Coilovers vs Springs for Trackday

[DocJ021]

Hi Gents, obviously joining the club new. Going to be joining for events and trackdays. I'm looking for opinions or hookups for good quality springs to use for trackdays for my MK6 Polo. Would coilovers or just lowering springs be better and if so which brands have been used from you guys with best results?

[Rascal69]

Coilovers will always be better than just lowering spring and standard shocks... If you want to Track your car and get the most from the suspension, get a decent set of Coilovers instead of lwoering springs...

[DocJ021]

Thanks bud, which vendors in SA would you recommend for these?

[B_rad]

Welcome.

This, imho, is down to (a) - what your budget is, and (b) - how serious you want to be.
If your budget can handle it, i would suggest a set of height and dampen adjustable coilovers so that you can control height and damping for various types of events e.g. at skidpans you may want to raise it and set damping to get the car to rotate better etc.

I prefer a coilover setup where you have the option to change things if need be, and also because the spring and damper are designed to work with each other and within a certain range, whereas as aftermarket spring is designed to work with a stock damper which might end up seeing some abuse and showing early signs of wear.

I run BC Racing BR series in mine and they handle nicely at track days, a couple of my friends are running Bilstein or Koni adjustable kits, which are absolutely phenomenal and very hardy and handle the track well.

If you want springs, my money would probably be on a H&R kit.

Lower is not always better for track application.

[B_rad]

Coilovers will always be better than just lowering spring and standard shocks... If you want to Track your car and get the most from the suspension, get a decent set of Coilovers instead of lwoering springs...

Agreed. People vastly underestimate the benefits of some decent suspension.

[DocJ021]

Thanks for the input gents. I don't have a set budget so it is purely on quality, i'll rather spend more and be happy with the results. Where did you get yours from?

[Killerwatt]

As Brad says, it depends on budget and how hardcore you want to be. Had BC BR coilovers in the mk4 and have another set for my S3 now. Very nice coilovers for the money.

The vast majority of cars with Mcpherson front struts will roll more once lowered. This is a result of the roll center and center of gravity changes. The camber curve will dictate if this is worse or better for handling but its almost always worse. If you really the best coilovers for track days then you are more than likely going to end up with spring rates and suspension frequencies that rattle your fillings out on a normal road and static camber that will kill tyres.

At the end of they day you need to do the research and decide how aggressive of a setup you need. The new polo is a fairly new platform so I'm not sure how many manufacturers have kits available. But BC, KW, Koni, Bilstein and Koni are all decent brands to look at.

[B_rad]

Thanks for the input gents. I don't have a set budget so it is purely on quality, i'll rather spend more and be happy with the results. Where did you get yours from?

The Fiesta ST's don't have much choice in the way of local suppliers so I imported.
Look up FS Projects, the man knows his suspension and he will be able to source you some coilies and install for you.

If budget is not an issue, I recommend, in no particular order, BC, Koni, KW and Bilstein.

As TP mentioned below, a proper track setup will be quite hard, but a good set of damping adjustables will see you be able to maximise road comfort and still get a semi decent setup for track.

On track days i raise my car 15mm and firm up the damping in the front (you just open the bonnet and adjust - very easy) and they work wonders.

[DocJ021]

Thanks bud I'll give him a shout so long looking to get them before the 28th so I can go have some fun at Zwarties.

[Rascal69]

Coilovers will always be better than just lowering spring and standard shocks... If you want to Track your car and get the most from the suspension, get a decent set of Coilovers instead of lwoering springs...

Agreed. People vastly underestimate the benefits of some decent suspension.

Hey bro, I am also running BC Racing BR Coilivers in my M Coupe.. Fitted and fine tuned them myself, They made a massive difference over the standard suspension on an already incredible handling car...

I got them from a company in CPT that brings in the BC's.. Think Pyro Performance or something like that... Caitlin - 081 419 6745 - Info@bc-sa.co.za

Best advice i can give you is to get someone who knows suspensions and how to fit them and tune them properly to install them for you as i have seen some guys buy expensive coilovers and go to get them fitted for the cheapest price & they are not even fine tuned so the cars dont handle the way the owners expected..

[zain_c]

If you want springs, my money would probably be on a H&R kit.

Not even, had them in my citi that I tracked regularly, still not stiff enough for track use. However when i upgraded to the Koni springs and matched shocks. Wow! Day and night difference...car felt planted and at home on the track.

Thereafter I went coilovers, even better. No regrets!

sorry for the hijack but kind of

With my current project which is a mk2 Jetta, I've been told to fit merc or bmw springs for that stiff ride and improved handling for trackdays. Apparently this is the setup that GTi Challenge guys use? Anybody here have any more info?

Thanks

[panic-mechanic]

GTi challenge mk2's used to also run proper(ly expensive) coil overs. Mostly Bilstein.

[B_rad]

If you want springs, my money would probably be on a H&R kit.

Not even, had them in my citi that I tracked regularly, still not stiff enough for track use. However when i upgraded to the Koni springs and matched shocks. Wow! Day and night difference...car felt planted and at home on the track.

Thereafter I went coilovers, even better. No regrets!

sorry for the hijack but kind of

With my current project which is a mk2 Jetta, I've been told to fit merc or bmw springs for that stiff ride and improved handling for trackdays. Apparently this is the setup that GTi Challenge guys use? Anybody here have any more info?

Thanks

Yea think coilies are just so much of a safer option tbh!

[DocJ021]

Thanks for all the input gents, I think i will go with the Koni springs for now, do a few track days and take it from there.

[Rascal69]