Any ideas, I want to stiffen my suspension but not lowering, I was thinking of getting the spax adjustable so I can have stiff suspension when I am carrying a lot of crap and maybe the odd track day then back to soft for standard family saloon stuff but I think the kit still lowers.

Darren

Not sure how you're going to stiffen the suspension up without lowering?

Sounds like you might want to retain OEM springs but change to different dampers - maybe Bilstein B8s or Koni FSDs? Both are designed to give a better drive, while working at the standard ride height (although both work very well with 'sports' dampers, such as Eibach Pro-Kit springs - and that would be my preference).

Steve

you could try bilstien B6's as these are stiffer shocks that work with standard springs

^

Yep, B6 with stock springs would probably be stiffer than stock dampers, no change in ride height but it won't give you adjustability.

If you're going to do some track days then maybe something like KW v3 - fully adjustable ride height and damping. You could run std height & soft on the road then wind it down and increase the stiffness when you want to go on track..

JKM have these on their demo Vrs.

TBH there's lots of information already on this site about suspension so maybe some searching might help you out?

You could try wedging blocks of wood in between the springs!

Just a thought. :S

If I wanted to do full adjustability and required the ability to go from fast road to track settings, and had the available funds, I'd spec a set of Bilstein PSS9s.

Their adjustability system is brilliant

Example of the adjustability:

A useful article about their selection here and I quote a small snippet:

...I’m going to be using it on the road and on the track. I know that is the worst combination possible and that there are bound to be some compromises, but I’ve hopefully limited that as much as possible by the selection of the Bilstein PSS9s. I can alter the damping rates on these quickly and easily when I arrive and leave the track.

But to do it properly, you'll also need adjustable top-mounts really. They're covered later in the article.

HTH,

Steve.

If I wanted to do full adjustability and required the ability to go from fast road to track settings, and had the available funds, I'd spec a set of Bilstein PSS9s.

Their adjustability system is brilliant

A useful article about their selection here and I quote a small snippet:

But to do it properly, you'll also need adjustable top-mounts really. They're covered later in the article.

HTH,

Steve.

looks pretty good until I saw the price £1400 without fitting and setting up, I think I might consider vRS_Pagey's idea

As mentioned the Bilstein B6 dampers are a good place to start and maybe also think about changing the ARBs.

Damian @ DPM Performance

The real problem with adjustable systems such as Bilstein PSS9s, is that they are fine when are setting them up when you are tuning the suspension in to suit the car/driving style/tyres/track etc but that is their real purpose. When fitted to a normal road going car for any time they really do get caked with crap and grit and dust and grime and oxidation - then when you want to adjust the ride hight they become a real PITA. A few guys who had race specced MK2 Golfs I knew had them and they were always cursing if they needed adjustment.

Also as pointed out you need the top mounts as well as due to changing ride hight you also alter the geometry of the suspension.

Not really worth it unless you are racing TBH.

why do you want to stiffen the suspsnesion is the first question to ask yourself?

you dont want the draw backs of lowered suspension, but you want the improved handling.

Uprate your anti roll bars. this will reduce body roll, this keeps your tyres within their optimum geometry for longer which equals more grip, etc.

Uprate the control arm mount with the whiteline anti lift kit. This increases static camber by half a degree, makes the steering heavier, and reduces understeer.

Fit TT lower control arms. Give you a widerfront track, an extra half degree of negative camber, and weigh alot less than standrad, so less unsprung mess whihc is all good.

Uprate the dampers. this will sharpen up the handling, more so on a bumpy road. Definitely something to consider but id without doubt rate the anti roll bars and anti lift kit as more effective mods whilst being considerably cheaper.

Put this way for the price of a GOOD set of dampers, you could fit the ARBs, WALK and TT lower control arms and it would perform alot better as well

Of all the above the only one that will effect the feel of the car during a normal straight road would be the dampers, all the others wil go unnoticed unless cornering

why do you want to stiffen the suspsnesion is the first question to ask yourself?

you dont want the draw backs of lowered suspension, but you want the improved handling.

Uprate your anti roll bars. this will reduce body roll, this keeps your tyres within their optimum geometry for longer which equals more grip, etc.

Uprate the control arm mount with the whiteline anti lift kit. This increases static camber by half a degree, makes the steering heavier, and reduces understeer.

Fit TT lower control arms. Give you a widerfront track, an extra half degree of negative camber, and weigh alot less than standrad, so less unsprung mess whihc is all good.

Uprate the dampers. this will sharpen up the handling, more so on a bumpy road. Definitely something to consider but id without doubt rate the anti roll bars and anti lift kit as more effective mods whilst being considerably cheaper.

Put this way for the price of a GOOD set of dampers, you could fit the ARBs, WALK and TT lower control arms and it would perform alot better as well

Of all the above the only one that will effect the feel of the car during a normal straight road would be the dampers, all the others wil go unnoticed unless cornering

Mainly because I usually carry a lot of kit and I want the car not to seem like its dragging its arse along the road and a by product of this means I can have a less of arse clenching if I decide to go and play on the track.

I have been looking at the KW v3 with HLS it seems a good bit of kit shame about the £2500+ price tag and thats without setup. I will have to see if I can find a piggy bank to raid