Cheap coilovers

"Justino6969" (justino6969)
04/16/2016 at 03:16 • Filed to: None

So I have a 2001 Jetta, and upon looking at it today, the shocks are completely blown. Like I can move the whole strut up and down with my hand when the car is off the ground. Anyway, I have always thought about getting cheap coilovers just to see what they are like. I’m not interested in lowering it, so I found JOM coilovers (rebranded racelands/v-maxx), since they only lower the car 0.8" at the highest setting. I’ve read some reviews of people thinking they are decent, and only kind of bouncy when super low (but as I stated, I don’t want to go super low). So Oppo, new shocks and springs for ~$300, or eBay special coilovers for ~$350? Keep in mind this car is just a highway DD with some spirited driving from one stoplight to the next, so I don’t need anything fancy and don’t want to invest much. Thanks in advance!

DISCUSSION (28)

Frank Grimes > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 03:38

why not buy the stock stuff from some dork who went with cheap coil overs?

Funktheduck > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 07:22

I say do it and then let us know how they work out for the next person with the same question. It'll likely be a much firmer ride compared to OEM but since you're coming from a busted strut situation, it should work out for the better.

TheJWT > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 07:30

I mean, the package is in comic sans...

deekster_caddy > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 08:20

For that price don't expect much.

-this space for rent- > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 08:22

I had racelands on my e46. They rode surprisingly good. Lasted about 5 years. Set all the way up, they were still pretty low though.

Invinciblejets > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 08:28

If your not going lower order oem stuff...

Cheap coilovers have no positives besides cheap slammed stance hell flush bro...going low is the only “good” thing about them.

Generic Chinese shocks with mixed up spring rates your better off stock handling wise.

JGrabowMSt > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 08:39

Find other people running them first. Poor quality coilovers can be a fitment nightmare, but you also need to know if your alignment will be affected (camber) and whether you will be able to adjust for it.

Ive got pretty expensive coilovers on my Magnum for their lifetime warranty, and there arent many options to begin with. The ride quality with 3-4 people is very different compared to just myself, which may not be what you want out of a DD.

I would be satisfied with a pair of monroe quick struts for a DD. Easy to install, work just fine.

Flavien Vidal > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 08:46

Go for it... I once bought 4 brake discs and pads for my Mustang for 200$ on eBay shipping included! (What could have gone wrong hey?)

Believe it or not, apart from the heavy brake dust produced and the fact that o had to cool them down after 4 laps, they did the job very well, on the track and on the street...

So I’d say go for it and report back after :)

swansong, rockin' the wagons > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 11:19

From what I’ve seen (in the Subaru community) you’re better off spending your budget on springs/shocks. In that price range they will outperform cheap coilovers and ride much better. Especially since you aren’t looking for mad lows. See if there’s a Koni STR.T / H&R spring combo for your car, I loved the Konis on stock springs on my old Mazda3.

PardonMyFlemish16 > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 11:23

Cheap coilovers are always a bad idea. They have to cut costs somewhere, and there’s nowhere to cut costs that doesn’t affect safety. Maybe you will get lucky and nothing will go wrong, but is it really worth the risk?

Just get some stock shocks, or some Truhart shocks and lowering springs. Cheap coilovers from no name brands are a bad idea.

Master Cylinder > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 11:29

My advice would be to just buy new shocks and springs. These types of cheap kits are basically produced with only one thing in mind - looks. Trust me, “only kind of bouncy” will drive you crazy after a couple of days. You’ll probably be happier with OEM stuff, and it’s cheaper too.

Justino6969 > TheJWT
04/16/2016 at 11:53

Yeah, they’re just repackaged Racelands. Definitely could have picked a better font.

Justino6969 > JGrabowMSt
04/16/2016 at 11:55

I've read of people running them in various forums with no problems (there is no camber adjustment on the Mk4 platform), but most of what I find is people running them who absolutely slam their car. I just want a stock replacement, and if I can get a stiffer ride or better ride quality in the process (which I'm sure I will because who knows how long my strut has been blown), then why not? I don't carry passengers and I'm pretty sure anything will be an improvement in how it rides now.

