mk3 gTI 8V Suspension - what to do!!!???

[kenji]

Hi Guys,

Posted couple days about thisa but didsn't really get a decent reply [sorry to you guys who gtot back to me, but!].

Fitting a decent suspension kit like Koni or Eibach......does it make your car handle better or just harder, ie rough on undulations, like manholes/roadworks ramps, etc.

I'm really interested 'cos I wa

[EvilScotsman]

It will certainly make it handle better. Sports suspension is stiffer so theres little or no body roll so it corners great.

The rebound rate of the springs are higher i.e. faster reacting and the dampers stiffer so its a little harder over bumps but gives good driver feedback and feel of the road surface. It wont rattle or owt if fitted correctly, just stiffer than standard suspension which is quite soft.

[EvilScotsman]

Get the bushes done too, as they contribute almost entirely to the jarring wibblyness on a rough road the mk3 loves to do after a few million miles lol

Even bugpack or powerflex bushes are cheap for the mk3 and make a huge difference.

[boneybradley]

Sports suspension kit (I have eibach spring's with boge/sachs shocker's) fitted with new rear axle bushes, new front top mount's and new anti roll bar mount's.....And it handles great on the twisties
I must add powerflex bushes are a personal choice. after driving a car with them fitted I chose standard new mount's as the ride was stiff and I didn't like the feel myself!!!!

[EvilScotsman]

yeah someone else said to me that powerflex bushes are just too hard. I was just gonna get new rubber ones for mine. You can buy front lower arms with bushes in for £23 (gti ones are £38) each

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/g3suspension.php

[patch900]

I posted about this a while ago and most people recommended changing the bump stops and mounts as well as the bushes when you do the suspension.

[Christo77]

Hi all,
A question for BoneyBradley if pos..

I think you fitted your Boge turbo's and Eibach's to your 16valve...
I've bought the same kit for my 8valve and i did notice there's no recess in the rear shock spring seating plate for the end of the spring to sit into!  Was it the same with yours?  the fronts have the recess for the end of the spring but the rears is just a flat plate!  Unless the spring goes in narrow end down it kinda sits pretty akward...allbeit obviously there's no pressure on the spring ..i've not attempted to start the job yet...maybe when the spring is on it's compressed enough to level itself out...?

Anyway..am looking forward to getting the job done..and saying goodbye to a Rocking chair on wheels!

Any feedback would be a help,

Cheers
Christo

[boneybradley]

Hmmmm 16v!!!! Mine is a lowly 8v and to upset the 16v boy's...the torquey engine that you don't need to thrash

regarding the shock's...locating the spring's was only half the job (and no they didn't have any locating points..guess work or was that hoping for the best??). The worst part is when the car is jacked up the spring's are not compressed and have about 2inch of clearance between shocker and spring cap. saying that never had a problem with them and they handle fine

good luck getting the job done,you will like the handling afterward's

[Christo77]

Ahh..   beg your pardon there about the 16v!  think i was confused from another post i'd been looking at,
Actually i owned a Mk2 16v a few years ago, a great car but mostly only a great car when driving errrrrrrr... fast! for day to day usage it wasn't the best choice in the end.. Now i've got an Mk3 8valve i wished i'd gone for the 8valve back then instead of the 16valve! ..so much more drivable and tractable on a day to day basis..and fun!
Anyway..enough soapbox hehe 

Thanks for getting back with the info, mm sounds the same then..i'll work with it,
I'm supposedly getting a 30mm drop with these Eibach pro's..not sure which ones you went for, if more than 30mm maybe the reason why you had the big clearance you mention, if i've understood you right' ... might tackle it this weekend..see how the weather goes..

Cheers
Christo

[clett]

Hey Kenj I fitted full coilovers and wound them down 65mm sat on 15" gti rims and it handled like a dream takin round abouts round 20 mph quicker well better than standard!!! if you want a harder ride then put poly bushes in too stiffens the car right up then engine brace!! bumpy roads will be arse aching though....