Springs MK1 Driver... Help!!!

Hello all, just attepmted to swap some lowering springs, last time i did this was 7 years ago!!!
I ordered a set of lowering springs to replace some worn ones (broken), and assumed mine were not the pigtailed type, wrong!!! (on the front)

So, do I get another set of springs or can i replace just the cups at the top of the front struts to accomodate the new springs (they are mk1 springs)????

And if so which MK1's had non-pigtailed springs? I should have checked when i ordered, but was told that very few mk1's had pigtailed springs on the front so I thought, oh well, I wont be the minority!!!! More fool me!!

So any help gained here is appreciated!!!

Pig tailed?

I though all MK1 springs were the same shape…???
What the hell have you got if they don't fit?

Bump. also confused.

Anyone car to get artistic in Paint to show the difference?

Will

spax list a pigtail and parallel option for springs, the none pigtail where fitted to cars between 1974 and august 1979, which is when the pigtail springs came in. looking in the haynes manual for 1.1 and 1.3(716) you can see an exploded diagram of both assemblies, looks like you will need to change the spring seat(cup) and possibly the top mount to the later type aswell, its best for you to get the manual and match up the parts you have to find out what you need.
out of interest what springs are you trying to fit(make, lowering etc) i'm trying to find some for my driver, but the gti items are no good because 1.1,1.3's are so much lighter than gti's which means any lowering rate is lost and you end up with a car riding at the same height you started with.

Hello all, and many thanks for your replies!
Dan, the springs are Jamex I think, 60mm drop. I did order them for a DRIVER but knowing what suppliers are like they could well be meant for a GTI? They cost roughly ?55.
I will be taking a look in my haynes, (doh), should have done this earlier.
THe spax tems I took off never really lowered the car, being 18 at the time we just took a couple of coils out!!!!! Not too reccommended!
The ride height I hope will not alter too much as the car is running on 17's but I aim to get rid of these in favour of something a bit more suitable 15's and old skool maybe!!!
I will keep you posted on how things go.
Once again many thanks
Gav

AL_Mk1 said

Pig tailed?

I though all MK1 springs were the same shape…???
What the hell have you got if they don't fit?

Pig tailed, the coils get smaller to the top of the spring!!!

Not pig tailed, all the coils of the spring are the same diameter.

Hope this helps.

something a bit more suitable 15's and old skool maybe!!!

same here, i need 60mm drop and then i'm fitting porsche teledials!

Good choice. Should look lovely!