cheap suspension kit - opinions wanted

[Jez]

Hey guys, I'm after your opinions on this budget shock and spring kit I've found on ebay:

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=120359202979

I've never tried any of this budget suspension kit before, but I don't have many other options for my W124 E-Class. Branded kits like H&R and Weitec are like £500, which is too much for me.

I also found a 60/40 spring kit on POTN, but figured if I was going 60mm it'd be worth getting shocks as well.

What do you guys think?

[Ratchet]

I can't comment on that kit in particular, but i have a cheap set of coilovers on my golf i got from ebay (they cost about £220) and they seem to be ok,
Alright so there not up to the same quality as FK's or Gaz ones but there reasonably well made and the ride quality isn't to bad concidering how low my car is.

[incarsolutions]

we're fitted plenty of suspension kits and you really do get what you pay for. Alot of the cheap coilover kits give you a good adjustment in height, but don't stiffen the ride, which is ok if its just for show. With a proper shock and spring kit you show be ok really, but we've had very mixed results. I'd always go for a well spec'd, branded kit that you can get some feedback from from others that used them

[ChasR]

WHS above. I know from the Ka circles anyway (and from personal experience) that the G Max kits (not bad kits but one of the cheaper kits) gave the Kas a damn hard ride. The Eibachs/Sachs dampers on my other Ka that I had at the time were miles better. They had Stock like comfort but without the wallowing and tightened up nicely in the corners. In terms of handling however, I don't think that there was much in them.

On the Focus I got the Koni kit for £400 (or rather the previous owner (a mate of mine) did), and I know that was better than most other combinations of springs and dampers from other Foci I drove including a Focus Estate on just Eibach springs (felt wallowy as hell, moreso than the Volvos 740s I've owned of past) and another Focus on Pi Springs.

IME if money is tight, you are better off going with a 'good' Spring/damper kit opposed to a coilover kit, especially now that the prices are falling down. Whilst FK ain't too bad there are some kits out there which are best avoided.

[Jez]

Thanks chaps!

You all mention coilovers though - this is just a shock and spring kit.

I guess what you say still applies though?

[ChasR]

I thought that when you mentioned the price of the springs, that it was coilovers that you were considering initially. But I guess prices have gone up since I last purchased a kit.

But yes, you get what you pay for. Mate of mine went from Supersport Coilovers to Gaz coilovers on his Golf and whilst Gaz are nothing special, they showed a clean pair of heels to the Supersports, despite the Supersports being adjusted miles more. It's just a shame his engine (a 2.0 Brian Rickett's conversion) decided to start knocking after 140,000 miles of predominantly track abuse.

Check out Bilstein too. B6s and B8 (especially the latter) are the daddies, and on a number of cars were stock fitment, which no real adverse side effects (or at least they weren't in my Pug (and the front dampers are new(ish)!).

[popuptoaster]

Jan 7, 2009 10:59:51 GMT ChasR said:

I thought that when you mentioned the price of the springs, that it was coilovers that you were considering initially. But I guess prices have gone up since I last purchased a kit.

But yes, you get what you pay for. Mate of mine went from Supersport Coilovers to Gaz coilovers on his Golf and whilst Gaz are nothing special, they showed a clean pair of heels to the Supersports, despite the Supersports being adjusted miles more. It's just a shame his engine (a 2.0 Brian Rickett's conversion) decided to start knocking after 140,000 miles of predominantly track abuse.

Check out Bilstein too. B6s and B8 (especially the latter) are the daddies, and on a number of cars were stock fitment, which no real adverse side effects (or at least they weren't in my Pug (and the front dampers are new(ish)!).

I wouldnt say Gaz were "nothing special" just because they're prices are reasonable, they have a lot of expertise at the workshop and provide the suspension for a lot of race cars, a famous name and hefty price tag don't mean anything much if you cant back up your claims with laptime improvements and there are plenty of comapaines trading on sponsership deals from years back rather than any actual proof they're stuff is any good.

[ChasR]

I myself rate Gaz going from his and other MGB owners' experiences (His car was great on that kit (Mk2 Golf GTi 16v). But I know a number of people curse them, hence why I said nothing special . But the same people say use Protec and Tein which are mega £££ :lol:.

[matt.z51]

Lots of kits here, www.venommotorsport.com/manufacturer_product.php?manufacturer=Vipertech&category=suspension&product=SuspensionKit&make=Mercedes&model=E-Class
I am currently looking at the Supersport coilovers for my Golf and they look much better than the ebay ones i was considering for not much more.
That link should take you to the mercedes E Class ones, but you can search by car on the homepage and look at all the kits