Polo Lowering Issues

[MhVW]

Hi,

I have installed the H&R sport spring kit on my '06 VW Polo Classic TDI (sedan).
I've got a few issues at the moment.

First some info.
The car is a '06 VW Polo Classic TDI ( PD100 ) Sedan.
Drop after installation of the H&R sport springs
Front - 35mm
Rear - 60mm

My concerns:
1. At the back the car rests on its bump stops.
I removed the shocks completely and the car dropped another 10mm giving a total of 70mm drop at the rear.
Thus meaning the car was supported by the springs AND bump stops.

2. At the front the car also rests on the bump stops. Unfortunately the I haven't had time to remove only the bump stop to see the actual drop, but I took some measurements and the bump stop gets compressed by 12mm.

3. Could it be that I was supplied with the wrong kit for my car? Can anyone confirm the correct kit for my car?

4. Do you normally need shorter or different bump stops with such a lowering kit?

Any help would be appreciated.

[dubstar]

Yes, must be the wrong kit. No one would make a kit that would lower the back 25mm more then the front.

[Jmac]

Ive just fitted a set of H and R for someone on here recently and it was nice and even all round, must be wrong kit for sure, thats a huge difference. And yeah it was springs only
Cheers
Jmac

[seangti]

you should be able to see the model/code on the springs whilst still on the car. if you can post them up, we can check out what we have to see if they are the wrong ones. Not sure if the sedan would require different (stiffer) springs to the hatch back, though really wouldn't surprise me.

[MhVW]

Thanks for the replies!

I've also got a feeling it's the wrong kit.

Maybe another kit would have longer or harder springs for the added weight oat the back of the sedan.

The kit I was supplied H&R 29333-3.

What are your opinions about the front of the car resting on it's bump stops?
Because the front of my sedan would be the same as for the hatch.

[noone]

I believe some people and trimmed the bump-stops, but generally I don't think this is required.

The TDI's engine comes down further, so the stock bumpstops may be different to the Petrol versons.

The front drop sounds about right, but I would have expected more travel in the suspension to be available, if you are going to be consistantly hitting your bump stops, you are no doubt going to be shortening the life of other components in the front end (seems to be a bit brittle as it is).

Issues can include: Top mounts, bearings, control arm bushes, drop links, CV's, etc.

Are you able to take a profile photo of the car to show us how its sitting?

[MhVW]

Are you able to take a profile photo of the car to show us how its sitting?

noone, here is a before and after picture of my car.

I also would've expected more suspension travel at the front.
Is it a general rule to shorten your bump stops when fitting lowering springs, as the H&R supplier never mentioned any other hardware changes except the spring to work properly on my car.

Before:



After:



Rear:

[noone]

I don't want to make any calls as I'm an enthusiast with little practical experience.

It looks like the rear was a little higher than the front, and now the rear is a little lower.

The front springs will likely sag a little over the coming week or months evening up the front and rear. I'm not sure if the H&R springs were designed to be used with the sedan, so the extra drop at the rear may be the result of your additional chassis weight over the rear springs.

You mentioned that you took the shocks out of the rear, they are still in on that photo? Would you drive the car without shocks in the rear?

The part number seems right, here is a photo of the H&R's that came off my car (with some details visible)



Hope this helps and hopefully someone else can comment on your bumpstop query...

[MhVW]

You mentioned that you took the shocks out of the rear, they are still in on that photo? Would you drive the car without shocks in the rear?

The part number seems right, here is a photo of the H&R's that came off my car (with some details visible)

The shocks are still in on the photos.
I took the shocks out seeing that it rest on the bump stops, to try and figure out the total amount of drop I got with the springs. As it turned out with out the shocks it drop another 10mm from what you see in the photo.

Would never even try to drive the car out of the garage without shocks. You must see the amount of endless bounce. You'll get a new appreciation for your shocks!

I've got the exact same springs even with the yellow and white paint marks.

[tooch]

Off topic, but I really like the look of that sedan, looks exactly like a mini Jetta!

The R32 wheels look great also, well done

[philthy]

noone, here is a before and after picture of my car.

I also would've expected more suspension travel at the front.
Is it a general rule to shorten your bump stops when fitting lowering springs, as the H&R supplier never mentioned any other hardware changes except the spring to work properly on my car.

Before:



After:



Rear:

Is that really on the bump stops? I've seen pics of polos on here at least that low and they haven't reported any dramas with bump stops?

Honestly doesn't look any lower than I'd expect with lowered springs.

[h100vw]

The stance looks perfect to me. Have you driven it, does it bottom out or scrub in the arches??

Gavin

[MhVW]

Off topic, but I really like the look of that sedan, looks exactly like a mini Jetta!

The R32 wheels look great also, well done

Thanx tooch!

You're right does look like mini Jetta. Wheels are 17" VW original "R-line" I think.
Had a MkIII Jetta previously loved it, that being the reason going for the Polo sedan.

Great car!

[MhVW]

Have you driven it, does it bottom out or scrub in the arches??

Yes, been driving it since a week before Christmas. Defiantly bottoms out, experienced some handling issues when fully loaded with 2 passengers in the car. Then started investigating.

Is that really on the bump stops?

Yes, when lightly bouncing the car like 5mm you can actually see the bump stop compressing at the rear. I even removed the bottom bolt of the shock and compressed it until the bump stop touched. Had to compress the bump stop another 10mm to have it inline with the bolt mounting hole.

At the front it is not that easy, had to take some carefull measurements with and without the wheel to realize that the front is also resting on the bump stops.

[GTIJNR]

Thats looks like normal H&R lowering to me... suspecting sedan model have longer shockers than hatch variant. You may need shortened shocks. I likes sedan look lol