OE Springs, But What Dampers? OE OEM Bilstein Koni or Other?

[EB2019]

They look nice, 

Bit of camber and simple bolt on.

[Mike J]

Hi

Looking for some info on what others have done to the GTI/TCR without wanting to resort to coilovers? Car is 5 years old this year (2019 seems like yesterday to me though)  so wanting to refresh things as i think it has a little too much roll and pitch. I have had coilovers from Bilstein on other cars, but don't really want to head down that road with the GTI and want to keep the original springs. 

Searching the VW part system non DCC dampers are all the same on the front and rear regardless of GTI GTD or TCR only the springs are different which was a bit of a surprise. but with this in mind I was thinking

OE 
The default low pressure gas, I took one off today and you can push it down to the bump stop with 2 fingers pressing on the top mount and it rises back up at moderate pace. I'm sure new ones will be better although mine are not blown leaking or faulty just 5 years old.

OEM Sachs
List 1 part number to fit the entire multilink rear suspension range, being new its likely to be better than 5 year old with improvement on 5 year old dampers. definitely the safe choice

Bilstein B6
Stiff both in compression and rebound? do they pair well with GTi springs, Anyone fitted these? Did they raise the ride height at all, I have heard the high mono tube pressure in the B6 can raise it a little?

Koni
Stiff in compression but adjustable rebound so could set softer than B6 a little, but the rears need to be removed to adjust so its likely fit and forget.  Anyone tried these?

Im having B6 Bilstein rear springs and shockers fitted to my 2L TDI Mk7 later this week.
Chosen because of recommendations and made in Germany not china or wherever.

Not a boy racer but I do want a quality performance if or when it is needed. Driving is 40% motorway, 30% B&C roads, 30% gravel and grass tracks.

[EB2019]

let us know how you get on after a week or two 

[EB2019]

Wanting to do the suspension in stages to see how the OE+ parts work together and whether that's enough, before I make a bigger jump to dampers.

Why not Poly? I read the front LCA rear bush shouldn't be Poly as it doesn't move in the correct orientation for a poly bush i.e. it doesn't rotate which poly is good at, but it flexes along it axis. whether that's true I don't know but you can read people seem to rip them apart after a year in that front arm rear bush so sticking with Rubber.



I fitted mk8/RS3/S3 front Lower control arms, as you can see the void in the GTI bush is gone in the new ones. Also fitted CCS/MK8 rear arms with the stiffer bushings, the mk8 arms are basically the new CCS replacement and the front is now the Mk8 R/RS3/S3 which all fit. (hope that makes sense)


Its technically only the rear bush that different to a standard arm for the front, therefore matching part numbers I have cheated and got Mk8 R 2020 lower control arms which are also S3 2016/RS3 2016 arms instead which use the no-void rubber bush part number as the CCS but at a fraction of the price of new CS arms. ZF Lemforder (EO to VAG for the rear CCS bush). 


new bushes with no real voids to speak of



GTi bushes with large gap for compliance and reduced NVH (I guess)






Front LCA
ZF Lemforder 44610 01
https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalog/products/44610+01/?country=GB

Rear LCA 5WA 505 311 A


I replaced all the nuts/bolts as they are stretch bolts.  The new Mk8 rear arms will require 2 rivet nuts for the rear ride height potentiometer as they don't come fitted to the new ones. Or shop on ebay for used rear arm number and see if anyone is selling light used ones from mk8 plenty with front end crashes 

[Exonian]

I very much like your approach to this EB. It’s easy to just bolt on some springs and dampers, which many people do, not paying attention to the bushes and associated bits until the MOT tester mentions them a few years down the line. The subtleties of bushes wearing are quite significant on a performance car where handling finesse is appreciated, and uprated rubber bushes should add even more feedback and tautness.

[Paul70]

Thanks for the update EB2019 - look forward to the next instalment.

[EB2019]

I very much like your approach to this EB. It’s easy to just bolt on some springs and dampers, which many people do, not paying attention to the bushes and associated bits until the MOT tester mentions them a few years down the line. The subtleties of bushes wearing are quite significant on a performance car where handling finesse is appreciated, and uprated rubber bushes should add even more feedback and tautness.

Thanks Exonian, Paul

As you say, I could slap on a coilover kit but these bushes are 5 years old and replacing with a little OE upgrade should make the car a sharper tool (if a GTi can be a sharper tool). Will let you know how it feels when i actually drive it.

[EB2019]

Thanks for the update EB2019 - look forward to the next instalment.

It will take some time , bathroom comes first now and even though its the same size as a postage stamp its 7k 

I think it will be Bilstein as KW drop more than I want, and Ohlins customer service and corrosion resistant is lacking. But will make a decision whether it's B12 or B16 at some point. 

 

[Budwab]

Could you please share the part numbers for both the front and rear arms?
Also, what size rivnuts are needed for the rear?
Will be doing a refresh of my suspension soon, along with Racingline dampers and either Racingline or Eibach springs.

Thanks

[EB2019]

Front Lower Control Arms
ZF Lemforder 44610 01
https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalog/products/44610+01/?country=GB

Rear Lower Control Arms 5WA 505 311 A

Rear anti Roll Bar 5Q0 511 305 BA