Suspension kits - what do people recommend - and NOT FK

[Pabs]

Hey peeps....

having a right mare with my FK Highsport coilovers, and the support / service from FK is less than desirable...

I'm in a situation - my highsports are, we believe, knackered. Too much play in them and starting to get worrying noises from the fronts.
To say the least, I'm very peaved. But kinda serves me right for buying from a non-UK source. But if FK were more helpful then I'd be happy. But they aint.

So, for me to get my set repaired/replaced, I need to remove them from the car, get them repaired, and then get them back on the car. This could take several weeks +, and I can't be without a car. With all that hassle, I may as well just fit a different kit, get my highsports repaired, then sell them on.

So, what kits do people recommend, that ARE NOT made by FK (i don't buy from a company that don't help me with issues) and are not too expensive?
Thought about the Koni sports suspension kit - fixed ride height/damping, at about same price as the highsports were.

Anything else out there? I've searched but most people seem to say FK. Don't need adjustable ride height, but would like a nice damping if possible (Highsports were considered to be a tad harsh by my missus and passengers). Don't need to lower it a lot, 30mm-40mm was fine.

Cheers peeps.

 

[paul26982]

intrested in this post too, looking at suspension options, koni seem very expensive

 

[Pabs]

the koni sports suspension kit at awesome works out at about £380 i thought? The FK Highsports I have sell for £365 ish....

I don't want to spend loads, but something perhaps a bit better than mine. Dunno yet. Depends if I get anywhere with FK in the next week...

 

[m0rk]

just to annoy you further.... FK's use Koni damper inserts, and with that - there are only a handful of firms that make 'all' damper legs....

driveforward had a loose damper insert, with the same issues you say - replacements took a little while though.

 

[Pabs]

f00kin hell.... why isnt anything simple?

If they'd send me new fronts, and then i ship the old ones back, I wouldnt mind. But I'm being told I need to take them off, send them back. Wait X weeks, then refit when they arrive.

Now not having the ability to fit myself, that means 1 bill to get them removed, and std suspension put back on, then another bill when it comes to putting them back on. Its far too much hassle and cost. Even if I COULD fit them myself, don't see why i should have to do all the messing, but i suppose thats the way it goes.

What do you recommend m0rk? Anything out there thats really worth getting, in a semi-sensible price bracket?

 

[cupra R con]

Are coilovers a must?

go for the comfort option & fit Eibach shocks & springs, or go for the coilovers if you must.
Failing that then go for Bielstien, a tad harsher, but at least they are good quality.

 

[Pabs]

coilovers are not a must - hence the mention of the koni sports kit. I thought coilovers were supposed to be the better option.

How much are the Eibach shocks/springs set? And Bilstein kits are expensive, no???

Comfort is kinda important, so long as the kit isnt any more harsh than my highsports (less harsh would be great) then thats ok.

 

[m0rk]

it's really going to depend on the root cause. suprising that FK don't have / won't let you deal with a UK disty for warrantee.

But whatever you get as a replacement will be the exact same design & style annoyingly.

 

[Pabs]

well all the UK disty's i've spoken to said they can't help because I didnt buy the kit from them in the first place, and it'd cost them to ship it to/from FK for the work.

Anyway, gonna get on the blower again this week to discuss....

EDIT: FK's website sucks arse, they never read/reply to emails either..... If the phone was answered it'd be great too...

 

[Pabs]

if it wasnt for the fact the std kit made the car look like it was on stilts, i'd revert back to it permanently.

 

[cupra R con]

if it wasnt for the fact the std kit made the car look like it was on stilts, i'd revert back to it permanently.

about £500 for the Eibach kit, not the best outright handling, but very progressive & not far from factory comfort considering the 30mm drop.
Do you run ARB's? they make far more difference to the handling than shock/springs IMO.

 

[Pabs]

Yeh, I have front and rear ARB's - I have the H&R kit.

I think its 26mm front bar and 23mm rear.

I'm starting to worry as I think my suspension problems are getting considerably worse recently.... went over some rough roads today and it just felt more harsh than normal, and i'm sure i've got a knocking at the front NS now..... could be my imagination though, but doubt it...

 

[ibizacupra]

KW's?

 

[Pabs]

KW's.... what price are they? I thought they were much more dosh...

I've read they come in different variants too...

 

[Pabs]

just did a bit of research, and now understand the differences in variants....

but price of all 3 kits are almost all twice what i paid for my highsports....
The highsports are cheap i know, but surely they must work, and work for more than 6 months....

 

[Copra]

my fks could well be knackered.....
i thought it was the top moiunts but now ive read this then maybe not. im hopefully gettin top mounts and poly bushes fitted tomorrow, so i will know then.
who did you buy yours from paul?
there is absolutely no way they are fobbing me off with that crap like you if mine are dead, im gonna go mad at rimstyle if need be....

 

[Yumann]

Go for kws they offer free rebuilts or eibach which are basically kws.

 

[Icecavern]

If they'd send me new fronts, and then i ship the old ones back, I wouldnt mind. But I'm being told I need to take them off, send them back. Wait X weeks, then refit when they arrive.

Now not having the ability to fit myself, that means 1 bill to get them removed, and std suspension put back on, then another bill when it comes to putting them back on. Its far too much hassle and cost. Even if I COULD fit them myself, don't see why i should have to do all the messing, but i suppose thats the way it goes.

I have to say this is standard practice, however they're already going beyond what they would normally do in this situation anyway.

What would normally happen is you would go back to the place you bought them from, who would then talk to the UK distributor and get them to agree to swap them based on the shops opinion that they are faulty. The distributor would then take the damaged stock and then send them to the manufacturer for the manufacturer to refund the distributor who then refunds the shop.

As you can see other than the customer, everyone is out of pocket to help you until the manufacturer agrees they're faulty.

In your case you've skipped the UK dealer, and the UK distributor in favour of saving some cash, so you don't have the backup now.

I get people complaining all the time about this in the car audio scene. For example people moaning that JL Audio won't give them a new ampeven though it's faulty. Only they bought it in the US or something to save a buck or two only to find out the people they would go to for support tell them to take a running jump as they have parallel imported the product.

The fact that FK are even offering to look at them ( and maybe replace them if found faulty ) is actually more than I'd expect in this situation.

Not having a go, just explaining how the industry works, and why saving a quid or two buying non UK product doesn't save any money.

Pete

 

[Copra]

so by me buying from a uk supplier i "should" be ok?! time will tell....

good info there mr pete

 

[Icecavern]

If you buy from a UK supplier you should have backup if anything goes wrong, and you have UK consumer law on your side if you don't get it.

Thing with threads like this is that they give the manufacturer ( fk in this instance a bad rep ) Everyone with FK suspension doesn't need to now start panicking because Pabs got a faulty set, more than likely it's a one off.

Pete