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Bump stops - how much travel should I get before hitting them?

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I ordered a full suspension kit from Classic VW, it came with full front shocks, Eibach springs and new Febi bump stops. Marked as ready to fit.

Fitted it, thought the car looked a lot higher than expected, put it down to new top mounts and went to bed. Came out the next day and found the problem was the bump stops - sitting idle on flat ground the top mount was resting on the bump stops so I had no suspension travel.

I took the bump stops out and cut out about 30mm in the middle and refitted. I get some suspension movement now when on the ground, but looking at the shock absorber it looks about an inch of visible shaft before the shorter bumpstop.

I've yet to drive it as I'm waiting for missing parts for the rear springs before I can fit them. But does this sound right? I jump on the front bumper and get some suspension as far as I can tell (I'm not that heavy) and when I jack the car up I get plenty of droop on the spring. Just want to be sure the bump stop is short enough or if I need to take even more out of it!

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Bump stops - how much travel should I get before hitting them?

They should be shorter than the original ones, I don’t know the exactly how much space is between the shock housing and bump stop but here is some pilot what’s fitted on my car to give you an idea of length of bump stop.











The car on its wheels, it’s not easy getting a camera in there and they could do with a clean…
Pictures below are how it’s sitting now.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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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mark1gls said

They should be shorter than the original ones, I don’t know the exactly how much space is between the shock housing and bump stop but here is some pilot what’s fitted on my car to give you an idea of length of bump stop.











The car on its wheels, it’s not easy getting a camera in there and they could do with a clean…
Pictures below are how it’s sitting now.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ah interesting, thanks for that! The wheel arch picture looks helpful, looks like you can just see the top of the gator beneath the bump stop, so looks roughly similar.

Think I might just have to odds it and try - I could make it lower and cut out more/remove the dust boot but I'd rather not as that introduces new issues with dirt ingress.

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PXL_20220626_145344177.jpg Tried to take some photos of how the springs look under load - the gap is the range between the top bump stop and the dust cover PXL_20220626_183951126.jpg

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Did your new bump stop look like this as I see you have the solid plastic cover?

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/357412303e-front-suspension-bump-stop.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwh-CVBhB8EiwAjFEPGbcTocqWAIiIWjVbtsMOGB3PUWBdzq5zsdSeaWuK2PAZKNm-a7pInRoCjqkQAvD_BwE


If so then that's the standard bump stop and need to be shorter if you have lowering springs or the plastic dust cover will crack as you drive on the bumpstops.

As you can see from my pictures in this thread.
https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=technical%2Frunning-gear_2%2Fsuspension-help-needed


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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mark1gls said

Did your new bump stop look like this as I see you have the solid plastic cover?

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/357412303e-front-suspension-bump-stop.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwh-CVBhB8EiwAjFEPGbcTocqWAIiIWjVbtsMOGB3PUWBdzq5zsdSeaWuK2PAZKNm-a7pInRoCjqkQAvD_BwE


If so then that's the standard bump stop and need to be shorter if you have lowering springs or the plastic dust cover will crack as you drive on the bumpstops.

As you can see from my pictures in this thread.
https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=technical%2Frunning-gear_2%2Fsuspension-help-needed



Thanks for the reply! Mine do look like that. With the dust cover - not the ones I bought as they came in the kit, but they look like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223706659862?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=oVHWpHOgT3q&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=DWcCcCi5RS-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY


I've cut out the two centre ribbed sections so far, so I've just got the dust cover loose at the bottom and the domed top of the bump stop to actually cushion the springs. Hopefully that's right. I'm still concerned it's close to the bump stop even with that bit cut out.

I could remove the dust cover altogether but that kinda defeats the point of it and will wear the shocks out quicker.

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Bump stops - how much travel should I get before hitting them?

You can see in the is picture how much I had to cut of the original bump stop when lowering my car.
This was a setup I fitted years ago before changing to shorter bump stops and collapsing dust covers.

I’ve had a few different lowering kits over the last 20 years, the black spring in the picture is the original VW spring.



You can see what’s cut out say on the spring


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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mark1gls said

You can see in the is picture how much I had to cut of the original bump stop when lowering my car.
This was a setup I fitted years ago before changing to shorter bump stops and collapsing dust covers.

I’ve had a few different lowering kits over the last 20 years, the black spring in the picture is the original VW spring.



You can see what’s cut out say on the spring



Nice, that looks about the same as I cut out! Collapsible dust covers sound a better option to go with a cut down bump stop, might have to look for some - is there a standard part number by any chance?

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Give me some time as food shopping just been delivered and I'll find the part numbers for shorter bump stops and covers like mine as that's the best way to do.

