Lowering the RS

[mrx]

This is the affect a set of Eibach Pro Kit springs and a day of swearing at, belting, and just generally abusing your car will have. Thanks to zz2 for his assistance, it definately is a two person job. It hasn't fully settled yet, only done a few days ago and travelled about 100km on the new springs. Yes, the before picture was a while ago (as you can tell by the car's cleanliness & chrome grill surround).

Before:


After:


I ordered the springs from JKM Performance in the UK for GBP200 including delivery (GBP85 of that was express DHL delivery). The local distributor wanted $600 + delivery!

The install was pretty straight forward with the right tools. Spring compressors, a 13/16's (or 21mm) offset ring spanner, a 7mm hex driver, and a 14mm xzn driver are the only tools required additional to your average socket / spanner set. We didn't have the proper strut spreader tool, and in retrospect would have made things much easier. I'll be getting one for next time.

I thought about doing a DIY, but won't bother because there's a few Golf GTI ones floating around & it's the same deal. I'm happy to answer any queries about the install if anybody has any.

All that remains is to have a wheel alignment done after the springs have had a chance to settle.

[DanSA]

Good job Hayden!

Looks good, and imagine still functional over speed bumps etc. Definitely on the cards for when i get some cash, combined with the FSD's.

How do you arte the ride compared to stock?

[mrx]

How do you arte the ride compared to stock?

I haven't fanged it yet, so far very similar, but slightly less "wallowy" over bumps. It removes a bit of the underdamped feeling of the standard system. It doesn't feel bone jarringly firm or anything. I also didn't bother wrapping the springs, and have not heard the slightest noise in terms of slapping like others have mentioned occurs in the GTI. The ride height is now the same as the GTI, which is why I thought I could probably get away without wrapping - given that the dampers are the same as the GTI.

I'll let you know how it goes with 75kg of dogs in the back after next weekend's 700km drive down south.

[zz2]

thats settled a bit already X. looks great.

i have a heap of photos of the installation taken on the day if anyone wants to see any specifics.

i also wasn't sore at all the next day even despite the amount i was rolling around on the floor under the car like some people were


and i purchased a spreader for my installation (when that finally happens).

[brad]

and i purchased a spreader for my installation (when that finally happens).

What's the spreader for / look like? (link to somewhere is fine)

[zz2]

it looks like this...



you can get it from here... http://www.metalnerd.com/cat05.htm
(Part MN3424)

really wish we had one handy rather than MrX's ghetto spreader in the form of a hammer and a chisel

[brad]

/bookmarks tool page

So the strut fits a bit like a Koni insert? eg: a bolt comes straight up from the bottom but there is also a clamp like arrangement to reduce shear forces on the lower bolt? and this clamp needs to be spread?

Does the spreader just take a socket & breaker bar? (ie: it isn't 1/2" drive).

A mate I work with can probably make some if I had some dimensions. How big is the slot normally & how much "spread" do you need? How long does the shaft/rod have to be?

found this install thread and this

Also, do the drive shafts really have to come out?

I'm hoping to find a cheap seat of newish GTI shocks & springs somewhere.

[mrx]

/bookmarks tool page

So the strut fits a bit like a Koni insert? eg: a bolt comes straight up from the bottom but there is also a clamp like arrangement to reduce shear forces on the lower bolt? and this clamp needs to be spread?

Does the spreader just take a socket & breaker bar? (ie: it isn't 1/2" drive).

A mate I work with can probably make some if I had some dimensions. How big is the slot normally & how much "spread" do you need? How long does the shaft/rod have to be?

found this install thread and this

Also, do the drive shafts really have to come out?

I'm hoping to find a cheap seat of newish GTI shocks & springs somewhere.

While bookmarking that tool page, it is also necessary to have the 14mm "triple square" or xzn driver (I bought a whole set off Ebay for US$20, there are a few different sized xzn bolts on the car). You could also buy the 21mm "thru-socket" thing metalnerd has to get the top of the struts undone, but I was able to find a 13/16's offset ring spanner and a 7mm hex driver locally (I went to Repco last, but they seem to have quite a bit of stuff - forgot to check if they had the xzn driver or strut spreader though).

I think the spreader has a 1/2 drive hole underneath. I'm sure zz2 will be able to provide some dimensions of the strut spreader when he gets it. There is no bolt underneath, basically it is just sits in a clamp at the bottom of the strut, and you need to open this up - it is thick steel so is quite difficult. I guestimate the gap is about 7mm & you would need to splay it open by at least another 5mm to make it easy to remove the strut. There is also a tab attached to the strut, which fits in the gap in the clamp - this got in the way with the cold chisel technique.

The drive shaft on the side with the longest shaft didn't have to come out. We wasted a couple of hours trying to get the other side out without removing the shaft - it just wasn't going to happen. Maybe on the GTI you can squeeze it past because they have 20mm, or 32mm in your case, less spring height to begin with. I'll probably end up replacing the bolt, but haven't yet. Technically your supposed to replace just about every single bolt you remove on the car, but most suggest the axle bolts and possibly the strut clamp bolts are enough (as a precautionary measure).

Be careful if you put GTI suspension on there. The reason I specifically ordered Eibach springs from Europe is because all the GTI springs have a slightly lower load rating compared to the Skoda.

[brad]

Good stuff snipped.

Yeah, I got stuck last year doing the clutch on my Golf - nobody had ever heard of a triple-square head (bolts for the drive shafts). I finished up butchering all 12 of them off and replacing them with normal Allen head bolts.

For the strut tops, I just use a rattle gun & black 6-point sockets - works every time.

The spreader definatly doesn't have 1/2" drive. If you read his convoluted description it uses a 13mm or 1/2" socket or ring spanner (box wrench). The circlip is to stop the ring spanner slipping off. I could definately get these made fairly cheap providing i can get some 1/2" hex bar stock. I doubt it would even need case hardening providing you used a 6-point socket (less stress on the corners).


Thanks for the heads-up on GTI spring rates. Probably won't do anything for ages anyway.

[mrx]

Here's a few pics of the final product, now that the springs have settled & the eyebrows finally arrived (mental note: don't pay the cheap postage from the Czech Republic). Painted grill & eyebrows, lower springs, dark tint. Total cost, just under $1000 + my time.