lower suspension Q

[parch]

Hi,
hoping for some advice from ye wise scirocco enthusiasts,
I have a mk2 running on standard suspension, which as we all know sits too high especially at the front.
It is not a daily (anymore) but is a bit more than just a weekend driver.
I want to lower it a bit, however with a baby due this summer the funds going to the wheels are very limited.

I've found a blokey on fleabay selling his old shocks and lower springs. He says he swapped to coilovers 18mnths ago and reckons the shocks/springs have done maybe 20,000miles. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330710577123? ... 1423.l2649
The springs are all spax and dampers are spax at rear. Considering they have been sat around for 18mnths is it even worth considering buying these to save myself some dollar?

Given I have limited funds at the mo and can't afford good coilovers and I am driving mainly on roads (with the usual speedbumps and potholes) and the occasional long motorway journeys:
Should I just fork out £120 for some brand new lower springs and shocks like these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350548872474? ... 1423.l2649

or should I save up and get something like this which is TUV approved with 3year guarantee for £165 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-COILOVER-K ... 3372d5a833

or this is a known brand but still cheap at £200 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390404211253? ... 1423.l2649

can't really spend more than £200 at the mo so should I just stick with lower springs or pay a bit more for cheap coilovers...??
And should I also be spending a bit on new bushes strut brace etc. The ones on the car are still ok. Do I need poly or prothane bushes or am I ok with standard rubber??
This isn't going on a race track but I need better handling round corners.

I know this is one of those ye olde debates and there are many threads on this but any advice or experience with lowering springs or cheap coilovers please let me know.
And if anyone would like to tell me that I need to pay £400 plus for decent coilovers don't waste your time,
we all know you gets what you pays for!

[Ryan]

If I were you I'd go with a decent brand lowering spring and shock combo.
New rubber bushes sound like they would be fine for you - if you want to go poly that's fine too - but I would save the money to put to the shocks and springs and go rubber - I wouldn't recomend prothane tbh, seems a bit over kill for what you're after.

Don't forget to budget for a lower strut brace whilst you're at it - definitely worth the money and will really improve the handling.

[parch]

Thanks Ryan
You have confirmed some of my concerns
Yep I thought lower strut would be an essential
have been told this is the first upgrade to be done by a quite a few folk

am I right in saying the mk1 golf lower strut brace is same spec?

[GTXTRA]

yes parch re. the lower strut brace being mk1 golf fitment.

[eefy]

the ebay special £120 40mm lowering kit, has been fitted to mine for 4 years now, with no problems at all. The only issue is if your wanting to run wide wheels is their failry soft, so have some travel. Must admit have been more thatn happy with them, although i think after 4 years and 10,000 miles i think there starting to run-off ie softening up more :)

[G Beats]

We have Raceland coils on ours but they are not to good, we are looking to buying these--

V-Maxx Coilover Kit VW Scirocco MK1/MK2 (1974-89)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 814wt_1199" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

VW SCIROCCO 1974-1992 GMAX COILOVER LOWERING SUSPENSION KIT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310357704136? ... 1436wt_698" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All so these---

JOM Coilover Suspension Kit for VW Scirocco Mk1 & Mk2


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-SCIROCCO-1 ... 400wt_1017" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

i do not know if these are any good but the JOM set look good and are built Germany as German engineering is very well built and very good any views on these and the other sets I have put on here your thoughts please ? many than'x.

[Bonusrocco]

JOMs have a good rep

[G Beats]

JOMs have a good rep

Ok thanx very much for the heads up.

[RoccoYaz]

Thanks Ryan
You have confirmed some of my concerns
Yep I thought lower strut would be an essential
have been told this is the first upgrade to be done by a quite a few folk

am I right in saying the mk1 golf lower strut brace is same spec?

Hi Parch, please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you as I have trade accounts with most of the popular suspension brands and can offer good discount to any forum member.

Many thanks
Yaz

[Maikki]

JOMs have a good rep

well...here JOm and FK has terrible reputation: Harsh and shocks fail when it gets under 0 degrees

I'd buy Raceland / TA-Technix / Formel-K coilovers for around 200€ from ebay. I've had Racelands in my rocco 2 years and no problems. Ride is fine with ~40mm drop. Lower than that it'll get bit harsh but still much better than KW Variante2

[G Beats]

Raceland are not any good thats what we all ready have, and a lot of other people have said the same thing.

JOMs have a good rep

well...here JOm and FK has terrible reputation: Harsh and shocks fail when it gets under 0 degrees

I'd buy Raceland / TA-Technix / Formel-K coilovers for around 200€ from ebay. I've had Racelands in my rocco 2 years and no problems. Ride is fine with ~40mm drop. Lower than that it'll get bit harsh but still much better than KW Variante2

[parch]

yes parch re. the lower strut brace being mk1 golf fitment.

Thanks GTXTRA!

[parch]

the ebay special £120 40mm lowering kit, has been fitted to mine for 4 years now, with no problems at all. The only issue is if your wanting to run wide wheels is their failry soft, so have some travel. Must admit have been more thatn happy with them, although i think after 4 years and 10,000 miles i think there starting to run-off ie softening up more :)

Hi eefy
That's good to know.
I guess from 10,000miles in 4 years you weren't driving this all the time.
And you're over in Manchester where it isn't always sunshine. No problems with suspension rusting or seizing? Was your car garaged?

[parch]

Hi Parch, please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you as I have trade accounts with most of the popular suspension brands and can offer good discount to any forum member.

Thanks Yaz
Really appreciate your offer,
when I do make a decision on this I'll definitely let you know,
been looking at the OMP strut brace, seems good enough.
Is it worth getting top strut too? and what about the rears, do they get as much abuse?
tbh I've never flung the car enough that I've felt the back end lose it as I only push to the limit of how much I think the car could handle (as standard)

I think I am still pretty confused on the suspension kits though...
lots of differing opinions as I suspected,

Raceland are not any good thats what we all ready have, and a lot of other people have said the same thing.

so geebeats whats wrong with the racelands? How low do you have them?
How often do you drive and on what kind of roads/ what kind of driving does it not respond to?

[G Beats]

Well these were brought in 2010 and fitted to Scarlet our car I have done 5,000 miles on them, and ever 6 weeks they drop right down after adjusting back to the hight we would like, it is such hassle I feel to keep adjusting them back up, i just drive her on the roads, on our first mk 2 Scala Scirocco we had we put on Raceland 4o mm sports shocks the front off side went, but I thought the coils would be better, to be honest with you need to spend between £250.00 and £390.00 that will not drop down like this.After all you get what you pay for.

Hi Parch, please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you as I have trade accounts with most of the popular suspension brands and can offer good discount to any forum member.

Thanks Yaz
Really appreciate your offer,
when I do make a decision on this I'll definitely let you know,
been looking at the OMP strut brace, seems good enough.
Is it worth getting top strut too? and what about the rears, do they get as much abuse?
tbh I've never flung the car enough that I've felt the back end lose it as I only push to the limit of how much I think the car could handle (as standard)

I think I am still pretty confused on the suspension kits though...
lots of differing opinions as I suspected,

Raceland are not any good thats what we all ready have, and a lot of other people have said the same thing.

so geebeats whats wrong with the racelands? How low do you have them?
How often do you drive and on what kind of roads/ what kind of driving does it not respond to?