Golf Mk3 Springs

[Golf Houso]

I always try to think about the worth of the car monetarily. If you spend 2k on coilovers on a car thats worth 6k, you've just spent equivalent to 30% of the car's value on suspension, and thats without going into sway bars, strut bars, performance bushings etc...

I'd just go with the eibach spring kit for around 800-900 fitted and possibly replace the shocks, under the circumstances that they're shot.

The Pro-Spring kit is a fantastic mod, lowers the car by 38mm and will remove enough of the body roll with a decent set of tires to the point where any speed after that is just a bit too lairy for me. All that crappy body roll will be more or less non-existent, except for realy extreme circumstances like stupid driving and excessive entry speed.

I've found myself going around some wider corners and dual lane roundabouts at over 70 kays an hour whilst keeping in the lanes and the car will just squat and sit flat on the road, often without realising my speed! Its such an improvement over normal settings, the car will just pick up speed in and out of corners so easily.

Oh and it will fill those arches of your pretty 17's soo nicely... Trust me its a very very worthwhile modification.

And I just can't justify putting coilovers on a 10+ year old non gti/vr6 golf which will be worth 30% or more of the car's value...

[moto]

Its not worth doing unless you do it properly.
The suspension on the early VRs (pre 1996/7) had serious bugs. Its OK at quiet speeds. Ok on smooth bitumen. But a bad spot of road at the speeds a VR is easily able to turn on, can pitch you onto the wrong side in nano seconds. Be aware.

If it was so hard for the factory to get it right then, you better believe it, only serious spring/strut makers are going to get it right.

Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs were my solution and I've been happy with them. But Konis have a good reputation too and Weitec have a following as well.

The prices members are offering here are pretty decent.

I get the struts rebuilt every 60,000. The telltale is when it steps out of line on a bumpy corner. When everything is right it will stick to the line like a limpet on any surface.

[rayray086]

I get the struts rebuilt every 60,000. The telltale is when it steps out of line on a bumpy corner. When everything is right it will stick to the line like a limpet on any surface.

Whereabouts do you get them rebuilt? It'd be worthwhile now to write a contact down for when mine needs a rebuild (if I ever get there).

[DubSteve]

I went for the Coilovers for the fact that I plan to keep the car for a while and also my konis that were in there before hand started to leak, I thought they were just stiff

You can get away with a cup kit style suspension that will do just as good as a coilover if you think about it. I know that Koni do one thats cheap, effective and really good, i almost went with this setup before the KW but where sold on the KW when I tried them in another mk3!

[Tim]

I always try to think about the worth of the car monetarily. If you spend 2k on coilovers on a car thats worth 6k, you've just spent equivalent to 30% of the car's value on suspension, and thats without going into sway bars, strut bars, performance bushings etc...

I'd just go with the eibach spring kit for around 800-900 fitted and possibly replace the shocks, under the circumstances that they're shot.

Its always hard to justify spending so much isnt it.
they way i look at modifications on my car is a bit different. Cars are never gonna be an investment. Ive spent twice the value of my vr6 in mods over the years that ive had it. But i tend to justify it with how much entertainment value I get out of it. So it depends on what you want out of the car at the end of the day i guess. Just keep in mind the cheapest options arent always the best value!

[Golf Houso]

"...justify it with how much entertainment value I get out of it..."

"... Just keep in mind the cheapest options arent always the best value!..."

Very wise words, I completely agree!

I don't intend to keep my car for more than three more years, closer to 2 1/2 so I wouldn't go for coilovers or a complete setup, nor I am still searching for bugs in my car anymore to throw money at!

To be honest, if I had a VR6 in "good" mechanical condition, I'd go all the way coilovers, sway bars etc. BUT, unlike a VR6, my 2. slow is well not entirely quick and fails to satisfy my daily dietry intake of speed. And unless I spend around 6-8 grand on forced induction (the value of the car), it ain't going anywhere in a hurry! But I'd keep that car for alot longer if it was a VR6as many of you already have. My car handles well enough with the cup kit by itself which is beyond my ability as a driver.

And yeah, anyone who's bought fancy suspension I respect you for it and very much doubt any of you regret your choice! I'd personally rather just save up for a used R32 or A4 Quatro and go ballistic all over again as I did once and still am to some degree over my mk3...
.
>
So yeah answer to the poster's question: If your a whore like me and only care about looks and a slight improvement in perfomance go for a cup kit for under 900, otherwise get a set of adjustable race ready coilovers for a lick over 2000 and have a permamnent smile affixed to your face every time you drive it!!!

[MattyT]

... and have a permamnent smile affixed to your face every time you drive it!!!

KW ftw!!!!

[wayz]

I can get your stock springs reset to any height you like

Yeah???

How much we looking at Matt?
Maybe with some good second hand / brand new springs? (price)
Or just as a reset in height? (price)

Cheers

[moto]

Whereabouts do you get them rebuilt? It'd be worthwhile now to write a contact down for when mine needs a rebuild (if I ever get there).

Hi rayray,

Heasmans. new valves, seals, calibration and anything else that seems worthwhile - usually new strut mounts at the same time.

Cheers

[Lorenz]

Im also looling into new springs for my GL, but will most likely keep the stock shocks as they seem to be in good condition and pretty firm.

Has anyone looked into custom made springs? Industrial Springs here in SA make springs for anycar, and pretty much anything that has a spring in it! They can be made to any height, spring rate etc, cheap and damn good stuff!

They're about $300 for custom springs (pair) and $220 for off the shelf ones that they can resit to any height for free!

This is an interesting thread though!

[DubSteve]

kmac suspension in Rockdale does the same thing they also fit for you while you wait

[The_Hawk]

Ahh Christmas, the timefor... wait... I mean the excuse to spend some money

I'm tempted, very very tempted to do the suspension now. It's not a question of if, but when. Sadly, with another bub on the way it may be longer than I had hoped... unless!

Right now I can stretch to about a grand which should cover a new set of shocks/springs to drop her to a nice level.

In my case it's spirited daily driver with maybe once annual track days (speed off the street type things, not full blown racing).

I want the car lower, there is no question of that, I like that coilovers are adjustable, although reality is I probably wont use the adjustments, still nice to have.


But the questions!

Can you get 2nd hand coilovers? How much would I be looking at? Are they worth it?

Is there a cheaper option that the $2K KW's? Anything closer to the $1k mark? These for example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Supersport-Coilover-Kit-VW-Golf-Jetta-MK3-3-Corrado-VR6_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em122QQcategoryZ33586QQihZ019QQitemZ290191895315QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD2V

Or are you really better wating and going the KW's?

This discussion has been moved to it's own shiny new thread here:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?p=111348

[Golf Houso]

I say stick with the budget of $1,000 and just research and snoop around for a few weeks until you've formed a complete opinion on suspension modifications for your car. Thats the best way to go about anything realy. There should be a number of enthusiasts around selling their used if not intially costly suspension components. Posting a wanted thread on this forum would be a start.

[Golf Loon]

Yeah???

How much we looking at Matt?
Maybe with some good second hand / brand new springs? (price)
Or just as a reset in height? (price)

Cheers

Reset in height mate.
$50 a corner I can get em done for.

Factor in New Bilsteins at $200 a corner and $100 for the fitting and for $1100 you can have a lower better handling car with new suspension.

Anyone who wants this deal contact me at work next week.