cutting springs

[GoLfMan]

save gunter it cant go to waste, its a beauty!!!

[gtimk5]

Thanks Golfman! One day soon, I spose!! Cheers, enjoy your day.

[Golf Loon]

Where did you get the plugs for the top of the brake mc, to relocate the booster? What are they?

[gtimk5]

The rubbers are usually in the master cylinder already and the plastic pipes are out of either beetle or kombi master cylinders, both have them. but from memory they have to be large diameter ones where they go into the master cylinder. By mounting the resevoir in the plenum the fluid keeps cool, and you also have more clearance for the distributor. This car was really a mule to try different things and I know it would be possible to make the towers look stock. I did it on Britchies old Golf. Smoothed and filled. The dents around the lhs one was from the bodyworks after they pushed the front back across 1.5 inches after the Symmons prang. The rhs strut hit the plenum and bonnet in a large pothole in an event years ago.

[GTIJNR]

Nice jobs der gtimk5, I like the brace, regard 2 cut spring, i wouldn't at all, rather reset 'em if I have to. But that can't beat proper lower spring or coilovas. When cut dat part will be rust, which weaken the spring, n if the spring are progressive= even more pain lol.

[gtimk5]

Yes, I agree with you but having springs reset often weekens them. We used to do that with the rally Lancers in the old days and they wouldn't last. Mind you, we could also fit new Bilsteins and springs in those things on a friday before a rally and on the monday we would have 3 Lancers back in the workshop with bent Bilstiens and broken springs!!!!.
Its not that hard to raise the strut towers, takes about 3 hours plus extra to tidy them up, bog them and spray. Its just the initial cut that hurts!!!
Next time I am up at my shed I will get some pics of the adjustable spring seats that I fitted to the the stock strut tubes. (Well, really Bilstien tubes but they were the same as the stoks externally. Cheers, Andrew

[XXX-1.8T]

anyone got any springs that are lower than 30mm drop that they want to get rid of?

Or want to swap for some 30mm springs?

i just want to go lower!

[gtimk5]

Watch out with too low a springs on std strut lengths. Read earlier in this topic, you will run out of travel very easily. beware!!!!

[XXX-1.8T]

Watch out with too low a springs on std strut lengths. Read earlier in this topic, you will run out of travel very easily. beware!!!!

Yeah but i should be ok as i have adjustable shocks

[gtimk5]

I will get some pics of gunters front strut setup this weekend because if you are going low you have to cut and gusset the rhf section above the driveshaft as it will foul the bodywork.

[gtimk5]

Heres some pics of "Gunters" front spring setup. The struts originally had the std size seats but we remonved then and fitted some threaded seats, available at "race type shops". Note that just behind the brake pipe I have cut out and gusseted the inner guard section to give the driveshaft clearance. You must do this if you are going low and driving around the roads or tracks.
Hey! Its no show pony but I achieved remarkable results with Gunter!!!! And that would be THE hardest 23,000 kms that a golf could get I reckon!!!
Cheers, Andrew

[gldgti]

those struts are great on gunther mate, i like very much - seems like ideal for long travel but low ride.

once again on the cutting issue, with respect to rust - any decently manufactured spring wont rust - the steels metallurgy will likely prevent seriuous corrosion past some surface flecks... in any case, repainting the ends can be done.

i have to say that im not an advocate of cutting..... but i've done it on my diesel, and i'll tell you a little story...

sonce cutting my king springs (already lowering springs, but not much) i've done about 10,000 km's - all this year. just last weekend, i went from newcastle/hillston and back, on some very bumpy, hollowy roads, mosly pushing along at 120 (yes, my diesel can do that)

did i bottom out? yep, sure..... but the rear, not the front. my lip spoiler, which sits 80mm from the ground when the car is stationary, didnt hit the ground once.... i had 3 big guys and a lot of luggage in the car. i had rear tyres botomming on the insides of the guards (rear springs are also king lowering springs, but they are not cut).

so heres what i say: if you wanna cut your springs, you need to be careful, adn think about it.

you wouldnt cut your stockies off to drop the car a couple of inches, because thats dangerous..... (unless you want a set of show only springs, hehe) but if you have some harder springs, maybe you might take off half a coil, or afull one, to get the ride height just so...

and ofcourse, if you can afford it, treat yourself to coilovers.

if you want a 2.5 inch drop and you cant afford coilovers, then i think everyone would agree you might just have to wait a bit, and save up.