Golf GTi Mk1 Suspension

Hi all - I thought I would share my experiences after upgrading the suspension on the Mk1

I know suspension is very subjective so hopefully my views may help anyone trying to decide what to do:

Mk1 - 1800 on std wheels and tyres and original anti-roll bars

Bilstein B12 Pro Suspension Kit which comes with Eibach springs and slightly lowers the car

Polybush - Full Kit 136

OMP Upper & Lower strut braces (front only for both)

Here's the lowdown

A fabulous combination

The Bilstein kit works brilliantly, I have used Bilsteins on other cars and also various other dampers (including Koni race double adjustables) on a variety of cars so I have some perspective on the results  (not to mention years fiddling with motorbike suspension)

The damping is giving terrific body control, yet it remains compliant and not at all harsh (although it is firm) - corner grip is outstanding and traction is much improved.  The thing about this kit with matched springs is that it all works together it feels 'developed'.  Unless you are on a tight budget I would honestly say these are worth more than the difference in price.

Handling wise, as you build up steering load you can just feel the rear start to rotate around the front (nothing that you would call over-steering, more neutral and slightly loose), I think that the lift-off oversteer is reduced but haven't felt much need to adjust the line with this technique as the car is going where I want in the first place The polybush kit if anything has improved the ride, all I can say about this is the car feels taut (but with the other mods it would! )

The strut braces have sharpened up the response and removed some chassis shakes, so the cars rides more quietly as well as steering better, if I had to choose I would guess that the lower brace is doing more work than the top (this is purely on the basis of eyeballing the chassis and trying to guestimate where the loads go.  I am pretty sure the strut braces are really helping the dampers work as they should by removing any 'back-chat' from the chassis.

All in all the car is simply brilliant now, thoroughly recommended.

Hope this helps someone out 

Glad you are happy with your set up, couple of people on the Scirocco register have fitted the same setup as you and they rave about them as well.
I think I will be replacing mine with this set up when my shocks are worn out.

Good news

I had an old Bilstein kit on my car and have a B12 ready to go on with my resto

Thanks for posting this up