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Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: Exonian on 01 July 2011, 05:26

Title: Lowering Springs
Post by: Exonian on 01 July 2011, 05:26
So there I was looking at this picture:
(http://www.golf6gti.com/upload/avatars/utool_f_1272464888_1479.jpg)

And thinking to myself what a nice ride height that car has.


So, who has got what lowering springs and how well do they ride over potholes and speedhumps?

(Unlikely I'll do this myself as I've put myself off suspension kits with too many wrong choices over the years.......but you never know........the GTI's body roll has been bothering me a bit lately)
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: The Doc on 01 July 2011, 06:00
I've never lowered a car but if I was going to I'd go for a Bilstein coil over kit.

Yes they are expensive but they are the best  :wink:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Exonian on 01 July 2011, 06:13
I've got Bilsteins on my Ibiza. Much too hard.  :sad:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: The Doc on 01 July 2011, 06:31
As ever there's Bilsteins and there's Bilsteins.  :grin:

Are yours the coil overs with the adjustable damping?

Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Steve30 on 01 July 2011, 08:27
Those alloys look the nuts on that gti  :cool:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: sundaydriver on 01 July 2011, 08:52
It may rub if you get it lowered too much Andy with those 235/35/19 tyres.

I've had Eibach's on my previous Golf and thought they were great.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: R32UK on 01 July 2011, 10:53
Those alloys look the nuts on that gti  :cool:

aka omany t's (std on post 57 R32's :wink:)
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Steve30 on 01 July 2011, 11:05
Those alloys look the nuts on that gti  :cool:

aka omany t's (std on post 57 R32's :wink:)
Just get another R32 Gilly , lovely motor  :cool:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Exonian on 01 July 2011, 14:25
As ever there's Bilsteins and there's Bilsteins.  :grin:

Are yours the coil overs with the adjustable damping?
You are of course quite correct, there are Bilsteins and there's Bilsteins. Mine aren't coilovers. I'm not a great fan of coilovers on road cars so as usual I'll sit here and be the fly in the face of fashion.

No, I specifically want to know about comfortable riding springs only as this is purely going to be a road car only with limited low cost mods 'cos I've no idea how much longer I'll keep the car and don't want to sink big money mods into it. I've had the thing nearly two years now and that's got to be a record for me! I'm just looking for potential cheapish mods that will keep the GTI balance of things and keep my interest in the car going whilst it's still in the heavy depreciation stage.
Checked Glasses guide earlier and it has dropped another £800 last month!!  :grin:
Those alloys look the nuts on that gti  :cool:
Yeh, they look like Tiguan wheels!!
It may rub if you get it lowered too much Andy with those 235/35/19 tyres.

I've had Eibach's on my previous Golf and thought they were great.  :smiley:
I'm looking at the front and reckon it's a dead cert to rub! I've been thinking about the Eibachs as they are supposedly made for standard shocks, so thanks for that. However I'm open to all suggestions... :smiley:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: sundaydriver on 01 July 2011, 14:58
Eibach Pro Kit link:  http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4675
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Exonian on 01 July 2011, 15:34
Eibach Pro Kit link:  http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4675


Thanks Steve  :smiley:  :smiley:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: MAW73 on 01 July 2011, 15:44
Thats does look like a nice drop on the picture of the GTI you posted...... Ummm got me thinking now. Although the speed bumps in London  :undecided:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: NORTHERNER on 18 March 2012, 22:30
Thought I would resurrect this thread rather than start another... as posted elsewhere I have inherited some PI Spring Springs on my GTI and I really dont like them (too low on the front and the ride seems a little hard).... I am looking to rip them out and replace with something better... I am trying to achieve a very subtle drop that looks OEM and works well with the Adaptive Damper Control option I have fitted... so far IO have narrowed it down to:

VWR: http://www.volkswagenracing.co.uk/parts/vwr-sports-spring-kit-22/ (http://www.volkswagenracing.co.uk/parts/vwr-sports-spring-kit-22/)
H&R: http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/hr-20mm-lowering-suspension-springsbr-golf-6-r20-20t-fsi-1109-p-6738.html (http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/hr-20mm-lowering-suspension-springsbr-golf-6-r20-20t-fsi-1109-p-6738.html)
KW: http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/kw-20mm-lowering-suspension-springsbr-golf-6-gti-20t-si-0309-p-5418.html (http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/kw-20mm-lowering-suspension-springsbr-golf-6-gti-20t-si-0309-p-5418.html)

Couple of guys here are very complimentary about the VWR springs... but seems they come with a premium and are really just re-badged springs from KW or H&R?