I got my kit from here so they maybe able to get the shorter bumpstops and covers, drop them an email as very helpful chap who owns the company.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233057941786?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

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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mark1gls said

Give me some time as food shopping just been delivered and I'll find the part numbers for shorter bump stops and covers like mine as that's the best way to do.

I got my kit from here so they maybe able to get the shorter bumpstops and covers, drop them an email as very helpful chap who owns the company.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233057941786?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

Legend, thanks mate!

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I mentioned the wrong bump stops in the kit pictures on the website of Classic VW some time ago to someone on here and was told it was just a sample picture……  O_oI think the set which came in my kit is

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254109110324?hash=item3b2a155034:g:mWkAAOSwXpthxMsQ

And the rear is

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334178885670?epid=1216471705&hash=item4dce9d2026:g:cJkAAOSwKD5hxND~


Both sets from TDC automotive, they are not far from me so I’ve been to his place to buy parts, he’s a VW nut and drives a Mk2 Golf and had a few Mk1s.  Send them an email or call them to double check as he will help you get the right bits thumbs:

Last edit: by mark1gls


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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mark1gls said

I mentioned the wrong bump stops in the kit pictures on the website of Classic VW some time ago to someone on here and was told it was just a sample picture……  O_o

I think the set which came in my kit is

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254109110324?hash=item3b2a155034:g:mWkAAOSwXpthxMsQ

And the rear is

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334178885670?epid=1216471705&hash=item4dce9d2026:g:cJkAAOSwKD5hxND~


Send them an email or call them to double check as he will help you get the right bits thumbs:

Nice one, thanks again!

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Just edited post  :thumbs:

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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Legend, thanks again - interestingly I checked the rear springs in my shed as I'm waiting for parts and they appear to be the correct style collapsible dust cover and bump stop, so that saves money on some parts at least! PXL_20220626_204134648.jpg

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Found the post about bump stops

https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=technical%2Frunning-gear_2%2Fnew-bilstein-b4-shocks&kfs77=30

Just wanted to check with you which kit you ordered for your tin top GTi?

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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This was the kit I ordered. Definitely no mention of Cabriolet on the description or title, was worried for a second there!

https://www.classic-vw.co.uk/complete-suspension-kit-with-eibach-springs-mk1-golf-jetta-scirocco-18286-p.asp

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Just speaking to him now and he says the original bump stops shouldn't have to be cut down anyway - but says I should use this set -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333054140934?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=mE_L49NxRXC&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=DWcCcCi5RS-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Does that seem right? Slightly concerned they'll be too tall again to be honest

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The original length bump stops with 40mm lowering springs will give you about 10mm before you hit the bump stops so will be fine on a flat road but there's not many of those in the uk…

When 1st lowered my car about 15 years ago I used the standard length rubber bump stops and the car would crash and bang over any bump in the road and the plastic dust covers eventually smashed them selves to bits and that's when I noticed very little gap between the bump stop and the strut housing. I then started to cut the middle out of the bump stop as in my picture above.

When changing my suspension again the kit I brought had the shorter bump stops (the same as your link above) and they work well, you don't want them much shorter or the bottom of the car will hit the floor  :P

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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mark1gls said

The original length bump stops with 40mm lowering springs will give you about 10mm before you hit the bump stops so will be fine on a flat road but there's not many of those in the uk…

When 1st lowered my car about 15 years ago I used the standard length rubber bump stops and the car would crash and bang over any bump in the road and the plastic dust covers eventually smashed them selves to bits and that's when I noticed very little gap between the bump stop and the strut housing. I then started to cut the middle out of the bump stop as in my picture above.

When changing my suspension again the kit I brought had the shorter bump stops (the same as your link above) and they work well, you don't want them much shorter or the bottom of the car will hit the floor  :P
Good to hear! I spoke to a few people and they said the lowering springs (tdcautomotove included) don't need shorter bump stops so I was concerned the ones I linked above would be the standard height and also be too long without cutting down.

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Interesting thread this - I fitted H&R lowering springs on mine about 100 years ago (read my build thread  :lol: ) and I doubt I'd have known about shorter bump stops (hey, it was pre-internet!).
Crash and bang seems about right, so I probably need some short bump stops.
That said, I'm still none the wiser about where to get them…The other thread linked seems to suggest these are the ones:
https://www.classic-vw.co.uk/front-suspension-bump-stop--dust-shield-set--357498131s-mk1--2-golf-jetta-scirocco-caddy-21160-p.asp
but it doesn't mention short in the description….

My rebuild thread I will try and keep up to date: here

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