Golf Mk3 Springs

[peedman]

My car has only had 120k on it and even now with sachs shocks + eibachs i dont rate them as good as the koni's in rayrays car. I will eventually replace with either weitec or KW coils once my powerplant is in .

[Golf Loon]

I can get your stock springs reset to any height you like and the shocks replaced with brand new Bilsteins for $1000.
Can get em fitted for another $200

VR6 shocks have a hard life. Most are rooted by 150,000kms.

If lowering a VR6, Id use uprated shocks, or at least new VW ones. Old stock ones will be useless.

[Golf Houso]

Sheesh that isn't much life at all. Mine are at 140 and still going strong. Although I was saying that about my power windows for about 18 months, until a monthe ago one died, and I paid a stupidly large amount to replace the rear right window.

But yeah, it does make sense to do them at the same time I'd have done the same if the shocks were buggered but fortunately they aren't ... for now!

And 1000 bucks is a pretty bloody good price, I was quoted around 1200-1400 for shocks and springs with install, good to see that the VW mechanics are competative!

[bboyskidz]

what is better/cheaper to replace?

I'm looking at replacing the suspension in my beast ('97 1.8L CL) but not sure what to get...

Can i get a list of options and suggestions of someone/everyone?

i.e. Coilovers, standard shocks + new springs, new shocks + standard springs.

I really just want to lower it a bit and stop some of the body roll. It is like driving a freakin boat at the moment...

[Golf Loon]

Its a different game the 1.8 / 2L Mk3s and the VR6. The six is much heavier and wears shocks faster and they are more crucial.

With the 4 cylinders you can use cheaper lowered springs and tired shocks much more readily than in a VR6.

If you have big wheels, choose carefully as there is less room for adjustment.

[Golf Houso]

I always try to think about the worth of the car monetarily. If you spend 2k on coilovers on a car thats worth 6k, you've just spent equivalent to 30% of the car's value on suspension, and thats without going into sway bars, strut bars, performance bushings etc...

I'd just go with the eibach spring kit for around 800-900 fitted and possibly replace the shocks, under the circumstances that they're shot.

The Pro-Spring kit is a fantastic mod, lowers the car by 38mm and will remove enough of the body roll with a decent set of tires to the point where any speed after that is just a bit too lairy for me. All that crappy body roll will be more or less non-existent, except for realy extreme circumstances like stupid driving and excessive entry speed.

I've found myself going around some wider corners and dual lane roundabouts at over 70 kays an hour whilst keeping in the lanes and the car will just squat and sit flat on the road, often without realising my speed! Its such an improvement over normal settings, the car will just pick up speed in and out of corners so easily.

Oh and it will fill those arches of your pretty 17's soo nicely... Trust me its a very very worthwhile modification.

And I just can't justify putting coilovers on a 10+ year old non gti/vr6 golf which will be worth 30% or more of the car's value...

[moto]

Its not worth doing unless you do it properly.
The suspension on the early VRs (pre 1996/7) had serious bugs. Its OK at quiet speeds. Ok on smooth bitumen. But a bad spot of road at the speeds a VR is easily able to turn on, can pitch you onto the wrong side in nano seconds. Be aware.

If it was so hard for the factory to get it right then, you better believe it, only serious spring/strut makers are going to get it right.

Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs were my solution and I've been happy with them. But Konis have a good reputation too and Weitec have a following as well.

The prices members are offering here are pretty decent.

I get the struts rebuilt every 60,000. The telltale is when it steps out of line on a bumpy corner. When everything is right it will stick to the line like a limpet on any surface.

[rayray086]

I get the struts rebuilt every 60,000. The telltale is when it steps out of line on a bumpy corner. When everything is right it will stick to the line like a limpet on any surface.

Whereabouts do you get them rebuilt? It'd be worthwhile now to write a contact down for when mine needs a rebuild (if I ever get there).

[DubSteve]

I went for the Coilovers for the fact that I plan to keep the car for a while and also my konis that were in there before hand started to leak, I thought they were just stiff

You can get away with a cup kit style suspension that will do just as good as a coilover if you think about it. I know that Koni do one thats cheap, effective and really good, i almost went with this setup before the KW but where sold on the KW when I tried them in another mk3!

[Tim]

I always try to think about the worth of the car monetarily. If you spend 2k on coilovers on a car thats worth 6k, you've just spent equivalent to 30% of the car's value on suspension, and thats without going into sway bars, strut bars, performance bushings etc...

I'd just go with the eibach spring kit for around 800-900 fitted and possibly replace the shocks, under the circumstances that they're shot.

Its always hard to justify spending so much isnt it.
they way i look at modifications on my car is a bit different. Cars are never gonna be an investment. Ive spent twice the value of my vr6 in mods over the years that ive had it. But i tend to justify it with how much entertainment value I get out of it. So it depends on what you want out of the car at the end of the day i guess. Just keep in mind the cheapest options arent always the best value!