WHITE JAMES: Suspension & Wheel Reviews

A compilation of White James Suspension & Wheel Reviews:

Products:

KW
H&R
Eibach
Koni
Bilstein
Tein
Nuespeed
Whiteline
Sachs
Ohlins
Volkswagen OEM geniune Driver Gear Sport Springs

Items:

Coilovers
Sway Bars
Strut Springs
Dampers

Common Problems/Issues Identified with MKV and MK6 Golf Aftermarket Suspension Kits:

Spring Bind - noise created by spring coils slapping together. Coils bind to provide extra spring rate on a progresive coil, but creates a lot of banging noise.

Tug'n'Release - clunking noise emanating at low (car park) speeds - springs moving in strut top aperture. When wheels are turned with lots of steering lock, the spring are too short and stiff to flex and twist in the strut top apertures creating a clonking noise.

Tyre Rubbing - tyre rubbing against the front outside guard due to lower ride height - advice on correct size wheels/tyres. - stick with ET50 on the Golf MKV and MK6.

Aftermarket suspension reviews - see links below:

(1) Strut/Damper kit -v- Coilover kit ; Large Sway Bars -v- Small Sway Bars

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47137&highlight=H&R+Tein

(2) KW V3 Coilover -v Eibach Prokit/Koni-FSD

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76450&highlight=Review+GTI

(3) H&R Street Performance Coilovers -v- Eibach Prokit/Koni FSD

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62927&highlight=White+James+suspension+review

(4) KW V3 coilover -v- HPA KW SHS coilover

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70889&highlight=white+james

(5) KW V3 -v- Neuspeed ProCup Kit (Koni FSD/Neuspeed Sports Spring)

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91610&highlight=eibach+koni+H&R

(6) Eibach Prokit/Koni FSD/H&R f & r sway bars (GTI) -v- Neuspeed Sports/Koni Sport/Neuspeed rear sway bar (R32)

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50780&highlight=Koni+FSD+Eibach+White+James

(7) Koni FSD / Eibach ProKit / Small H&R anti-roll bars

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26766&highlight=Koni+FSD+Eibach+White+James

(8) Eibach ProKit/Koni FSD/H&R small sway bars (GTI) -v- Neuspeed ProCup Kit/Neuspeed sway bars (GTI)

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40685&highlight=Koni+FSD+Neuspeed+Eibach

(9) Wheel size / Tyre size

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39347&highlight=Bridgetone+RE001+Adrenalin

(10) Big Brake Kits (Brembo, AP Racing, ECS Porsche BBK, DBA, Hawk, Pagid, Ferrodo)

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106947

(11) OHLINS DFV Strut Dampers 20 way adjustable with Volkswagen Approved Driver Gear Springs.

http://golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100863&page=19


Mark 6

(12) Volkswagen geniune lowering OEM Driver Sport Springs made by Eibach + DCC

http://golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100863&page=21

(13) Dynamic Chassis Control / Adaptive Chassis Control: DCC -v- non-DCC [Mark 6 Golf/Sirocco]

http://golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100863&page=18



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WHITE JAMES RECOMMENDATIONS:

(1) Dampers for stock MKV and MK6 Golf springs:

Ohlins DFV
Volkswagen geniune lowering OEM Driver Gear Sport Springs (MKV/MK6)

(2) Comfort/Sports:

Koni FSD-Koni Sport-Bilstein Sport / Eibach Prokit Spring (Strut Damper)
Koni FSD-Koni Sport-Bilstein Sport / H&R OEM Sports Spring (Strut Damper)
Tein Euro Coilover
Koni Coilover
HPA KW SHS Coilover
KW Comfort Coilover
H&R Comfort Coilover
Ohlins DFV

(3) Street Sports (Occassional Track - Targa - Hillclimb)

H&R Sports Spring/Eibach Sportline Spring + Bilstein Sport/Koni Sport (Strut/Damper)
KW Variants (V1-V3) coilover
KW Clubsport Coilover
Weitec Coilover (cheaper version of KW coilover)
ST Coilovers (cheaper version of KW coilover also made in Germany, but tuned for US market)
Bilstein PSS/PSS9-10 coilover
H&R Coilover
Sachs Coilover
Eibach Coilover
Ohlins DFV Coilover

(4) Very Frequent Track Use:

H&R Race Springs/Koni Sport-Bilstein Sport (Strut Damper)
Bilstein Clubsport Coilover
KW Clubsport Coilover
KW Competition Coilover
JIC Cross Coilover
Stassis/Ohlins Coilover
Ohlins DFV coilover


