205 Suspension Advise Needed Urgent!

[joe1joe 3]

i no its been coverd a fair few times before, and i have already searched the forum and spent alot of time reading previous posts but as my car jst a lttle bit diffrent frm the others on here, i want a few opinions before i buy new shocks! i have a 205 xs with a 309 gti rear beam solid mounting kit and bilstein group n shocks, and lowerd if i can remeber about 40 ish mm and runing 205/40/17 superlite wheels (cant remember wat they weigh) with toyo proxes as its a widearch kit. and need new front coilovers 4 mot this week, and was looking at gaz coilovers and springs with around the 40mm drop, and what spring rating because i havnt exactly got big rear torsion bars and still have the track contol arm front setup (XS). so advise on the where to buy them and any bits i may need to fit them and what spring rating/lengh as dont want to over spring rate the front end, and then be left with understeer and the engine i fited is a 106gti so is heavyer than the tu 8v alloy block, many thanks in advance because u must be board of these questions!!!

[large 33]

What do you want to use the car for?

 

180lb spring i find good for a road car and as a softer set up.

250lb+ for track use.

[Rom 0]

On my Mi i found the 8 inch 225lb springs that came with my Gaz a bit too hard.

Im now running 10 inch 180 lb springs which im doing ok with for road use. Though when i swap to a 309 beam i may try the 225 again.

 

And punctuation please !

[joe1joe 3]

using it for fast road use, and the odd track day.

jst main consern is it understeering, so dont want to over do it, is 250 lb sprngs with 309 gti torsion bars and arb over doining it ??

might be woth 180/200 lb then..... realy need 2 order them monday, because need them asap 4 MOT, so dcan anyone can give me contacts /price guide.

also has anyone found the harder ruber shocker top mounts worth fitting?? untill wallet allows me to fit eccentric top mounts.

[Rom 0]

For primarily road use, i think 250 is a bit hard. 225 would be plenty for the road, its all down to driver preferance.

Some people swear by 225 for road, others prefer a little softer. What works for one person wont always work for another.

 

Check the group buy section, there was / is a GAZ buy going on, not sure when its for though.

Failing that GAZ direct, or ebay, someone from GAZ used to flog kits on there. Thats where i got mine.

 

And yes, the BBM top mounts are worth it. You dont really need eccentric unless you need to dial in more castor / camber. And if you do, hold out for Stew at BBM, as hes making some new types, which look a lot better than the GAZ / Compbrake ones imo.

 

Ive got a set of 8 inch 225 lb springs you can try, depending on what ones you order.

Id offer you a ride in mine but its at the bodyshop

[MerlinGTI 3]

I run 175lb 9" springs on the front of my 8v XU GTI (GAZ). I have the dampers just over half way, cars low (1 finger between arch and tyre) and I find this perfect for spirited road use and have done for nearly a year now.

 

I was told the starnard GTI coil springs are around the 100lb mark, but how true this is I dont know.

[Rom 0]

According to another thread about spring rates, there around 95lb ish.

 

Which i didnt know...no wonder 225 is harsh

[joe1joe 3]

maybe id should try 200 then, did notice the group buy but think its ended now....

 

think GAZ direct may be way to go then maybe, cant see how gona get it cheaper than direct unless a bulk buy.

much diffrence in price in the gold or gha coilovers?

 

and rom someone who is in bristol on here is a first!!! soo worth every penny geting a respray mine jst been done, well again, im near fishponds.

[timb1046 1]

im from bristol too, theres actualy a fair few of us. With the heavyer engine i'd probably go for somthing more around the 200/225 mark rather than the 180lbs