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Coilers or springs?

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The GTi just failed the MOT on a broken spring.

Possibly bringing forward the plan to lower it!

Im not looking to go down much, 40mm perhaps 50mm up front.

If i get lowering springs im looking at £60/£80 for cheapies or half decent for £140.
£140 puts me also into cheap coilover territory.

Do i want any of the above? I want it to drive nicely, (i have a slammed camper and if im honest it can be a bit of a pain! :)
If im honest its 80% for looks rather than performance but i dont want it to ride like a horse and cart!

Will i notice the difference if i splash out on "AP" Coilovers? As i say im not winding them down all the way, maybe 1/3?

Open to suggestions!

TA!

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I would go for spring compared to cheap coil overs.

The problem you will have if fitting shorter spring is the shocks will probably give up in no time so you should really look at changing them as well, you will also need shorter bump stops or you will be driving on them.

Good kit with every thing you need, nice comfortable drive and not crashy, lowered a little so no worries of speed bumps…

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Eibach-Lowering-Springs-Bilstein-Gas-Shocks-Bumpstop-Kit-Golf-Mk1/233057944785?fits=Model%3AGolf&hash=item36435604d1:g:OsYAAOSwzQFZ-eze

Also worth fitting new febi top mounts while everything apart.

It's one of those jobs which you could just buy and fit 2 new springs no problem but in 12 months time you will be stripping the suspension down again replacing old worn shocks and top mounts so it's worth saving up and doing it right 1st time as it will save you time and money in the long run…
Add in setting up the camber as well as the tracking to the cost….

1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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Thanks mate. 
That kit looks good. 
I may well just do that. 

Should I not consider midrange coilovers? I thought what I wanted was AP's? Similar money and adjustable. The springs are a bit vague in how much they lower. 

Tempted by that kit though. 

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Hmmm. That kit only drops a GTi down 20mm. 
Is it worth it?
Should I chip in the extra for the AP coilovers?

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I wouldn't. 

The only way you can get a mk1 to run nicely lowered is with a bc kit as they're body adjustable. Expensive but worth it. 

Find a good 40mm lowering shock and spring kit if you wanna do it cheaply. 

Ap's were great on my heavier mk2. But god awful, like most other coilovers on any mk1 I've owned. 

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The kit I posted the link to is front 30mm to 35mm and rear 30mm to 40mm.
Any lower than that and you need to think about the angle of the front wishbones and fit longer bottom ball joints and flip the track rods or the handling will suffer.

1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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Thanks again mark1gls, I asked them straight how much the drop is with a GTi and that is the answer they gave me,  "around 20mm".  I suppose the GTi is already a little lower. 
I bet mine has sagged through the years too,  so the ride height will be hardly different. Although of course will go through the MOT!
I dunno…?

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I have the Eibach Pro Springs on B4s. It does look noticeably lowered.

Whip
/wip/
Noun - Car

When the steering wheel was first put into use in automobiles, it was called the whip. The term has now been generalised to classify any automobile.

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Well, I went for some SSP coilovers. 
I'll let you know how I get on!

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Well, they look nice in the box!
Wednesday is d-day. 
Wish me luck!

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shelltoes said

Well, they look nice in the box!

Pics?

Good luck. I'm doing mine too tomorrow.

Whip
/wip/
Noun - Car

When the steering wheel was first put into use in automobiles, it was called the whip. The term has now been generalised to classify any automobile.

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CD5F86FA-30DA-4D36-8971-E37224F11BA2.jpeg

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the_whip said

shelltoes said

Well, they look nice in the box!

Pics?

Good luck. I'm doing mine too tomorrow.




How did you get on?

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0oow, they look fancy. Interested to know what they're like.

I got on pretty well…
I had mismatched front shocks (1 VW, 1 B4). One original wishbone, one after market. Both Top mounts were shot, and the bump stops were too long for lowered springs. Something was really wrong in there. I replaced the wishbones, top mounts, shocks, stabiliser bar mounts, bump stops, and a few bushes. I had to saw the B4 in half to get the spring off it :/

What ever the problem was, it has gone. It still have stiff suspension, but it's not crashy anymore. I used the cheapest shocks I could find as a temporary measure, and the current plan is to use their strut housings for a set of Koni Sport.

The only bad thing is that camber and toe are completely out again. The garage had set them perfectly :(

Whip
/wip/
Noun - Car

When the steering wheel was first put into use in automobiles, it was called the whip. The term has now been generalised to classify any automobile.

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Well they are on.
Just as well too, broken spring up front and two different springs out back, no wonder it was all over the shop when cornering.

I have probably put 150 miles on them.
Honest review?

Brilliant!

It drives real good, not crashy at all and it goes round corners much better.Sporty ride, but still soaks up most of the bumps and pot holes.
And looks good too.

Phew!

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500 miles in and love them even more.
No down sides at all.
Looks good, rides great.
It now drives like i thought a GTi should.
Sticks round corners and nice and smooth almost all the time with a sporty edge.
Chuffed.

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Shelltoes,

I'm looking at that same kit you've used, do you have a before and after picture?

1989 Paprika Red 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet

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Hmmm. No decent like for like before and after. 
Mine are set quite high, down maybe 40mm at the back, a little more up front. They go much lower if you want. 
I have put perhaps 5000 miles on them now. 
I whole heartedly recommend them. They ride and drive great. No problems at all so far. 
I think the car looks great too. No arch gap. 
No knocks, bangs or rubs. 
Feels sporty not broken. 
Love em!

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Thanks Shelltoes,

I'm taking the rear axle off this week and probably order myself a set 😃


1989 Paprika Red 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet
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