Suspension dilemma

[mashman]

Suspension dilemma, mine is too harsh and my tyres scrub, the H and K springs say 35mm lowered on there site for the part numbers on my springs but the top section of the rear spring (the tightly wound section) is in bind all the time. Im after a set of standard or as close too as i can find for a starting point. The shocks i have are KYB Excel-g gas shocks and i could not find a listing for short throw shocks to suit golf2 on their site so they might be standard ride hieght, though why anyone makes a standard shock for the golf now is beyond me as i cant fing standard springs? I dont want to spend a fortune just have a ride that will handle a few bumps before my spine exits my skull and my tyres get torn up, rolling the gaurds isnt an option due to the plastic flares and wouldnt get rid of the harsh ride anyways. id like to start with some stockies to see where that puts the car and how it rides. i would rather it ride correctly than just look cool, compromising if i can.

[AusScare]

i would rather it ride correctly than just look cool, compromising if i can.

Not sure why you bought a mk2 Golf then

But seriously, a 35mm drop shouldn't make the tyres scrub. What size wheels/tyres are they?

[mashman]

yep i can accept it wont be a cadilac, but what im trying to figure out is if it is actually 35mm lowered or alot more will post pics. if its heaps more then i can just get some new 30mm lowered springs and all will be good. but not knowing what height a standard one sits at leaves me at a disadvantage. As you can just see(hopefully, stuck camera under wheel arch) the top section of the spring is bound all the time so is not acting as a spring only a spacer. So hopefully people can tell me how much lowered they think the car may be?

Cheers

[Jarred]

tyres too large, too much offest.

they're probably more of a problem than the ride height...

what are the specs on your wheels and tyres?

[golfmeup]

tyres too large, too much offest.

they're probably more of a problem than the ride height...

what are the specs on your wheels and tyres?

I agree, maybe you should trial fit a slightly thinner profile.

Without knowing the offset of the wheels its hard to tell though. But a tyre swap may be alot cheaper than changing all the suspension.
The previous owner has obviously gone more for the cool look rather than the perfect balance.

I think you need to take it to someone who can check the offset of the wheels to see the clearances.
It sure looks great on the road, however you are obviously not getting the ride quality your after.
The only way to solve that would be to fit a longer travel suspension or softer setting shocks.

Anyone else have any ideas?

[mashman]

the wheels have 195/60/15 tyres and the offset looks a tiny bit off compared to the original rim (185/65/14) the diameter is almost spot on with the original. The wheels just look too nice to take off and im guessing alot of money to replace with the same.(wheels are 2 piece BBS) If i had it a little higher i dont think i would have any dramas and a slightly softer ride. i still cant believe they make a spring thats all bound up like the rear is at the top and charge a premium for it? go figure. anyone got any guesses as to how much lower it is from standard (who knows maybe someone oxytorch lowered the spring, no heat marks though).

[mashman]

the wheels have 195/60/15 tyres and the offset looks a tiny bit off compared to the original rim (185/65/14) the diameter is almost spot on with the original. The wheels just look too nice to take off and im guessing alot of money to replace with the same.(wheels are 2 piece BBS) If i had it a little higher i dont think i would have any dramas and a slightly softer ride. i still cant believe they make a spring thats all bound up like the rear is at the top and charge a premium for it? go figure. anyone got any guesses as to how much lower it is from standard (who knows maybe someone oxytorch lowered the spring, no heat marks though).

Question, will mk3 shocks and springs fit a mk2, i see some advertised to suit mk2 and mk3?

[golfmeup]

the wheels have 195/60/15 tyres and the offset looks a tiny bit off compared to the original rim (185/65/14) the diameter is almost spot on with the original. The wheels just look too nice to take off and im guessing alot of money to replace with the same.(wheels are 2 piece BBS) If i had it a little higher i dont think i would have any dramas and a slightly softer ride. i still cant believe they make a spring thats all bound up like the rear is at the top and charge a premium for it? go figure. anyone got any guesses as to how much lower it is from standard (who knows maybe someone oxytorch lowered the spring, no heat marks though).


Question, will mk3 shocks and springs fit a mk2, i see some advertised to suit mk2 and mk3?

Looks like the tyre profile is slightly too high.
I believe for a 15in rim the highest profile you can go is a 195 55 .
I just changed tyres in the front and back not long ago and was told 195 50 was max- when we checked again it was actually 195 55. So I went with that.
I think 195 60 15 is slightly too high and may be causing the problem.
I would try and trial fit a 195 50 15 and see what the clearances are like then. Hard to get this size but most bigger tyre stores can get them in.
I'm not an expert on this.
Like I said I get some tyre scrape on full load ( 2 adults in the back) over speed bumps and bad roads. But nothing when only 3 people.

ps- don't sell your rims .. they are way to nice to part with mate!! (Vultures circling)

[golfmeup]

Have a look here to check change in wheel diameter with different tyre sizes.
TYRESAVE: Tyre Size Calculator

[Jarred]

you still need to find out the offset of the wheels (which should be 3 piece not 2)

I think they are probably 195/5/15's (not 60's) as they dont look quite like they came off a falcon.

might be lowered like 30mm maybe. if you raise it back up, it'll be crap to drive, and you might still have to same issue (because of the increase in suspension travel...)

If any thing, go stiffer, that way the suspension wont travel as much and you wont rub. Or Roll you arches and trim your flares. Probably the easiest and cheapest solution really.

[mashman]

Yep, im a dumbass, they are 195/50/15, i dont want too sell the rims either as they do look nice, trying to make them work, almost too the point of ordering some hottuning jom or something like that adjustable coilovers. at least i can get the height too where i need it to be and anything would be a softer ride than what it is at the moment.

[ryana89]

Time for a H&R cup kit group buy

[walshydub]

I you don't like the ride at the moment, DON'T BUY Hottuning/Jom coilovers the ride will be a lot harsher & more bouncy.

The solution to your problems is very easy. Stock shocks with lowering springs (or a spring/shock kit) & lower profile tyres.
For reference my wheels are 15x7 running 195/50 tyres and at this ride height they didn't rub.

I am running AP coilovers and the ride is ok but can be bouncy. Cheap coilovers are a massive compromise. Yes they give you ride height adjustment but they have to perform at the lowest settings so the spring rates are stiff set so the ride is harsh. If you are set on coilovers buy the best you can within your budget, but from what you are saying a kit like the H&R cup kit will be suit you best.

[ausgolfer]

I second what walshy has said. I would never buy hottuning, not even for a joke. Have had the pleasure of riding in a few hottuning equiped vehicles......dangerous rice bounce.

PS. those rims look like a BMW fittment hence the offset of 25 or 20.

[Preen59]

Nice Mk2, dude. I like the wheels.



Weitec Hicon GTs are a good bang-for-buck choice IMO. I've just fitted a set in my Mk1 GLD and the ride is firm, but definitely not bouncy around town and on the highway it's better than the standard stuff! Really impressed. They're internally identical to a KW V1, so i'm not surprised.

Hit me up if you'd like some more info.

I second what walshy has said. I would never buy hottuning, not even for a joke. Have had the pleasure of riding in a few hottuning equiped vehicles......dangerous rice bounce.

PS. those rims look like a BMW fittment hence the offset of 25 or 20.

I remember you saying something along the lines of "Seriously.. I'm not riding in the back again. I think i've damaged my spine.."