Time for suspension.

[OnePunk]

Have had my 96 golf GL for almost a year now, can say with confidence that the factory shocks are GONE at this point. I want to lower it about 2"Front, 1.5"Rear, but dont necessarily have the money to just go out and buy coilovers. so I've been looking at maybe doing Eibach Sportline springs with Bilstein monotube shocks, wont cost too much and from what I read it will give me the drop and ride I'm looking for, like i said If i had the money to spend on Coilovers I'd probably have already bought a set, anyone have an opinion or perhaps some advice?

[PKstrategy]

If you know for sure that you are going to be ok with that setup and not want to go lower at some point, then you're all set.
Still, I personally think it's worth saving up for a good brand coilover setup because I don't need to think about what to do when I wanna go lower. I will simply, just, go lower.

[OnePunk]

I'm still entertaining that as well only because i live in Colorado and was thinking today about the ability to raise it up a little bit during the winter.

[germancarnut51]

Have had my 96 golf GL for almost a year now, can say with confidence that the factory shocks are GONE at this point. I want to lower it about 2"Front, 1.5"Rear, but dont necessarily have the money to just go out and buy coilovers. so I've been looking at maybe doing Eibach Sportline springs with Bilstein monotube shocks, wont cost too much and from what I read it will give me the drop and ride I'm looking for, like i said If i had the money to spend on Coilovers I'd probably have already bought a set, anyone have an opinion or perhaps some advice?

The only shocks and struts that will live when using Eibach Sportlines and dampen those psprings properly are Bilstein Sports and Koni Sports. A new set of either one of these struts and shocks is going to cost you $550-$600. If you buy those springs new, you're looking at another $200-$250.

You also will need to buy new strut mounts and strut bearings. And the car will probably also need new lower control bushings or complete lower control arms.

[OnePunk]

The only shocks and struts that will live when using Eibach Sportlines and dampen those psprings properly are Bilstein Sports and Koni Sports. A new set of either one of these struts and shocks is going to cost you $550-$600. If you buy those springs new, you're looking at another $200-$250.

You also will need to buy new strut mounts and strut bearings. And the car will probably also need new lower control bushings or complete lower control arms.

You bring up a good point I didn't even think about replacing anything else. I'm starting to lean towards the Bilstein PSS coilovers at this point, mainly because I am thinking during the winter I can raise the suspension up to allow for clearance when it snows here. I know i probably wont stop there once I start putting fun parts in it, was already looking at swaybars and strut braces, thanks for the advice!

[germancarnut51]

Something you probably don't know anything about is the fact that everytime you change the ride height, you have to get a wheel alignment.

[dsleggett]

Eibach makes great struts too. I put the Eibach Pro-Kit on my 8V about 4 years and 75k miles ago, love them. I just bought a set for my VR6 for $535 in October. I highly recommend the Eibach Pro-Kit.

[OnePunk]

Something you probably don't know anything about is the fact that everytime you change the ride height, you have to get a wheel alignment.

Well how nice of you to be so assuming. Believe me, I'm very aware I'm going to need an alignment. thank you though, how thoughtful...

[OnePunk]

Eibach makes great struts too. I put the Eibach Pro-Kit on my 8V about 4 years and 75k miles ago, love them. I just bought a set for my VR6 for $535 in October. I highly recommend the Eibach Pro-Kit.

I was looking for the pro kit actually but the sportline kit always came up, looked at the ride height from each of them, like i mentioned earlier I'm thinking I'm gonna save up for coilovers and every other part that comes with dropping my ride.

[germancarnut51]

Well how nice of you to be so assuming. Believe me, I'm very aware I'm going to need an alignment. thank you though, how thoughtful...

What I was referring to is not the fact that you have to get the wheels aligned after having the coilovers installed. But rather that you mentioned raising the car in the winter (and assume dropping it in the summer), and the fact that when you raise in the winter you wold have to get a wheel alignment, and when you drop it in the summer, you would need another wheel alignment.

[OnePunk]

What I was referring to is not the fact that you have to get the wheels aligned after having the coilovers installed. But rather that you mentioned raising the car in the winter (and assume dropping it in the summer), and the fact that when you raise in the winter you wold have to get a wheel alignment, and when you drop it in the summer, you would need another wheel alignment.

Which has me thinking I'll just set it and forget it, just have to be wary of bigger snowstorms.

[95jetta17]

pics of car

[OnePunk]

[OnePunk]

Been a while since this thread went up, but I bought Raceland Coilovers for my golf, was wondering if anyone knew of a good bushing kit, and/or where I could get new strut mounts/bearings. Any word on the Prothane bushing kit form Jegs.com?

[dubraycer36]

Been a while since this thread went up, but I bought Raceland Coilovers for my golf, was wondering if anyone knew of a good bushing kit, and/or where I could get new strut mounts/bearings. Any word on the Prothane bushing kit form Jegs.com?

Just use the OEM or VR6 ones for the struts, and if you're gonna do the control arms, ball joints, and swaybar ends you can get everything from http://www.germanautoparts.com/

[VW_MK3_270]

Been a while since this thread went up, but I bought Raceland Coilovers for my golf, was wondering if anyone knew of a good bushing kit, and/or where I could get new strut mounts/bearings. Any word on the Prothane bushing kit form Jegs.com?

touche on the coilovers.

Are you looking for something like this: MK3 Suspension refresh kit - WRD USA

[OnePunk]

got the Raceland coilovers and control arm bushings installed, didn't end up doing the rear axle beam bushings due to time and space but the current ones are still good. Went from bad OEM shocks to coilovers, holy **** is it fun!