Suspension and brake suggestions

**hiho** · 29-04-2006, 06:39 PM

Hi all,

I sold my 1969 Alfa GTV last weekend and my Golf is now my primary car. The Alfa was a great car in most ways, particularly in the way it handled. I love the feel of the Golf on the road but there seems to be huge room for improvement. I want to spend under $1000 to achieve suspension and braking improvements.
As i drive on dirt roads often I would prefer to maintain ride height.
Im after suggestions for replacement dampers, ventilated discs and calipers to suit, springs, bushes and sway bars.
Also, which end should recieve a sway bar first, front or rear?

Does anyone have 14" rims for sale?

Thanks

Matt

**worm** · 29-04-2006, 09:02 PM

Under 1G for all that... I doubt it... good suspension alone is worth that... and thats second hand!

Good luck though

**ausgolfer** · 30-04-2006, 06:05 PM

I have mk3 14" steelies on that golf 1 I have for sale. The suspension that is in there was used as a street car for 6 months and has never been raced on.

It doesn't have any uprated bushes or and antiroll bars though.
In a mk1 the order I think you should do the bars is: First of all, lower front stress bar, then rear antiroll bar then front.

**gldgti** · 05-05-2006, 10:39 PM

rough roads pretty much says to me dont put anything but not mal spec shocks....Sachs or Boge should do fine...

get a set of King springs - my golf has dropped about 1" - tis not too much, i drive some darned rough roads myself, and it loves it!

theres about 800 gone....

i cant tell you much about brake upgrades....

13's with 175/70 tyres handle pretty well.... cheap too... if your bent on bigger wheels well mollin might sell you some camira rims..

**gldgti** · 05-05-2006, 10:45 PM

oh yeah, bars...

lower stress bar goes without saying...

i have a thick front bar, and no rear bar... this makes the car (with my 13's and kings) VERY neutral, even a little oversteer biased. ofcourse, this does not apply to anything under 40, where the car will understeer moslty.

the car is very good on gravel, tends to let go at the rear first, contrary to how i believed it would react after fitting front bar - the bar seems to give the front more grip on the gravel because it keeps the inside wheel planted....the 175's dont have enough grip on any one wheel to make it grippier on the back with more weight on one side when cornering... weird huh?