Coilover debate

[tombarrack]

Hi everyone. I realise, with the wide variety of mid-range coilovers out on the market these days, that this is probably a bit of a tired old topic, but I'm looking for some advice with coilovers. I'm planning on lowering my GTi this spring and am looking for some people with first hand experience of coilovers. At the moment, I'm torn between AP coilovers (£400) and Weitec Hicon GT's (£468). I've read that some people have had issues with the AP's not going low enough at the rear, but I'm not really going for the whole slammed to the deck look.

Ideally, I'd like a set of which would allow me to lower a reasonable amount, whilst maintaining a degree of comfort (I realise coilovers will sacrifice ride comfort, but am willing to make a trade off for an improved stance). I'm not really a track day fiend, so for me, it's more about show than go.

Has anyone got any first hand experience with either of these two sets. Or can anyone suggest a better alternative. Cheers.

[joe2612]

Tough choice. APs are a very good, not sure where all this 'not going low enough at the rear' has come from. You can get them pretty low and they are still i'd say pretty comfortable.

Haven't experience Weitecs, heard good things about them though.

My choice would be APs.

[Bradley]

Hey dude,ive got Weitec Hicon GT's on my GTI.

Ive been using them around a year if not a tad more now,they've been great to me.Being a sister company to KW and by comparing the two they are almost identical in design.My car is only lowered about 55mm at the moment the ride is fairly decent as with all coilovers it's going to be a stiff ride but the road holding/cornering is a massive improvement it makes the ride worth it.I would definately recommend the Weitecs to yourself thats for sure.

One of the simplest yet major plus's of the Weitecs is the single collar they use to adjust th spring platform.Most coilovers have a steel leg and 2 steel collars,one to adjust the spring platform height and the other to lock it into place.Steel collar locked against a steel collar on a steel thread is asking for seizing or cold welding hence why soo many people have trouble with seized coilovers.On the Weitecs they use the same system as KW a Zinc plated leg to reduce corrosion and a tough single Nylon collar with a grub screw to stop it moving.The two wont bond together but for good measure and ease of cleaning ive copper greased mine.

Weitecs anyday matey

Brad

[tombarrack]

Tough choice. APs are a very good, not sure where all this 'not going low enough at the rear' has come from. You can get them pretty low and they are still i'd say pretty comfortable.

Haven't experience Weitecs, heard good things about them though.

My choice would be APs.

Cheers for the advice. I'm pretty positive I've heard of people removing the helper spring in order to allow further lowering? Maybe not. Are AP's a sister company to anyone

Hey dude,ive got Weitec Hicon GT's on my GTI.

Ive been using them around a year if not a tad more now,they've been great to me.Being a sister company to KW and by comparing the two they are almost identical in design.My car is only lowered about 55mm at the moment the ride is fairly decent as with all coilovers it's going to be a stiff ride but the road holding/cornering is a massive improvement it makes the ride worth it.I would definately recommend the Weitecs to yourself thats for sure.

One of the simplest yet major plus's of the Weitecs is the single collar they use to adjust th spring platform.Most coilovers have a steel leg and 2 steel collars,one to adjust the spring platform height and the other to lock it into place.Steel collar locked against a steel collar on a steel thread is asking for seizing or cold welding hence why soo many people have trouble with seized coilovers.On the Weitecs they use the same system as KW a Zinc plated leg to reduce corrosion and a tough single Nylon collar with a grub screw to stop it moving.The two wont bond together but for good measure and ease of cleaning ive copper greased mine.

Weitecs anyday matey

Brad

Thanks man. Yeah, I've heard some good things about Weitecs. I'm not overly keen on the whole slammed to the deck look; i prefer to still see the profile of the wheel/tyre in the arch. Yeah, I'm pretty willing to make that compromise. It's currently riding on uprated springs at the moment, so the ride is quite firm as it stands. Ah, that's pretty neat with the grub screw. Do you tape the threads as well as copper grease? Did you fit the coilovers yourself?

[6N2 GTI 00]

I would go for Weitecs given the choice although they are supposed to be very similar to the AP's.
Going for either is a wise choice because those two are both very good quality and can be compared alongside the KW Variant 1 coilovers

[Godderz23]

I had weitecs on my old golf. Really nice coilovers, for the price and out of the two suggested i would go for these.

Im rocking ebay JOM's on mine. £200 for the set. I wasn't expecting them to be much cop. Just wanted cheap lows, and i gotta say there really not to bad at all. I little bit stiff but not uncomfortably so.

[Bradley]

I didn't tape them up no.It's not really needed they legs are Zinc plated so have a fairly good resistance to surface corrosion a think layer of copper rease have done mine absolutely fine.A good friend and myself fitted them at his work one weekend indeed.

[tombarrack]

I didn't tape them up no.It's not really needed they legs are Zinc plated so have a fairly good resistance to surface corrosion a think layer of copper rease have done mine absolutely fine.A good friend and myself fitted them at his work one weekend indeed.

Aye, I figured they'd stand up to corrosion pretty well with the zinc coating. I've heard of people applying Megs Degreaser (or an alternative brand) to clean the coilies though - surely that strips away and copper grease as well?

I was going to fit them myself also. I've changed a set of springs in a car before so I've got spring clamps and most of the relevant sockets/tools. Did you need any other parts? New top mounts?

[6N2 GTI 00]

Taping the threads is better than over greasing really, the threads only require a very small amount of grease but some people tend to go overboard and put far too much on. Grease them slightly and then cover the threads in tape, the tape prevents all the crap sticking to the grease, the extra grease wont last long when exposted to british road conditions.

A dab will do ya with the grease and then wrap the threads in tape for protection

[Trottagti]

Iv got the AP's and there amazing and they go low enough front and back to ruin my tyres so they deffo go low enough mate, to low infact..

And for the money there what you want, and weitecs will feel no different I reckon...

The polo is no track car so any brand above 250 quid will be fine....