dragon69185
Go Kart Champion
Figured I'd do a write up on these guys since I have had some time to ride on them since install and my alignment. I will say that I am NOT going from a straight OEM Golf suspension to coils because I have had the Rokkor coilovers for about a year now. Main reason for this upgrade was I wanted a stiffer ride compared to the softer ride I was getting with the Rokkors (wanted less body roll when I drove). For reference, Rokkors did get me down to 24" FTG fronts with fronts spun all the way down, and 24-3/8" rears with rears spun all the way down with rear perches inserted.
Bought the Solo-Werks Coilovers from Glen @ AMI Motorsports via a posting I saw on Vortex. Link for coils on Vortex is here: VWVortex - SOLO WERKS S1 Coilovers for MK6's In stock and Shipping | $499* | at AMI. These Solo-Werks are relatively new to the market and not much has been printed about these guys. From comparisions that I could find from descriptions and photos of these guys, they look exactly like FK Streetlines, but coated a zinc coating for the front struts (I'm guessing for a better rust proofing compared to the polished stainless steel on the FKs) and painted blue on the springs and rear struts instead of yellow. Warranty was also better on the Solo-Werks than the FKs (3 year limited Warranty compared to 1 year limited Warranty) if I ever really need to use it. I had been looking at the FKs for a bit, but when these showed up and the FKs were backordered, AND these were on sale while the FKs weren't, I figured I'd see how these Solo-Werks stacked up.
With these coils, I am NOT going for the "slammed nuts" low, but something similar height-wise to what I had with the Rokkors. This is my daily and I encounter a lot of crappy roads due to Jacksonvile being under constant construction, including my apartment complex. Wanted something that gave me a good drop, rides well in many situations, and would do me good when I decided to push her a little.
Installation
Not as bad as going from stock to coils, I will definitely say that much. No need for a spring compressor or any other crazy tools. Only issue I had during the installation for the fronts was the front hub seat for the front struts would not let go of the struts even when I put a spreader to try and help release it. Not a fault of the strut from either coilovers, just the way the hub was. Picture from installation:
Fronts and rears original bump stops from my stock suspensions were used (Rokkors came with their own), and front helper springs were kept in the installation.
**And the answer is yes, these were installed in a parking garage as you can see from the first photo, haha. My apartment complex would not let me work on my car, so I went to my local university's parking garage where we have monthly gathers to work on my car because it was well lit and covered, haha. Funny part is the local university and security there have no issues with a person doing an entire suspension swap/work as the two security patrol officers rode by and only asked me if I needed help with what I was doing and to be safe. I think they were more stunned with me doing my entire suspension with all the tooling I needed right there in the middle of the parking garage more than anything, haha.
Fronts fully installed. Started at 1" on the perch, sat at a little over 25-1/8" FTG. Ran the perch all the way down and now sit right at 24" FTG and still needed to settle a bit.
Rears were installed with rear perches. Rear perches were set at 3/4" left on the perch and sat at a little over 24-1/4" and need to settle as well.
Per measurements that Glen @ AMI needed: measurements from center of the hub to the fender when wheels are on the ground - roughly was 12-1/2" all around.
Ride
Currently, after the alignment and last minute adjustments, my car sits at 24" FTG on the fronts and 24-1/4" FTG in the rears running on the Avant Garde M310s which are 18x8 ET45 all around with 205/40 tires. Fronts were left with 0 threads in the front with helper springs still installed, and rear perches are in with 3/4" left on the perches. Pics a couple days after install and right before my alignment.
The Solo-Werks are definitely stiffer than the Rokkors by quite a bit. Compared to a stock GTI, they are definitely stiffer. Compared to the FK Streetlines, they are slightly stiffer. My only thought that I can attribute that to is slightly stiffer spring rates from the Solo-Werks to the FKs. The stiffness is not too harsh, but is not as bouncy as the Rokkors either. I prefer a stiffer ride just because, especially in turns
.
Body roll is at a mimimum now compared to the Rokkors and definitely compared to the stock Golf/GTI. I don't track my car, but do enjoy the nice backroads, and the Solo-Werks definitely like them as well.
Highway-wise, after my alignment, my car rides straight and true, with minimal bouncing and doesn't pull my steering wheel when I go over small and medium bumps on the road, especially with all the construction I have to drive through.
I have no noise coming from the suspension, save when I go full lock going over a large speed bump, but I know that is the helper spring compressing/decompressing.