Justino6969 > PardonMyFlemish16
04/16/2016 at 11:59

I agree with that sentiment, but it’s not like these are completely unknown in terms of quality; they are Racelands which are well known, I just picked the JOM brand because they come with new brackets. I haven’t seen any bad reviews of them in forums or seen any units fail, and that’s with people completely dumping their cars. So if it works that low, 0.8" will be even better, right? I’m still not sold on them, so thanks for your opinion. I'll check out Truhart.

JGrabowMSt > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 12:00

The only thing I would be concerned about is that stiffness wrecking other already worn bushings and causing a domino effect of parts replacement before the car really starts to handle better.

Justino6969 > Master Cylinder
04/16/2016 at 12:03

Even if it was, I’m sure it’s better than how it rides right now =P. I think I need a rebalance, and then blown shocks on top of that... The bouncy I heard was only when super low, like more than 3" lower than stock. Unfortunately it’s hard to find reviews of people who put on Racelands/JOM and then don’t completely slam their car. I guess it comes with the territory.. How I see it, it would basically be a slightly stiffer ride, which I would like. Thanks for the reply, I'll definitely keep it in mind.

Justino6969 > Funktheduck
04/16/2016 at 12:04

That's what I was thinking; at this point anything will be an improvement.

Justino6969 > deekster_caddy
04/16/2016 at 12:05

I’m not, I'm just wanting an OEM replacement and any improvement of what I have now, which I'm sure even the cheapest sets will be better than blown shocks.

Justino6969 > -this space for rent-
04/16/2016 at 12:08

Yeah, I was looking at these because the Racelands are a 2" drop at the minimum, and these are 0.8" at the minimum. So if the forums are right and these are just rebranded Racelands, then why not? I’ll likely only have the car about 2 more years or less anyway. So I’m more or less just trying to get by and if I get a small improvement along the way, then I'm down.

Justino6969 > JGrabowMSt
04/16/2016 at 12:11

I’m hoping a 0.8" drop wouldn't really make it much stiffer. The suspension on Mk4 vehicles is so simple, it's kinda scary. There is nothing else but the strut in the front, and one bushing on the lower control arm. Same in the rear, one bushing on the beam axle on both sides, and I'm sure they're already long gone. The car has 190,000 miles on them..

-this space for rent- > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 15:24

I don’t see how they’re just rebranded racelands if they have a different drop.

PardonMyFlemish16 > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 15:44

It’s just not worth the risk man. I would stick with known quantities personally, not these brand new no name companies. This is suspension, not an intake. Be careful

Justino6969 > -this space for rent-
04/16/2016 at 17:43

According to the forums they're made by the same people, but then again, it's vwvortex we're talking about..

Justino6969 > PardonMyFlemish16
04/16/2016 at 17:46

JOM isn’t a brand new company, I’ve seen people on forums using them since 2008 with good results. I just wanted to get Oppos opinions on the subject, and I’m still seeing mixed opinions. Would you change your mind if I got Racelands, or some other equivalently priced, more well known brand? Or still just stick with just new shocks?

PardonMyFlemish16 > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 17:54

Don’t pick a setup to satisfy me. If you want coilovers get them. But if it were up to me, I would just get stock shocks and save up for a suspension from a reputable brand like Bilstein or Tein. Those have lifetime warranties and should last you a long time- much longer than these $300 coilovers or even a set of stock shocks.

I’ve built a few cars and bikes and if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that it pays to just get the best parts you can afford the first time when it comes to anything safety or suspension related. Maybe nothing will happen but in my opinion it’s just not worth the risk.

Frank Grimes > Justino6969
04/16/2016 at 20:58

I dont think racelands are anywhere as good as vmaxx.

Justino6969 > Frank Grimes
04/16/2016 at 21:23

It looks like Vmaxx doesn’t list any setups for Mk4 Jettas. They only have Mk2 and Mk3. I’m like 99% sure it’s the same for Mk4 Golfs, but I don’t want to do guesswork.

deekster_caddy > Justino6969
04/17/2016 at 07:11

Go for it then! How bad can they be? Just making sure your expectations were set low enough ;)