our Mk1 estate with standard springs - removed most of the tendency to wallow while not being harsh.

I reckon too many people think 'sporty' means a harsh crashy uncomfortable ride, and that a hard suspension is necessary to drive quickly. Similarly many people think a car that rolls a bit doesn't handle well, irrespective of actual cornering speed.

I quite like Koni FSDs on our Mk1 estate with standard springs - removed most of the tendency to wallow while not being harsh.

I reckon too many people think 'sporty' means a harsh crashy uncomfortable ride, and that a hard suspension is necessary to drive quickly. Similarly many people think a car that rolls a bit doesn't handle well, irrespective of actual cornering speed.

Seconded. In fact, on rough roads, a car with harsh spring rates will be slower than one with near standard spring rates (same car, road, tyres and driver; all I'm changing is the suspension) , and critical damping all else being equal, because the body will be tilting in response to pots and ridges rather than the wheels moving.

Coilovers?

For the ignorant, what are coilovers please?

what are coilovers

Like a MacPherson strut, http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/coilovers/Part_1/ seems to be a good place to start reading.

Edited 9 November, 201015 yr by AnotherGareth

Have a read of this it should help:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/152785-fitting-a-new-rear-anti-roll-bar-on-a5-chassis/

Its an easy DIY job and improves the standard ride and cornering immensely

Edited 9 November, 201015 yr by Octavia5

Like a MacPherson strut, http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/coilovers/Part_1/ seems to be a good place to start reading.

Thanks. So basically it's a shock absorber with a spring (coil) element mounted over the top. That's about the level of detail I needed

what are coilovers

http://www.carbibles.com/suspension_bible.html is probably more useful for a basic explanation of the different types of front suspension.

Coilovers may be to firm for someone coming from an L&K? Depends what your frame of reference is I suppose;..

If its an improvement in cornering you want maybe try out the OE Vrs anti roll bars - i'm guessing these would be more substantial than those fitted to your L&K and will be pretty cheap. This will improve the resistance to roll in bends but should impact your ride quality over bumps.

If that's not enough then maybe OE Vrs springs and dampers. To go from stock L&K to coilovers is expensive and a big change IMO.

For the ignorant, what are coilovers please?

I quite like Koni FSDs on our Mk1 estate with standard springs - removed most of the tendency to wallow while not being harsh.

I reckon too many people think 'sporty' means a harsh crashy uncomfortable ride, and that a hard suspension is necessary to drive quickly. Similarly many people think a car that rolls a bit doesn't handle well, irrespective of actual cornering speed.

Seconded. In fact, on rough roads, a car with harsh spring rates will be slower than one with near standard spring rates (same car, road, tyres and driver; all I'm changing is the suspension) , and critical damping all else being equal, because the body will be tilting in response to pots and ridges rather than the wheels moving.

Thirded

Some folks aren't too impressed with the Koni's but I think this is mainly those looking for that harsher, track-type car set up. My car is a 60 mile/day commuter and I have a knackered back so this set up with an anti-roll bar put the suspension just where I wanted it

As mentioned, there was a bit of a fad a few years back over the FSDs and even some failures in an early batch which seems to have resolved. They are still not a bad choice but as for the best choice - there is no such thing, only the best choice for you. I certainly would not look away from a decent set of coilovers but would also have them set quite high.

Edited 9 November, 201015 yr by muckipup

A good quality springs and shocks kit matched with thicker ARBs will give you improved handling whilst still retaining comfort. As mentioned the Weitec Hicon GT coilovers are also a good choice to think about.

Damian @ DPM Performance

Coilovers may be to firm for someone coming from an L&K? Depends what your frame of reference is I suppose;..

If its an improvement in cornering you want maybe try out the OE Vrs anti roll bars - i'm guessing these would be more substantial than those fitted to your L&K and will be pretty cheap. This will improve the resistance to roll in bends but should impact your ride quality over bumps.

If that's not enough then maybe OE Vrs springs and dampers. To go from stock L&K to coilovers is expensive and a big change IMO.

I'm comparing the ride to my previous BMW E39 530i Sport. It managed to cope well with our potholed UK roads, yet when I wanted to press on it handled well in the corners and inspired confidence. I had the geometry sorted a couple of weeks ago, and that has improved things quite a bit, but wouldn't mind improving further if it wasn't going to cost me a fortune

Thanks for the advice guys, it's given me food for thought

Edited 10 November, 201015 yr by pixor