Value
For the money, as an entry level coilover system similar to the FK Streetlines, I would say if I had to do my suspension work from the start and these were available at that time, I definitely would have went with these the first time around. Not saying the Rokkors are bad for what they are, an inexpensive coilover system on a tight budget. But for what my goal of what I wanted out of my coils, these seem the best fit so far from what I have had/tried out. The FKs would have worked as well, but I like the added stiffness these coils give me, especially when I feel a little spirited.
Thanks for listen to my rant, haha.
Bought the Solo-Werks Coilovers from Glen @ AMI Motorsports via a posting I saw on Vortex. Link for coils on Vortex is here: VWVortex - SOLO WERKS S1 Coilovers for MK6's In stock and Shipping | $499* | at AMI. These Solo-Werks are relatively new to the market and not much has been printed about these guys. From comparisions that I could find from descriptions and photos of these guys, they look exactly like FK Streetlines, but coated a zinc coating for the front struts (I'm guessing for a better rust proofing compared to the polished stainless steel on the FKs) and painted blue on the springs and rear struts instead of yellow. Warranty was also better on the Solo-Werks than the FKs (3 year limited Warranty compared to 1 year limited Warranty) if I ever really need to use it. I had been looking at the FKs for a bit, but when these showed up and the FKs were backordered, AND these were on sale while the FKs weren't, I figured I'd see how these Solo-Werks stacked up.
With these coils, I am NOT going for the "slammed nuts" low, but something similar height-wise to what I had with the Rokkors. This is my daily and I encounter a lot of crappy roads due to Jacksonvile being under constant construction, including my apartment complex. Wanted something that gave me a good drop, rides well in many situations, and would do me good when I decided to push her a little.
Installation
Not as bad as going from stock to coils, I will definitely say that much. No need for a spring compressor or any other crazy tools. Only issue I had during the installation for the fronts was the front hub seat for the front struts would not let go of the struts even when I put a spreader to try and help release it. Not a fault of the strut from either coilovers, just the way the hub was. Picture from installation:
Fronts and rears original bump stops from my stock suspensions were used (Rokkors came with their own), and front helper springs were kept in the installation.
**And the answer is yes, these were installed in a parking garage as you can see from the first photo, haha. My apartment complex would not let me work on my car, so I went to my local university's parking garage where we have monthly gathers to work on my car because it was well lit and covered, haha. Funny part is the local university and security there have no issues with a person doing an entire suspension swap/work as the two security patrol officers rode by and only asked me if I needed help with what I was doing and to be safe. I think they were more stunned with me doing my entire suspension with all the tooling I needed right there in the middle of the parking garage more than anything, haha.
Fronts fully installed. Started at 1" on the perch, sat at a little over 25-1/8" FTG. Ran the perch all the way down and now sit right at 24" FTG and still needed to settle a bit.
Rears were installed with rear perches. Rear perches were set at 3/4" left on the perch and sat at a little over 24-1/4" and need to settle as well.
Per measurements that Glen @ AMI needed: measurements from center of the hub to the fender when wheels are on the ground - roughly was 12-1/2" all around.
Ride
Currently, after the alignment and last minute adjustments, my car sits at 24" FTG on the fronts and 24-1/4" FTG in the rears running on the Avant Garde M310s which are 18x8 ET45 all around with 205/40 tires. Fronts were left with 0 threads in the front with helper springs still installed, and rear perches are in with 3/4" left on the perches. Pics a couple days after install and right before my alignment.
The Solo-Werks are definitely stiffer than the Rokkors by quite a bit. Compared to a stock GTI, they are definitely stiffer. Compared to the FK Streetlines, they are slightly stiffer. My only thought that I can attribute that to is slightly stiffer spring rates from the Solo-Werks to the FKs. The stiffness is not too harsh, but is not as bouncy as the Rokkors either. I prefer a stiffer ride just because, especially in turns
. Body roll is at a mimimum now compared to the Rokkors and definitely compared to the stock Golf/GTI. I don't track my car, but do enjoy the nice backroads, and the Solo-Werks definitely like them as well.
Highway-wise, after my alignment, my car rides straight and true, with minimal bouncing and doesn't pull my steering wheel when I go over small and medium bumps on the road, especially with all the construction I have to drive through.
I have no noise coming from the suspension, save when I go full lock going over a large speed bump, but I know that is the helper spring compressing/decompressing.
Value
For the money, as an entry level coilover system similar to the FK Streetlines, I would say if I had to do my suspension work from the start and these were available at that time, I definitely would have went with these the first time around. Not saying the Rokkors are bad for what they are, an inexpensive coilover system on a tight budget. But for what my goal of what I wanted out of my coils, these seem the best fit so far from what I have had/tried out. The FKs would have worked as well, but I like the added stiffness these coils give me, especially when I feel a little spirited.
Thanks for listen to my rant, haha.
