I read recently that VAG standard suspension is like riding down stairs sitting on memory foam, I kind of assume they mean, it feels comfortable, but just can’t react to big bumps or undulations fast enough to support… or something.
This is one of the reason I wanted to switched to Bilstein monotube dampers, as a few of the cars I have had felt a lot better than the GTi in standard form, and while I was doing the shocks I replaced the ARB links and top mounts with Meyle HD ARB stabiliser links, and Lemforder top mounts.
Knowledgeable people at Bilstein.
For me the conversation was pretty insightful, and I thought I would share.
B6 and B8 are more similar than I thought. One isn’t a sportier shock than the other, one isn’t stiffer or shorter than the other (at least not for the housing or piston length).
Until recently, I thought the B8 had a shorter piston rod so it could sit lower without bottoming out with lowered springs. But after speaking to Bilstein it appears they are not actually like that, at least for the spec of cars I was asking about, A3, Leon, Golf etc. The compression and rebound is the same, the housing is also the same, including the piston rod length. The only difference is the piston shaft doesn’t extend out of the shock as far as the B6, while the B6 will extend out like the factory damper at full extension, the B8 at full extension is reduced, with an internal spacer block, to prevent it reaching the same extended height as the B6 (shortened by a few cm). This helps to stop lowering springs from coming loose under full extension (I.e. jacking the car up or massive hump back bridge jump) and not passing TUV or MOT.
So a B6 and a B8 will both work with the same lowered springs under compression and you won’t bottom out a B6 any more than you would a B8, however under full extension or ‘droop’ the spring could rattle loose with the B6 if the springs are 35mm lowered or more, hence the B8 option. Bilstein informed me that in all honesty the Eibach springs are TUV with the factory dampers to work at full extension as well with B6, if I wanted to change in the future to lower Eibach springs.
We had a brief discussion about Bilstein B4 dampers which aren’t 10% uprated (even though it seems a very common myth on forums). They feel stiffer because they are replacing worn dampers with new most likely, but are simply OE matched.. Alignment done at my local Kwikfit with the Hunter alignment they all seem to have now, seems pretty good, I think?
B6 Bilstein dampers with factory GTI springs.
With the OE GTI setup I would hit a dip and belatedly the car bumps up beyond normal rebound and then drops back down, slow to react and takes time to settle. If you often drive on country roads you might now what I'm describing, the car is mostly composed but it can get bucked about sometimes on the UK’s very country, country roads. The Monotube B6 dampers give you a more controlled initial cornering roll, while handling the bumps of B roads supportively. I was surprised they aren't more harsh tbh, and I was gearing up to switch out for something else, but i'm very impressed with the ride comfort and control. With the B6 You do feel broken tarmac the same as OE, and sometimes the B6 can give you a slightly louder thud on harder hits. This is a little inconsistent and hard to define and repeat sometimes, but it must be part of the valving inside or my stiffer bushings, however I have a few suspension upgrades beyond the rear shocks so its likely an incremental noise increase from OE, this is the only negative I can get from the dampers. Motorway speed is the same as OE but the slower compression and rebound making it feel 10-20% more taut, but not stiff. Its a really nice feel (like my old M2 or B16 on the GT86) without being harsh at all, and with no increase in NVH and a flatter initial turn, I have far more positives than negatives.
Melye 4 year warranty ARB Links with much bigger ball joints.
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Lemforder Top Mounts