Any thoughts on the others?  You will see that I am sticking to around a 20mm drop option.

Also would there be anything else I needed to buy to compliment these or is it simply order the springs and pay someone to fit them?

Cheers
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Ess_Three on 18 March 2012, 22:36
Buy a set of H&R lowering springs...they have always been superb on any car i've fitted them to.
I doubt there is much between H&R, KW or Eibach...I find H&R slightly softer than Eibach in general...so after the VWR springs I would chose those.

I picked VWR springs as my warranty was not affected if VWR springs were fitted by my dealer....so it was a simple choice.
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Ess_Three on 18 March 2012, 22:41
You are of course quite correct, there are Bilsteins and there's Bilsteins. Mine aren't coilovers. I'm not a great fan of coilovers on road cars so as usual I'll sit here and be the fly in the face of fashion.

No, I specifically want to know about comfortable riding springs only as this is purely going to be a road car only with limited low cost mods 'cos I've no idea how much longer I'll keep the car and don't want to sink big money mods into it. I've had the thing nearly two years now and that's got to be a record for me! I'm just looking for potential cheapish mods that will keep the GTI balance of things and keep my interest in the car going whilst it's still in the heavy depreciation stage.


I am of the same mind...I've never had a car on coilovers that wasn't awful on the road, compared to decent springs/dampers.
Sure, they are WAY better for the track...but noisy and harsh on the road.

For me, unless you are spending £1500+ on coilovers and getting a pukka set of mono-tube bodied, properly valves dampers from people who know what they are doing...and you don't run the car 'scene' low, you are likely to ruin the car more than improve it.
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: ScottA on 19 March 2012, 00:41
Well, thanks very much guys. I have been trying to resist lowering since getting the car 2 and a bit weeks ago. Thanks to you all, I am now looking at springs and will probably buy a set tomorrow. I had Weitec coilovers, Eibach ARB's, Whiteline ALK etc on my previous A3 and it handled VERY well, better than stock GTI, however stock GTI is miles ahead of stock A3 Black Edition (IMO).

I'm insured with VW as they were the cheapest and unfortunately they won't cover any mods, so I am going to call tomorrow and try to convince them it's fitted by dealer so it's ok to declare lol...
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: NORTHERNER on 19 March 2012, 12:40
Wow!!!  Just had my first quotw from a VW dealer to supply and fit the VWR springs..... £774.00.... that seems expensive to me... I would have thought more like £500 max... say £200-250 for the parts and the same for fitting... any thoughts?
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Snoopy on 19 March 2012, 18:03
599 on the pulman vw vwr website
I'm guessing the price would also include full wheel alignment but maybe not. They will prob charge around 100 an hour labour. I would rather get somewere thatbknows what there doing than a main dealer. (not saying pulman dont) just in general about.main dealers.from experiance.
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: NORTHERNER on 19 March 2012, 18:15
the 774 breaks down to:

£240 for the springs
£534 for the fitting, whihc includes geometry check and alignment

This is from Westbury VW down here in Wiltshire.

The Pullman VW price looks fair to me... I am trying to negotiate Westbury down as I am also planning to get the 3rd longlife service done (early, but getting it done for peace of mind) and an MOT done (before the warranty runs out and in the hope of picking up any warranty issues that I can get sorted before it expires)...  if they can get near the Pullman price I will probably do it... my local independent VW specialist has estimated around £384 for fitting... so they are £150 cheaper for the same service... thing is, they are not a suspension specialist either...  not sure of any good performance places down near Warminster...
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: KennyGTI on 19 March 2012, 18:17
£774!!!!

I paid £80 to £100 to get mine fitted and £45 for lazier alignment! No wonder garages get a bad reputation!!
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Mr GTD on 19 March 2012, 19:51
Well, thanks very much guys. I have been trying to resist lowering since getting the car 2 and a bit weeks ago. Thanks to you all, I am now looking at springs and will probably buy a set tomorrow. I had Weitec coilovers, Eibach ARB's, Whiteline ALK etc on my previous A3 and it handled VERY well, better than stock GTI, however stock GTI is miles ahead of stock A3 Black Edition (IMO).

