17" wheels on ED30?

[Hurdy]

....

But why would the springs be different for a DSG car? - If it's weight related, then there's a difference between the 3-door and 5-door versions.

well, at a guess and i'm no expert they either put a different spring on the DSG because the weight is aimed more towards the front of the car hence needing a different spring to allow for this so the car can sit right as well as handle correctly, or they have a slightly different strut on DSG cars (although i doubt it)

DSG has different diameter mounts to Manual. So I'm told.

Nope.  The physical dimensions of the struts are identical.  It is the driveshafts which are different, and these are not part of the suspension!

I was sure they were different. I got the info from the Eibach website. Must have read it wrong I guess?

[RedRobin]

Yes it says TDI on my Pro-Kit box and Eibach have confirmed with me directly that my 10-85-014-07-22 is appropriate for front axle weight up to 1,130 Kg - Is that axle weight limit ok for the DSG Mk5 GTI, T_T?

OK, I understand that your box says TDI, and that Eibach have subsequently (and "subsequent" is the important word) they are "OK" for the GTI.  However, why have Eibach now also got a spring kit specifically for the GTI - if the TDI ones are OK? 

The real crux of the issue regarding the springs (and this will also have an effect on the dampers too) is the range of weight they are designed for.  It is all very well they state they are fine "up to 1,130 kg" - however, that is being exceedingly economical with the truth, because there should be a lower limit, together with the upper limit.  So, just to quote a guess-timate as an example, the TDI springs you have may have a range of 1,090 to 1,130 kgs.  Now we all know that the GTI weighs a notable amount less than a TDI, and my GTI has a plated front axle load of 1,060kgs.  This would mean that those TDI springs are way too hard for the GTI.  And because they are "over-engineered" for the GTI in general, then any GTI-specific dampers will also be overworked, and subjected to premature failure - which is exactly what you seemed to be reporting in another thread!

Just looking at the official technical info - for the 2007 model year Mk5 Golf (all variants), there are 34 different weight ranges for the front axle loading.  My GTI has an "L99" axle load range, which equates to 776-835kg (this is a different way of calculating the axle loadings to the plated weights - plated weights usually use a 1.25 multiplication factor).  If you want to PM me your VIN, I can check yours.

Eibach have also confirmed that the TDI label is not an issue - Also confirmed by Awesome who supplied it.

But this was after they had supplied the bits!  Maybe they don't want to "loose face", by admitting they are the wrong bits - becuase if they did, they would face an expensive bill of not only supply the correct ones, but they would also be liable for the labour costs too! 

....As usual, extremely useful info, T_T 

I'll dig out my VIN and PM you.

My friendly VW dealer is going to stick my car up on the ramp on Friday and he knows how to recognise signs of leakage and we'll also read and photograph the actual part # on the Eibach springs.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

....

But why would the springs be different for a DSG car? - If it's weight related, then there's a difference between the 3-door and 5-door versions.

well, at a guess and i'm no expert they either put a different spring on the DSG because the weight is aimed more towards the front of the car hence needing a different spring to allow for this so the car can sit right as well as handle correctly, or they have a slightly different strut on DSG cars (although i doubt it)

DSG has different diameter mounts to Manual. So I'm told.

Nope.  The physical dimensions of the struts are identical.  It is the driveshafts which are different, and these are not part of the suspension!

I was sure they were different. I got the info from the Eibach website. Must have read it wrong I guess?

I've just double-checked again on ETKA, and the struts are identical.  It is the driveshafts which are different, and they may well have different diameter wheel bearings (not yet checked), but this will have zippo relation to the struts themselves.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Yes it says TDI on my Pro-Kit box and Eibach have confirmed with me directly that my 10-85-014-07-22 is appropriate for front axle weight up to 1,130 Kg - Is that axle weight limit ok for the DSG Mk5 GTI, T_T?

OK, I understand that your box says TDI, and that Eibach have subsequently (and "subsequent" is the important word) they are "OK" for the GTI.  However, why have Eibach now also got a spring kit specifically for the GTI - if the TDI ones are OK? 

