Suspension problems - can anyone advice/help

Hi

I bought a 1983 Golf GTI about 6 weeks ago.  The guy had done a lot of work on it, including changing the suspension.  When I bough it had a rattle coming from the back.  He said he though it was exhaust so I assumed it would be an easy fix.  The rattle is only there when driving in built up areas where roads are rougher - it is fine on motorways and smooth roads.  I've had a friend of mine who is a mechanic look at the car and he says the suspension that is on it is a racing suspension which is very stiff and it also has a polybush kit fitted which he says is making it worse.  He says that this is what is causing the rattling first because the car is so stiff that it's not able to absorb bumps in the road.

My first questions is does anyone else know about this issue and is his diagnosis correct.  My second question is would retuning the suspension to a standard kit help?  If yes, where is the best place to get a standard suspension kit?

Regards
Ian

Has the car been fitted with coil overs or just up rated springs and shocks?

If it's had coil overs fitted you will need the front struts, cups at the top a few washers.

Rears not so much a problem as the kit comes with most of the bits but you still need to top cup as not sure if coil over tops fit the springs?

Good kit to slightly lower the car and still a comfortable ride.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Eibach-Lowering-Springs-Bilstein-Gas-Shocks-Bumpstop-Kit-Golf-Mk1-/231605051979?hash=item35ecbca24b:g:gB8AAOSwCGVX4nxx

If you post up a picture of front and rear struts we should be able to tell what's fitted.

Standard rubber bushes are still avaible so easy to get hold of.

Are you sure there is nothing rattling in the boot? Jack in the spare wheel etc???

It is uprated spring and shocks - I don't want to lower the car.  I want to return it to original and improve the ride.

If the suspension is stiffer, I have seen that the Exhaust heat shield can vibrate at the rear silencer where it attaches to the Frame.  I had this issue and have crimped and spot welded ot to keep it from vibrating.
I also re-ran the resonator to silencer pipe to make more clearance in the thing.

Also validate that all the silencer hangers are good.

Yeah I forgot to say  it has a 'boy racer' exhaust on it so the end pipe and silencer are much larger than standard so they could be an issue.

I have standard VW set up on my Mk1 Golf cabriolet and the Eibach Lowering Springs, Bilstein Gas Shocks kit on my Mk1 Scirocco and the ride quality is very similar going over the same bumps on the same road, the Eibach/Bilstein is a little stiffer when cornering hard but in normal driving it's hard to tell the difference.
They only lower the car a little so I still don't have to worry going over those speed bumps in the middle of the road.

I'm in my 40s with 2 small children so a comfortable ride is more important than looks and the Golf is my daily drive. I'm going to change to the Eibach/Bilstein set up on my Golf next year as I found the Boge standard shocks don't seem to last long, 1 of mine is worn after 2 years/ 20,000 miles….

Not 100% sure you can get new standard springs for the GTi as they are stiffer and lower than the standard car.

Places to get bits from
http://www.classic-vw.co.uk/front-suspension-359-c.asp

Website being updated.
AVS Car Parts - [The VW - Audi - Seat - Skoda Parts Specialist]

New top mounts is also a good idea, Febi are the better make as I found the Meyle ones only lasted 12 months on both of my cars when I thought I'd give them ago…

www.germanautoparts.com has springs, but I don't know if they do international shipping.

Front spring might be these but not sure????

https://www.vwheritage.com/171411105g-front-spring-standard-mk1-golf-scirocco-jetta-79-83