Suspension Discussion: Compromises

[Damon]

I'm creating this thread out of shear internal conflict, so bear with me here.

Suspension, and its attached components, is a rare breed of animal to me. Where as most car modifications are purely function or form, suspension allows you to pick your point on the continuum: somewhere between a Dick Shine racing kit and air bags. Trying to pick your point on the continuum comes down to a few choices:

Ride Comfort - How much I enjoy riding in the car.
Handling - How much time is shaved off of lap times at the track.
Aesthetics - Smiling when I walk up to my car.
Wear and Tear - Long and short term damage to the car from suspension choices.

The trick, for me, is to figure out how to maximize the first three and minimize the last. Here are some of my thoughts, typed out.

This car will be a daily driver for the next few years. After that, it will be retired to weekend fun and maybe some track days. The next suspension purchase will be my last, so it needs to fit both circumstances. I currently have H&R Sports on Bilstein Sports. Any thoughts on Koni Adjustable coils vs. B&G RS coils?

To help with handling, what can be done to get the front control arms closer to parallel without raising the car? New spindles... custom fabrication...

As for excessive wear and tear, what items are known, not rumored, to fail more quickly due to suspension choices? I've heard everything from oil pumps to control arm bushings from random folks.

Finally, give some input on how you decided where you sit on the continuum. What ultimately lead you to that decision?

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

You're not going to find a suspension that does everything well.

Although threaded body coilovers are adjustable for height, and therefore weight balancing the car, you are limited by the shocks on what spring rates you can run....at least properly.

I think the Koni springs tend to be on the soft side, and you can adjust the shock for rebound only. But, the shocks will only work properly with a spring they are tuned for.

As far as wear and tear, the lower you go, the more pressure you're putting on bearings and cv joints and tie rods, etc, etc. I suppose that running stiffer than stock springs also increases the "shake" factor when driving on regular roads which means that things inside the car will come loose faster, and parts will begin to rattle sooner.

I think you'll find that if you seriously want to track the car, and be competitive, you'll need to get a serious track suspension.

[audiracer2002]

I would spend the money on a coilover set that has a lot of adjustability. That way you can tune it for your daily driving now, not too low or too stiff, just a good daily performer, but down the road you can lower it a little more and stiffen it up to get it how you want for track. A couple of options would be KW V3's or see if Stasis has some stuff for your car. Oh, also when it comes time for permanent track duty, you can also then add a set of poly bushings and stiffen up the sways and strut bars etc, but without have to replace the coilovers.

[bugzy]

Stasis sells Ohlin coilovers (expensive) for audi/vw's ... top notch products that offer outstanding handling as well as a reasonable right

you going to have to give up different things to get other things

but you can find a nice medium between performance and comfortable
but when you get more performance, usually meaning stiffer, you end up putting more stress on other components, which means more wear

[Damon]

When the car is retired to weekend fun, it won't be track only -- but definitely more speed oriented changes will happen. So, whatever suspension choice I go with, it won't be some uncomfortable and impractical 600 lb. springs. I think that leaves me with dampening adjustable coilovers. The one's I know of are:
Koni
B&G RS
Bilstein PSS9
H&R PCS
Ohlin
Any more that I'm missing?

Any thoughts on getting the control arms on a MKIV more parallel when in a lowered state? What would new spindles do (h2sport (http://www.h2sport.com/products.php?productid=203), for example)?

What kind of parameters lead you to your suspension choice?

I feel like I messed up a little the first time, want to get it right the second time. ;)

[MikekiM]

You really aren't going to find a suspension that's going to make you happy now, and later when it gets relegated to the track more often.

To fix some of the geometry problems you can swap the spindles to TT spindles and ball joints. This will help the geometry some, and allow a little more leeway with lowering the car. H2Sport also has some available, however their long term use isn't yet really known.

Pick a suspension that will suit what you're looking for in the relative short term. A track suspension will be considerably different, so expect to change it down the road.

For the street there really isn't a need to worry too much with the geometry issues on the suspension. Lower the car, find something that's comfortable, and puts you at a ride height that looks good and is convenient for your daily driving.

When time comes for track duty make changes in increments so you get a feel and good understanding of the changes you're making. Add/remove parts piece by piece so you know what effect each has.

[Damon]

Thanks for the advice, Mike. I was worried that nothing out there would fit the bill. I'm leaning more and more towards the Koni coilovers because of the adjustable dampening and price. I have heard the above complaint about soft spring rates, and I also know that custom spring rates can be purchased. Do you access to those, Mike?

Maybe my goals should be adjusted to purchase a suspension that will get me through the rest of my car's daily driving life and then some amateur track use.