Is it possible to raise a ( 1996 ) GTI ?

[tweed]

So you're saying fit gl springs and you won't gain the 20mm because the car is too heavy? 

have you done this before?  I seriously doubt it!

My mate put gl suspension on his vr6 and it looked like it had a 4x4 lift kit on.

Of course you'll gain the extra 20 mm - at first. When the springs are new and at full strength. But since the springs are to weak for the car over time it will drop.

Look at this, i have proof of it. My car had "GL springs" cos the old man (a 68 year old) who owned the car before me took a shortcut when he changed the springs.

This picture shows it best (after i removed all plastic):



There my friend "GL springs over time".

But really i cant care less. its his car, and i say as i said in some other forum (clubgti.com). I honestly dont think the 16v GTI is the car for him to have.

Thats strange. My mate bought a standard gl, put coilovers on it and standard suspension in the shed. Je had this for a while and then sold on to get a vr6. After a month or so we realised the coilovers that came on the vr6 had leaked out. So he binned them and put the old gl shocks and springs on untill he got a decent set of coilovers.  Never sagged down and it looked comical lol. Maybe his was low miles and yours high. As said not a lot of weight difference. Get more of a difference in a fat driver than car weight.

[snozan]

Thats strange. My mate bought a standard gl, put coilovers on it and standard suspension in the shed. Je had this for a while and then sold on to get a vr6. After a month or so we realised the coilovers that came on the vr6 had leaked out. So he binned them and put the old gl shocks and springs on untill he got a decent set of coilovers.  Never sagged down and it looked comical lol. Maybe his was low miles and yours high. As said not a lot of weight difference. Get more of a difference in a fat driver than car weight.

No clue really. And never really thought of it. Only reason i changed was because i wanted to build it OEM again. However i checked the part number for the springs that were on, and they had exact same number to all MK3. The company there for used same spring to all MK3's. only thing they separated was the "92-94" and "95 - 97". 

[tweed]

Well you could fit after market anti roll bars to help but I should imagine that they are no good in the snow as it will be too stiff.

Yes you wont be able to use it as intended, but sounds like a good idea in bad snow conditions. 

[snozan]

Yes you wont be able to use it as intended, but sounds like a good idea in bad snow conditions.

I have to be lucky who lives in the parts of Sweden with less snow. Sure we have (well not this winter, its raining instead - but long time left on winter, officially ends in April here.

I just cant get it out of my head. If you lift it you'll loose traction . So you'll avoid the snow, at a cost of not be able to get the power down in the ground, amking it slippery like you drive on ice.

After have followed him around dozen of forums past couple of weeks his first problem with the car was that it was too easy to steer. (Alll GTI's compare to standard MK3 are easier to steer, at least thats what i've noticed).

So lifting it will case it to be even more easy to steer. It's like "you cant both have the cookie and eat it at the same time" 

[thai-wronghorse]

Stick some TDI /cabrio springs on it, when I had my 16v I had some on it temporarily and they lifted it....it looked sh!t as well.

[thai-wronghorse]

Buy a Syncro.

[tweed]

Im struggling to see how lifting a car 20mm with same spring rates as gti and aftermarket shocks will loose traction?

[snozan]

Im struggling to see how lifting a car 20mm with same spring rates as gti and aftermarket shocks will loose traction?

Merde, wish i could explain in Swedish but that would be a waste of time i guess

When you accelerate you car tend to lift, right? (due to the torque). You kinda need the weight as close to the ground as possible due to gravity, otherwise you'll loose traction. I really dont think VW put 20mm  lower springs on the GTI "just to be cool".

Can't really explain it in english what i mean.

[tweed]

I know what you are trying to say mate. Dont think you would be able to put full power down in snow so you won't get weight transfer. 
On a dry day I do agree, but we are talking about snow and I hope 2stroke will put the gti springs back in once winter has passed.

[VW BUSH]

Will make no difference in the long run just means you will clear the road a bit more