New bilstein b4 shocks with eibach lowering springs

My 89 clipper came with a pretty shoddy suspension set up when I bought the car 3 years ago, it had pro sport coil overs up front and mismatched non adjustable shocks and springs at the rear, the ride has always been fairly harsh but had to many other jobs to sort before getting around to the suspension.

So after much deliberation i ordered the bilstein b4 and eibach lowering spring kit from classic vw, the kit came with everything needed, including new bump stops and febi top mounts, the only extra bits I bought were the upper bushes for the rears as not included in the kit.

I fitted this little lot last week and today was test drive day, I have to say that the difference between the old stuff and the new set up isn’t that great, it definitely rides a lot quieter and seems more compliant but is still quite firm and a wee bit choppy on the Peak District roads.

im wondering if the supplied bump stops are to long for the lowering springs, I did check with Mark at classic vw and he seems to think there ok.

just wondering if anyone else has bought the same kit and what your opinion is, did you alter the supplied bump stops.

maybe the new setup needs to settle or maybe I was expecting to much.

any thoughts much appreciated.

cheers

Have you got a picture of the bump stops supplied?
Looking at the picture on the website for the kit the rubber bump stops and plastic cover in the picture are the original standard size so are to long.

Did you buy the kit for a cabriolet as it's heavier than the tin top cars so the springs are different.


edit.. found a picture of the kit I have with the shorter bump stops.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233057944785
 

Hi Mark

yeah the picture of the kit on classic vw’s website is a generic pic as the supplied kit is slightly different, the bump stops are white febi ones, look the same as these.

https://www.classic-vw.co.uk/front-suspension-bump-stop--dust-shield-set--357498131s-mk1--2-golf-jetta-scirocco-caddy-21160-p.asp

The kit is for the cabriolet and not the tin top, maybe I just need to get used to it, I’m just surprised it’s not better given the high praise the kits get on here, I think my old bones are struggling to remember what 80’s suspension feels 👍

 

And these are the rears..
https://www.classic-vw.co.uk/rear-bump-stop-kit-171512131a--17513425-mk1-golf-4270-p.asp

Yes they are the right shorter bump stops.

As with any lowering kit it needs to be stiffer than the original standard set up as the car is lower and needs to not hit the floor.

Are you still running the standard size wheels and tyres, 14" wheels with 185/60/14 tyres?

That’s good to know, I thought they looked shorter but wasn’t completely sure, the wheels are the original ra type with the correct tyre size as you mentioned, was thinking of getting some 15’s but know that they can effect ride quality as well.

On a side note the supplied spacers that fit the febi top mounts are slightly to big, when the struts were assembled off the car the top mounts had a little play in them, I’ve seen this before so think it’s pretty normal, I had a couple of spare spacers and they are exactly the same, I did go to the effort of shortening the ones fitted to the coil overs to get rid of the play, not sure it made any difference mind, it seems to be a hot topic on here.

thanks mate.

I believe those spacers are meant to some sort of crush spacer but I've never managed to crush them so I do shorten mine or reuse the old ones I've already shortened.

You can change them with out the need to take everything apart, leave the car on its wheels and undo the main nut, with 2 thin screw drivers you can prise the spacer out, I then pack the top mount bearing with grease then fit the shorter spacer. Fit the main top mount nut then Jack up the car and with my trolly Jack bar underneath the tyre feel for any play/knocking.


I use an diesel injector socket and Allen key to undo the main top mount nut, check the size of yours if you do buy one as I’ve had a 21mm nut and a 22mm nut before….. shop around as 1st I found..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403230427513?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=CjwKCAjwjZmTBhB4EiwAynRmD0DTkORDUyBlQAOmanOIGQziqhT-g4WvBKGG3NDz32leEzTmAAR_oRoCkukQAvD_BwE

Yeah I’ve done this before so have a couple of spacers that I’ve reduced the size of, I fitted the new spacers as surely that’s what most people do, I’m guessing that the play is as intended by vw but think I’ll fit the old ones though to get rid of the slop.

It's one of those things that pops up MOT time and you can get an advisory like play in rear wheel bearing most of us get as thats how VW tell you to do up the rear drums…  

Swapped the spacers for the slightly shorter ones I had on the collies, no more play.
while I was down there I noticed my tyres aren’t the size I thought they were, they’re actually 175/65/14, the difference in the side wall and circumference is tiny but when they need changing I’ll most likely fit 185/60/14 to get the extra width.

Quick update on the suspension, have approx 300 miles on the new set up now and it seems to have settled nicely, seems much more comfortable then when first fitted..