The real crux of the issue regarding the springs (and this will also have an effect on the dampers too) is the range of weight they are designed for.  It is all very well they state they are fine "up to 1,130 kg" - however, that is being exceedingly economical with the truth, because there should be a lower limit, together with the upper limit.  So, just to quote a guess-timate as an example, the TDI springs you have may have a range of 1,090 to 1,130 kgs.  Now we all know that the GTI weighs a notable amount less than a TDI, and my GTI has a plated front axle load of 1,060kgs.  This would mean that those TDI springs are way too hard for the GTI.  And because they are "over-engineered" for the GTI in general, then any GTI-specific dampers will also be overworked, and subjected to premature failure - which is exactly what you seemed to be reporting in another thread!

Just looking at the official technical info - for the 2007 model year Mk5 Golf (all variants), there are 34 different weight ranges for the front axle loading.  My GTI has an "L99" axle load range, which equates to 776-835kg (this is a different way of calculating the axle loadings to the plated weights - plated weights usually use a 1.25 multiplication factor).  If you want to PM me your VIN, I can check yours.

Eibach have also confirmed that the TDI label is not an issue - Also confirmed by Awesome who supplied it.

But this was after they had supplied the bits!  Maybe they don't want to "loose face", by admitting they are the wrong bits - becuase if they did, they would face an expensive bill of not only supply the correct ones, but they would also be liable for the labour costs too! 

....As usual, extremely useful info, T_T 

I'll dig out my VIN and PM you.

My friendly VW dealer is going to stick my car up on the ramp on Friday and he knows how to recognise signs of leakage and we'll also read and photograph the actual part # on the Eibach springs.

I suspect they have been "topping out", and may have damaged one end of the damper piston rod, or even the valve within the damper.

Does your front end bounce more on compression or more on rebound?

[RedRobin]

I suspect they have been "topping out", and may have damaged one end of the damper piston rod, or even the valve within the damper.

Does your front end bounce more on compression or more on rebound?

....I don't know - It just bounces slightly and feels softer than it was.

[RedRobin]

....

T-T - I've sent you an email (not PM) with VIN and apologise for mispelling your name (I just noticed) - At least I didn't call you something rude.

[hotrod]

As RR says .. don't expect a big difference in the ride.  I have also driven a a GTi  with both 17"'s and 18"s,   and agree with RR comments.  The tyre brand nearly made as big a difference as the size of wheel (to the ride).  What tyres are you currently on ?

Agreed, to an extent.  But actually, the tyre can have a major factor in ride comfort.  ContiSportContact2 and Dunlops have a very harsh ride, whereas Michelins are renown for their much softer ride comfort.

Hi TT,
Car’s got Conti’s. The ride’s bearable, but brittle. Fast and nicely damped would be nice.

Interesting comments though.

[E30M3]

I prefer the ride / handling of the 17's on a Gti to 18's.

I had my old Gti on 17's on GSD Asy's and the feedback and handling were awesome, especially when turning hard into a corner the steering wheel relayed exactly what the front wheels were doing. However the stability was lost compared to 18's , the car felt a bit wobbly at higher speeds and under hard braking from high speed on imperfect roads , the back end would twitch/swing out !! 

Also 17's had less road noise and the ride was very comfortable.

On 18's you get better stability at high speeds and a much more stable car under acceleration and de acceleration  but the steering does feel abit artificial but after a month you get used to it.

I would go for 17's if all that mattered was handling but 18's a re good comprimise aesthetically speaking !

[RedRobin]

....^I think it's possible to adjust the steering wheel response. I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

[E30M3]

....^I think it's possible to adjust the steering wheel response. I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

Nope you are correct Robin, you can !   you need Vagcom and the cable.

On the olf Mk5 Gti, i had the steering rack replaced twice for groaning noises / catching turning left !

Incidently where can i buy the cable/software ?