FK coilovers (no go)

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

You werent kidding sooty - they literally DID explode!

My FK's aren't ageing too well either. Paint's already coming off the springs, the "protective coating" lasted no time at all and the bloody things have started pinging again! Don't even know what causes it. Tbh I'm not worried about that atm - just want my turbo (and the f**king rattle in the back of my car) sorted first!

 

[fr-tdi]

the pinging when you turn?

topmounts need greased

they stick and release quickly causing the ping you hear

 

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

the pinging when you turn?

topmounts need greased

they stick and release quickly causing the ping you hear

So this is a case of dropping the coilies out?

 

[fr-tdi]

So this is a case of dropping the coilies out?

id take them off yea cant really get acess unless theyre out

 

[Altech]

id take them off yea cant really get acess unless theyre out

Could'nt the adjuster be dropped right down and some copper grease applied? Or maybe compress the top spring slightly?

I made sure I put plenty of copper grease on my topmounts after reading a thread on here.

 

[fr-tdi]

you could do but for the sake of 3 nuts and a bolt.....talking what 20mins tops each side

 

[Altech]

Does it not affect the wheel alignment if you remove the strut and then put it back in?

 

[fr-tdi]

it will

not have any mechanic mates?

 

[Aimez]

Oh dear I am not very put of buying coilovers thanks guys!! You have to strip them every month!? Who actually has no life and so much time they can do this?!
I don't even wash the car once a month and I am not confident mechanically to fit these myself let alone take them apart all the time and then pay god knows how much to have the alignment done every time!

 

[fr-tdi]

you dont have to - but expect problems like this post for example.

i usually stripped my coils once a month when i had them and they lasted on four cars.

the coils for my ibiza never saw copper grease or sealant - i only bought them to lower the car while the air-ride was being made.

washing your car once a month is a cardinal sin. you should hang yor head in shame

 

[Altech]

Nope no mechanic mates, I'm the mechanical one out of my mates but don't have the machinery to do it. I only paid £35 to have it done yesterday.

 

[Aimez]

Sorry but I actually work long hours usually tired and dark when I get home and have other things to do in life than clean my car, I clean my car alot more and with more care than anyone I know thou!

 

[fr-tdi]

so do i! and its usually freezing!

my car is my girl, she needs to be kept happy

 

[Gazb]

only a few pics of new coilovers fitted (it started raining)

i have found the ride is so much smoother, the front seems to drop so much! the rear doesnt go no where near as low as the front but i set the rear almost as low as it would go and just made the front match, i guess the springs may settle a little so it is slightly high at the front but wil see with time what happens. hope this is useful to anyone thinking about buying fk coilovers (or maybe i just had a bad set) and always remember most the time you get what you pay for!

The bracket that the drop link is bolted to seems very flimsy in comparison to the setup on the FK's.
Are they that shape so that you can use the standard drop links with the Weitec's?

 

[sooty22]

i have checked the tires etc and all are ok and yes my abs has been working an tcs like all the time! i dont peronaly thin you should have to remove and clean the shocks regardless of cost/make all the time they should be built well enough to just need a clean every now and again. i cleaned mine and greases the threads every rew months but that still didnt stop the passenger side popping and the leaking on the drivers side

 

[sooty22]

thats shocking quality

how much was this kit brand new, i guessing £450 'ish

TBH, regardless of cost, you'd expect a suspension setup to last more than 12 months:shrug!

the fk highsport kit i bought was £360 ish cant remember off the top of my head

 

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

i dont peronaly thin you should have to remove and clean the shocks regardless of cost/make all the time they should be built well enough to just need a clean every now and again. i cleaned mine and greases the threads every rew months but that still didnt stop the passenger side popping and the leaking on the drivers side

I agree with that. You pay enough for the damn things, they should be a bit harder wearing. OEM suspension is so why shouldn't coilovers be?

I clean my coilovers up every now and then too but shouldn't have to keep on top of them every week!

 

[fr-tdi]

its just one of them things innit

 

[sooty22]

the bracket is actualy the same thickness as the ones on the fk's maybe just a unclear pic. i know there s a lot of weight on the front of the derv ibiza especialy and they do taks some stick but i have noticed when ordering that the same coilovers apply for all the range from a 1.2 to the derv and wonder if they were not up to the task of weight issues on the front end? the rears are fine not a problem at all with them.

 

[Ultra_Joel88]

You dont need to remove them or even remove the wheel to clean them or adjust them, just jack the suspension up, get an old tooth brush some soapy water and some non-abrasive cleaner and just clean away gently, then move the adjusters down a couple of threads and back up, apply some grease, repeat.

Just do this every couple of months should only take an hour.