Suspension Tips: Improve Your Car's Handling

Hey everyone,

Soon, I'll need to replace the shock absorbers on my Golf. Currently, I'm using the original VW suspension, which is very comfortable but a bit too soft for my taste. I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience with shock absorbers from other manufacturers. This might also be a good opportunity to change the springs and install a slightly stiffer suspension, such as the original VW sport suspension (which I believe lowers the car by about 20mm).
It definitely shouldn't be any deeper than that, since I live in a rural area.
Okay, so I'd like to hear your opinions. I'm grateful for any advice you can offer, including information about prices, etc.

Best regards,
Jean.

hi Jean,

Okay, I can only speak about the original VW sport suspension because that's what I have. For comparison, I also have the standard suspension. It seems to prioritize comfort a lot, but unfortunately at the expense of driving dynamics. I'm very happy with my sport suspension. It doesn't turn the Golf into a Ford Focus (which is my favorite in the Golf class, until the new Golf came out), but it's definitely a great compromise. I just don't know how much you're willing to invest. I don't know anything about highly adjustable, complete overhauls, and I'm also not a fan of extreme tuning.
The sports suspension (which came installed from the factory) combined with the 17-inch wheels (also original VW) provides a good driving experience, and I haven't experienced any issues with bottoming out.

Hi Matthias,

Thank you for the quick response. To be honest, this is also my favorite.
I've also had 17' VW wheels since last spring, and they would look good on my car. Unfortunately, it's often the case that original VW parts are significantly more expensive than comparable alternatives. Do you have any idea how much it costs to retrofit them? Or can anyone recommend equivalent alternatives?

best regards
Jean.

Oh dear, I have absolutely no idea, but it's certainly much more expensive than all the alternatives. But be careful, especially if you haven't registered the original 17-inch VW wheels. If you lower the car, you won't be able to register them anymore, because the Sportline and all models with 17-inch wheels always had the sport suspension plus a shortened steering rack. Without this shortened rack, you won't get approval from VW or the TÜV (technical inspection) authorities. Unfortunately, even adding a later modification won't change that. That's why I ordered everything directly from the factory. I remember how much work it was to get the beautiful Santa Monica wheels registered, because they don't have the KBA number, which means you're dependent on VW's goodwill... and they don't offer much of that! UNFORTUNATELY.

Hi.

'I think the rims are called 'Evolo STP'. They were a complete set of 225/45 R17 tires, and I had them registered with VW right away. Are there actually problems with steering angle in real life, or is that just an exaggerated requirement from TÜV (German technical inspection agency)? Does the retrofitting of the sports suspension with a 2cm lowering need to be registered, even if it's an original VW part? According to the vehicle registration document, the vehicle height can vary by +/- 2cm.'

Best regards, Jean.

Hello Jean,

I was informed that it is not possible to retrofit an original VW sports suspension system because, supposedly, there is no approval certificate required for registration.

However, there are good alternatives:

If you want to keep the original springs, for example, you could use Bilstein B6 Sport shock absorbers with a stiffer setting.

When replacing springs and dampers: Eibach Pro Kit springs with a 30mm lowering effect and Bilstein B8 Sprint shock absorbers, tuned to match the springs. Bilstein also offers this as a B12 BTK sport suspension kit.

The rims shouldn't be a problem; many users in the Golf IV forum have successfully had them registered after lowering the car. You can search the forum for more information.

I got my B8 dampers for about half the list price from E. Weber GmbH, a well-known Seat tuner who also runs a shop on eBay.

http://www.stores.ebay.de/id=59216974&ssPageName=L2

I just sent an email asking for a quote.

It was a good investment; the stiff, performance-oriented suspension used to give me very little enjoyment.

Greetings, Marcus.

"Yes, the problem is that VW isn't issuing approval for it. And since the original sport suspension has the shortened steering rack, you can't get it registered like that. I don't know who would understand this nonsense..."

