Lowering and Wheels (new to site)

[brad elwood]

hey guys,

I have a 2002 mk4 golf, was wondering where in sydney you would suggest to get it lowered? I was looking to lower maybe 3inches at the back and 2.5 at the front. From anyones experience would this be ok?

Also with wheels, ill be looking at either 19's or 20's, does anyone has experience or suggestions on whats the biggest size you could go without hassles??

Also if anyone could recomment a good place in sydney to get the exhaust done on my car?

Thanks for your help in advance, like i said im fairly new to this site, but will be looking to do alot of mods to my golf

Brad Elwood

[brad elwood]

help ... anyone ???

[Golf Houso]

f you just want the car to be low, with no emphasis on performance than just go for king springs at around 500 fitted.

Oh and welcome to the forum btw

[jayjay]

hey mate, welcome. where abouts in sydney are you located cause there are guys all around here that'll install suspension.

what kind of golf is it? (1.8 turbo, 2.0, 1.6)?

oh, ask/pm matt (golf loon) about coilovers for mk4. it'll be pretty tricky finding lowering springs that go that low. most are like a 60/40 split.

[brad elwood]

f you just want the car to be low, with no emphasis on performance than just go for king springs at around 500 fitted.

Oh and welcome to the forum btw

Cheers

I think at this point in time, yes it would just be for looks. Im thinking of doing performance mods to the engine a lil later, but for the time being i want wheels, lowering and exhaust. ( I DONT wnt the ppl in the next suburb to hear me coming!!)

do you have any experience with exhausts? What type would you recommend? I dont really want the "cannon" sound, just for performance and a nice sounding exhaust!

hey mate, welcome. where abouts in sydney are you located cause there are guys all around here that'll install suspension.

what kind of golf is it? (1.8 turbo, 2.0, 1.6)?

Its a 2.0ltr golf. No turbo (yet!)

Thanks again for your help guys

[Golf Houso]

hey mate, welcome. where abouts in sydney are you located cause there are guys all around here that'll install suspension.

what kind of golf is it? (1.8 turbo, 2.0, 1.6)?

oh, ask/pm matt (golf loon) about coilovers for mk4. it'll be pretty tricky finding lowering springs that go that low. most are like a 60/40 split.

King springs can be set at any height you want, just wait 3 weeks for them to make them for you.

[brad elwood]

well im fairly new to all this car stuff. But I also have a corolla seca that has king springs in it (i didnt put them in, they were on it when i bought it) they are the yellow king springs (i think they are all yellow???) but he said they were adjustable. would they be the same thing your talking about?

Also Jayjay thanks for that, ill send him a pm and see whats the g o

I maybe should wait and see what size wheels ill be putting on first, then get it lowered? makes sence i guess . .

[fuzion]

using lowered springs with stock shocks will feel like utter crap. yes better then what it probably is now however it will be a quick bouncing boat instead of a floating boat ride.

dont do king springs, they are not suited for euro cars (sorry guys but really, they're definitely NOT). go for some eibach, kw, h&r or european brand as its much more well suited and will have a better ride.

followed by equal sports shocks, koni, kw, h&r etc.. with a proper spring/shock combo you will have the ride your after and handling that it should be.

dont take short cuts, save even if it annoys you .. SAAVEE! and do it once and do it right. alternatively you can get coilovers but they are costly but most definitely worthwhile and im sure anybody who has them will agree. KW (InMotive) do forum discounts, im sure H&R (MTM) also will do the same but expect $1500+ for different variations.

Wheels, your probably eager like everyone is. Don't do 19s or 20's on the 2.0l as they are very heavy and not good for the car more so that if you do any sort of wheels first your car will look ridiculous in most peoples books.. Nice wheels yes maybe, you'll look like a 4wd though if you dont lower it!

I have 19s and definately feel it, anyone who tells you otherwise is talking bs and has no idea .. lol

18s imo is big enough, if i could of got mine in 18s i would of! But i couldnt let these go lol


where you located?

[Manaz]

Personal opinion follows:

Be careful dropping a car just for looks, particularly if you "slam" it without considering the suspension geometry. Doing this can considerably alter your car's handling, and can potentially cause damage to your drivetrain.

You're best getting a matched set of springs and dampers (or coilovers), the ride quality will be much better. If the spring and rebound rates don't match, you end up with a car that's either crashy of floaty (or both!), and neither is fun.

Take fuzion's advice on the wheels. The bigger the wheels, the more they weigh (for the same materials/design) and the lower the tyre profile you have to go to keep your rolling diameter the same (check http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html). Heavy wheels add to unsprung mass and reduce acceleration, and lower profile tyres have less absorbancy in the sidewalls, meaning a harsher ride.

A car can look great sitting still, but honestly, I have a car to drive it. I personally think a well sorted car looks better overall than something that's been slammed and put on massive wheels just for looks, because you just know the latter almost certainly drives/handles like crud on our imperfect roads.

In the end though, it is YOUR car, and don't let anyone tell you what's important to YOU.

[D3bb4]

I beg to differ

I've got king springs and KYB shocks; and i'm pretty damn happy with 'em! the ride isn't harsh, just firm (and a whoooole lot better with rear swaybar)

on the unsprung mass this... rule of thumb; multiply it by 3, and that's the loading it puts on your suspension/brakes, etc.

[D3bb4]

King springs can be set at any height you want, just wait 3 weeks for them to make them for you.

From where? King springs have them listed ONLY as low's, no super lows or anything.

[brad elwood]

awesome advise, cheers guys.

thanks fuzion, so coilovers eh! I think ill look into coilovers as they seem like the best option! And also check out those companies

Manaz i dont think ill slam it, as the seca i have is slammed and its sh*t! I hate it, so ill be doing the Golf right. I do want the big wheel look, but your right the car is for driving not for looks. Ill have a think about that one. I mean you cant go past that big wheel look.

I know a guy with a golf and he has 18's on it, yet they dont look big enough, plus he has had it lowered 2.5inches at the back and 2 at the front. But ill see what i wanna do.

I do eventually want it to have more power and better performance, but i still want to keep it lookin shmick!

[brad elwood]

so lets say if i wasnt to go for coilovers, what spring and shock combo would everyone recommend?

Sorry for all the questions, but ill slowly learn

[Golf Houso]

From where? King springs have them listed ONLY as low's, no super lows or anything.

Go to your local tire place, they'll be able to make an order to whatever height you want really, 60mm or 2.5 inches isn't really "that" low for springs.

[D3bb4]

I have king spring low's, as i got 'em through work, and were the only ones in catalogue listed that i could order.

Ride height is much better; it looks pretty dropped from the back especially... but you need the ground clearance for the valences. would look better lower, but at least the ride's good.