I'm insured with VW as they were the cheapest and unfortunately they won't cover any mods, so I am going to call tomorrow and try to convince them it's fitted by dealer so it's ok to declare lol...

hehe! I knew you wudnt be able to resist :grin: :wink:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: ScottA on 19 March 2012, 21:42
Well, thanks very much guys. I have been trying to resist lowering since getting the car 2 and a bit weeks ago. Thanks to you all, I am now looking at springs and will probably buy a set tomorrow. I had Weitec coilovers, Eibach ARB's, Whiteline ALK etc on my previous A3 and it handled VERY well, better than stock GTI, however stock GTI is miles ahead of stock A3 Black Edition (IMO).

I'm insured with VW as they were the cheapest and unfortunately they won't cover any mods, so I am going to call tomorrow and try to convince them it's fitted by dealer so it's ok to declare lol...

hehe! I knew you wudnt be able to resist :grin: :wink:

Haha. Well my insurance said NO! So.........  :lipsrsealed: :lipsrsealed: :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: Mr GTD on 20 March 2012, 09:21
Well, thanks very much guys. I have been trying to resist lowering since getting the car 2 and a bit weeks ago. Thanks to you all, I am now looking at springs and will probably buy a set tomorrow. I had Weitec coilovers, Eibach ARB's, Whiteline ALK etc on my previous A3 and it handled VERY well, better than stock GTI, however stock GTI is miles ahead of stock A3 Black Edition (IMO).

I'm insured with VW as they were the cheapest and unfortunately they won't cover any mods, so I am going to call tomorrow and try to convince them it's fitted by dealer so it's ok to declare lol...

hehe! I knew you wudnt be able to resist :grin: :wink:

Haha. Well my insurance said NO! So.........  :lipsrsealed: :lipsrsealed: :lipsrsealed:

Ah damn'it!!
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: NORTHERNER on 21 March 2012, 17:46
£774!!!!

I paid £80 to £100 to get mine fitted and £45 for lazier alignment! No wonder garages get a bad reputation!!

Thats cheap as chips!  I managed to get the local dealer to match the Pullman price... its in for the work on Monday next week... bye, bye suspect PI springs... hello VWR springs!  S3 short shift, ED30 gearknob and a brake upgrade on the cards next...
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: ScottA on 21 March 2012, 22:05
£774!!!!

I paid £80 to £100 to get mine fitted and £45 for lazier alignment! No wonder garages get a bad reputation!!

Thats cheap as chips!  I managed to get the local dealer to match the Pullman price... its in for the work on Monday next week... bye, bye suspect PI springs... hello VWR springs!  S3 short shift, ED30 gearknob and a brake upgrade on the cards next...

I'm having VWR springs fitted on Saturday, assuming car is put back together by VW in time.

£290 all in, including springs, fitted, alignment (and they're fitting my S3 short shifter at the same time, in that price)    :grin:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: NORTHERNER on 21 March 2012, 22:41
Again that is a great price!! Even my local independent wanted £525 to supply and fit!! Think I need to move! Somerset/Wiltshire is expensive!



£774!!!!

I paid £80 to £100 to get mine fitted and £45 for lazier alignment! No wonder garages get a bad reputation!!

Thats cheap as chips!  I managed to get the local dealer to match the Pullman price... its in for the work on Monday next week... bye, bye suspect PI springs... hello VWR springs!  S3 short shift, ED30 gearknob and a brake upgrade on the cards next...

I'm having VWR springs fitted on Saturday, assuming car is put back together by VW in time.

£290 all in, including springs, fitted, alignment (and they're fitting my S3 short shifter at the same time, in that price)    :grin:
Title: Re: Lowering Springs
Post by: ScottA on 21 March 2012, 23:36
Again that is a great price!! Even my local independent wanted £525 to supply and fit!! Think I need to move! Somerset/Wiltshire is expensive!

Haha I think you do!!

I got a good price on the springs & I know the owner of the independent who is fitting so they gave me a good price.