coilover advice

[wolfie]

I'm going to buy a Gaz coilover kit for my Gold Convertible but I know there's been a debate over the springs so was hoping those who have bought these kits could advise me on best spring rates etc. I don't want the ride to be too harsh as the roads round here look like they've been bombed but I still want to throw it around. Any advice appreciated

[Alan D.]

Hello Wolfie,

First bit of advice, Don't buy Gaz!!

Mine have started to rust, even though my car spends most of its time in a dry garage. The stud on the top of the coilover is too short, so you cannot fit the two rubber bushes, which fit either side of the fibreglass (the top fixing), you have to cut a bush in half! I've just ordered Protech coilovers for the front suspension of my Mk 3 convertible, the have an aluminium tube. £85 each plus carriage and VAT.

With regards to spring rates; I started with 140lbs springs on the rear and have bought a number of differing weight springs and I am now down to 75lbs! They are still too hard! I cannot put any adjustment on the dampers!
Eric, another Midas owner on this site, has calculated using a sporty frequency, 80lbs I think, but in practice they are too hard! He calculated that using a lower frequency it works out to be 55lbs. So I'm going to purchase some 50lbs for the rear, as that is the next weight below 75lbs, from Faulkner springs.

I think I have 140, 120,90 and soon some 75lb springs in stock, if you want any 2.25ID springs. I paid about £50 to £60 pounds a set, so would sell them at say £30 a pair, all are as new condition.

My problem now is what weight do I fit to the front suspension?

Hope this helps.

Regards Alan

[wolfie]

Hi Alan, thanks for the advice. At some point I'll be putting coilovers on the front as the hydragas units are on their last legs. I was thinking of finding out what weight the springs are on the old style mini coilover conversion kit then working my way down from that weight but that's for another day.

[Hans Efde]

I have for sale the Watson kit that can replace the hydragas units. You have to weld a ring on top of the hydragas housing (according Alan it needs a bush so it sits higher and there is more room for adjustment) and then the spring is pressed in. I bought it from Stuart, but have now a more radical plan. If you're interested you can pm me.

[manifold]

a more radical plan? Tell us all more! Too many secrets on this forum these days.... everyones got a few tricks up their sleeves.....Only kidding...

[Hans Efde]

Just similar to what Alan is thinking. Build a tower in which a standard coil over shock absorber fits. But first I will ditch my turbo block and get a normal engine in. I'd love to come to England again, but sitting behind a screaming turbo engine for a whole day is just too much to bear. I suppose I am getting old.

[wolfie]

I have for sale the Watson kit that can replace the hydragas units. You have to weld a ring on top of the hydragas housing (according Alan it needs a bush so it sits higher and there is more room for adjustment) and then the spring is pressed in. I bought it from Stuart, but have now a more radical plan. If you're interested you can pm me.

Hi Hans I've thought about the Watsons route but didn't want to mess around with it unless there was any good feeback. How did you find the setup? My other option was to make some towers like the MGTF with coilovers. I was thinking off trying mini coilovers if the spring weights were in the right ball park.
Thanks
Steve

[Hans Efde]

It was a mod that was developed by David. It was published in a club magazine and possibly on this forum. I believe both his cars have this mod. I got some comment from Alan concerning the adjustment. It looks like a good idea, but I think a small tubular frame welded on top of the subframe for a coil/shock absorber is less intrusive, aka more engine space. This is all for the future though, I don't have much time to work on my car.

[Stuart]

Or if you want a quick bolt in kit half of this kit could work

http://www.ukmgparts.co.uk/product.aspx ... b9de286901

[Hans Efde]

I suppose you did not see the price. 996 pounds!