I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: coilover feedback
I’m looking to replace a much loved and well use Koni ride height kit on a mk1 ( due to a broken spring ,( after about 20 years on the car so can’t really complain)
Specifically , does anyone have experience of any of these 3
Plan is to change to Mk2 top hats for a little bit more travel if i go for the Gaz. FM comes with Mk2 tophats and IL use their own pillowball.
Will be running ride height of 340mm rear /320 front ( 13.4"/12.6" approx)
I like the FM product but
- its expensive when freight is taken into account
- after a chat with them 13.4 is around its max height on the rear and may need spacers to avoid coil bind
Interested in any experience of the above 3 , not opinions or guesswork, and not interested in 10 replies saying “get Meisters”
My NA has the GAZ coilovers, but the previous owner wanted it pretty low for mainly track work.
As I use it on quite rough country roads, I have raised it but ran out of adjustment on the fronts - Byron at GAZ has been fantastic (and quite patient) as we have discussed various options - and was quite happy to supply whatever length \ rate springs I wanted.
I’ve stayed on 350f / 250r rate, but gone to 10" long fronts, and able to set it to a height I am happy with (and clears speedbumps). I’ve adjusted the ARB links but not yet redone alignment.
They are… very good, but not amazing. As yet, not got the confidence that my ND2 RF on Eibach \ stock dampers gave me, but the alignment may bring that.
Welcome to come out as a passenger if nr the north west.
Many thanks Ian , very helpful and thanks for the passenger offer, I 'm in Central Scotland so a bit far away .
Couple of supplementary questions if I may…
do you know what the original kit/springs were ? I’m looking at the Gas gold pro standard kit with the 350/250 springs,
if you had the “out of the box” standard kit with these springs ( before your longer ones) what was the max ride hight you could get ? I’m looking for 340mm rear/320 (13.4"R /12.6"F) from hub centreline to wheelarch ( that’s enough to keep me away from speedbumps , except a few French ones! and keeps my alignment correct )
thks
Jim
you mentioned a contact at Gaz if custom length is needed - is that at Gaz direct or one of their resellers ? & could you PM me details ?
Gaz shocks are probably a good choice. The brscc mx5 championship uses GAZ Gold Professional shocks w/2.25-inch springs, standard bushes. So they’ve had plenty of r&d on mk1’s.