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RELATED WEBSITES:

www.tirerack.com
www.dbcperformance.com
www.whiteline.com.au
www.balancemotorsport.co.uk
www.redline-motorworks.com
www.hpamotorsport.com
www.gccorp.com.au
www.rennenhaus.com.au
www.ecstuning.com
www.performalink.com
www.bshspeedshop.com
www.tmtuning.com
www.awe-tuning.com
http://oemplus.com/
http://www.evlmotorsports.com.au/
http://www.volkswagenracing.co.uk/
http://www.drivergear.vw.com/vw10/
www.awesome-gti.co.uk
https://www.getvwparts.com/oem-vw-parts.html
http://www.orange-tuning.de/shop/index.php?osCsid=1356968db3749280172a125aa93d1c7c
http://performanceshock.com/
http://www.carsystems.pl/volkswagen,c1.html


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TUG'N'RELEASE and SPRING BIND

Springs & Coilovers that may exhibit the Tug’n’Release problem:

Reported but not limited to:

H&R Sports Strut Springs
H&R Street Performance Coilovers
Neuspeed Sports Strut Springs (R32 only)
Eibach Sportline Strut Springs.
KW Strut Springs (to confirm with more time).

Possible but not enough substantial data atm:

Bilstein PSS10 Coilover
(Both these coil overs may use H&R springs which are reported to have this problem .. possible depending on height and/or type of vehicle).

Rectification for Tug’n’Release problem:

Sleeving springs and/or placing rubber/plastic pads at the top of the front springs between the spring & strut aperture.


Springs & Coilovers that may exhibit the Spring Bind (Spring Slap/Chatter) problem:

Just about all strut type springs which include but not limited to:

Eibach ProKit
Eibach Sportline
Neuspeed Sport
H&R Sport
Koni Coilover

Rectification for Spring Bind problem:

Sleeving the springs between coils to prevent metal coil impacting with other coils; may cut NVH by up to 50%.

Coilovers on list that do NOT exhibit Tug’n’Release or Spring Bind – reported cases only but not limited to:

Tein Euro Coilover
KW Coilover
HPA Motorsport SHS coilover
Volkswagen geniune lowering OEM Driver Gear Sport Springs made by Eibach (linear spring)


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LINKS TO RULES, REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS RE: TRAFFIC & MOTOR VEHICLE LAW (NSW):

RTA - MODICATIONS:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_dl1.html

EPA - BLOW OFF VALVES, ALARMS, NOISE
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/noise/vehiclenoise.htm


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VEHICLE INSPECTIONS - PRE-PURCHASE (AUSTRALIA WIDE):

www.stateroads.com.au

Fee: $350.

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Videos

Damper Dynamics by KW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fLb7P3YrME
KW DCC retro-fit for non-DCC Mark V and Mark 6 Golf: http://www.youtube.com/user/KWsuspensions?feature=mhee#p/u/0/0fWuYC8-HyY
Ohlins DFV damper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcTRtLmcXjM



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PICTURES OF SLEEVING COIL SPRINGS:



Cheers
WJ

Top stuff James :thumbup:. Perhaps it should be a sticky - what ya say mods??

YouSnooze said:

Top stuff James :thumbup:. Perhaps it should be a sticky - what ya say mods??

Click to expand...

+ 1

Capercat said:

+ 1

Click to expand...

and another one...

x 1000000000000000000000000000000000000

This needs to be a sticky

Stikky pleeze :thumbsup:

Def.....You've got a spot in the VW hall of fame with that work......

A lot of good info in there, nice summary WJ!

stick it.

Sticky plz

You Farkeen Legend James! Sticky!

YouSnooze said:

Top stuff James :thumbup:. Perhaps it should be a sticky - what ya say mods??

Click to expand...

+10

thx soo much james for the reviews!! u were very very informative!!

Now i'm kinda decided going for 18s with koni FSD + neuspeed/eibach springs. hmmmm

kaoticice said:

thx soo much james for the reviews!! u were very very informative!!

Now i'm kinda decided going for 18s with koni FSD + neuspeed/eibach springs. hmmmm

Click to expand...

if you're going for the combination with the eibachs, then have a look at the HPA KW SHS coilovers... sourced from overseas depending on the dollar and customs charges the difference will be around $0-300 extra but these are getting very good reviews.