Hi, I drive an A3. At 120,000 km, I replaced the original sport springs with new ones of the same type, had all the suspension bushings replaced, and I got B6 sport dampers from Bilstein for myself and my child. The results are impressive:

* less understeer
* more comfort
* improved braking performance
* The unpleasant swaying at high speeds on highways is gone.
* and just like a plank of wood, Bilstein is highly recommended!

PS: Vehicles equipped with Bilstein shock absorbers regularly compete for the best lap time for production cars at the Nürburgring.

Hi David!
My A3 now has almost 150,000 km on the odometer, and the suspension doesn't feel as tight as it used to. That's why I bought an original Audi Sport suspension from a 2001 A3 on eBay last year.
I hope that no changes were made to the suspension system as part of maintenance procedures, so that the springs and dampers from my A3 (year 1996) will fit.
What I'm also interested in, in this context, is whether the 19mm or the 21mm stabilizer bar was installed on your series sports suspension.
I'm actually considering whether I should replace the stabilizer bar at the same time during the renovation or not.

What do you think about that? Is there a noticeable difference between a 19-inch and a 21-inch stabilizer bar, assuming the springs and dampers are otherwise the same?

David, you wrote that you had all the rubber-to-metal bushings replaced. Did you have this done at a workshop, or did you have a friend do it for you? How much did it cost?
I believe that replacing the rubber-to-metal bushings has a similar impact on handling as replacing the shock absorbers.

Does installing original parts (in this case, original Audi springs and dampers) in a vehicle automatically mean that a valid General Operating Permit (ABE) is in place?

And one last question: Does anyone know exactly how much lower the vehicle sits when you install the standard sport suspension instead of the standard suspension? I want to lose as little ground clearance as possible, as I mostly drive on side roads.

Regards,
Alex.

@donalexo:

They are 15 to 20mm deeper.

You'll need specialized tools to replace the wheel bearings, which not every workshop has.

The difference between the 19mm and 21mm stabilizer bars is noticeable. In the Golf 4s where we installed them, we saw improved handling, and slalom maneuvers were executed with more direct steering response. The body roll was approximately the same, as far as we could estimate.

The front axle alignment can only be done with specialized tools.
I carried out the renovation in several steps: first, I replaced the rubber bushings on the stabilizer bar, then the shock absorbers with their damper bearings, followed by the swivel joints and tie rods. I no longer remember the exact cost, but it was probably around €685 plus installation. This included the shock absorbers, bearings, tie rods, swivel joints, alignment, and springs.
But now it's good for another 120,000 km .
Cheers!

davidshoes wrote:
The shock absorbers cost approximately €685 plus installation,

Goodness, what kind of pharmacy was that?

I submitted the following:

Hello Mr. X,

Thank you for your order.

We deliver to you:

2x BILSTEIN B8: Part number VE3-4408. Price for 2 pieces: 188 EUR.
2x BILSTEIN B8: BE3-2624. Price for 2 pieces: 118.00 EUR.
Shipping costs: 8.00 EURO.

TOTAL: 314. - EUR


It's also worth comparing prices when buying a shock absorber.

Greetings, Marcus.

I got them for 480, which was 30% below the listed price on the Bilstein website, and also 30% below the dealer's retail price at Audi. Unfortunately, Bilstein has changed their website, and the prices are no longer listed.
@ Nuckelpinne_72: Where did you get those (they're not B6s, but whatever)?

Hello David,

I got them from E. Weber GmbH, which I found by doing a Google search.

It's likely a reputable tuning company that has been in business for a while and is an official Seat Sport partner.

The http://www.seatsport.de/ page has a shop on eBay.

http://www.stores.ebay.de/id=59216974&ssPageName=L2

... where he also offers high-quality Eibach springs and some stylish rims at affordable prices.

Since the shop didn't have the right dampers, I sent an email to: [email protected].
I inquired about it, and the same day I received the offer I was looking for. Four days later, the shock absorbers arrived at my house, brand new and in their original packaging.

eBay can be fun like this, and I can definitely recommend it.

I had previously wasted my time at Freundlichen and ATU, and they had quoted me prices of 600 EUR for the courses.

Greetings, Marcus.