Quick suspension question

[BromptonRodeo]

The suspension on my '92 golf gl is in desperate need of replacing and I was looking for some feed back from anyone who has put gti or mk3 springs and shocks/struts onto a gl. I just want a mild upgrade and don't want to (can't) spend the money on brand new parts. Also, there are plenty of mk3 golfs in local scrap yards.

[PDXGTI8V 2.0]

The suspension on my '92 golf gl is in desperate need of replacing and I was looking for some feed back from anyone who has put gti or mk3 springs and shocks/struts onto a gl. I just want a mild upgrade and don't want to (can't) spend the money on brand new parts.

gti springs and shocks, or mk3 springs, arent going to be an upgrade at all....

best bet is to buy a used set of coils/springs or a used set of coilovers if you are on a tight budget

[Jman5000]

Put something relevant in your post title so it'll be OF USE to others later.

Did you try a search? "Mk3 springs" have thirty-seven posts available for review.

[PDXGTI8V 2.0]

Put something relevant in your post title so it'll be OF USE to others later.

Did you try a search? "Mk3 springs" have thirty-seven posts available for review.

oops, i forgot to put "use the search" in my response

[BromptonRodeo]

Put something relevant in your post title so it'll be OF USE to others later.

Did you try a search? "Mk3 springs" have thirty-seven posts available for review.

Thanks, i have edited the title so it makes more sense, hopefully. I posted that just before bed, and after some beers, so i probably wasn't as eloquent as i could have been.

[WannabemkIV]

The MK3 is a heavier chassis, thus stock springs from a MK3 will probably lift your MK2.

[-RalleyTuned-]

Replace the shocks with Bilstein TC's, They are pretty cheap and they ride awesome. If you choose to go with mk3 springs, be sure to also upgrade the shocks accordingly with something like a bilstein HD or Sport. The springs WILL raise the car, and you will have to cut some of the coils to get it down to stock height.

Mk3 spring all around with a few coils cut will be a very large upgrade to the spring rate on the car, it will be much stiffer all around. If you don't upgrade the shocks the car will ride terribly, so plan to upgrade those regardless. If you just want to improve the ride, just upgrade the shocks for now and you can always change springs later. Stock springs do not wear out, only the shocks do.

[BromptonRodeo]

Replace the shocks with Bilstein TC's, They are pretty cheap and they ride awesome. If you choose to go with mk3 springs, be sure to also upgrade the shocks accordingly with something like a bilstein HD or Sport. The springs WILL raise the car, and you will have to cut some of the coils to get it down to stock height.

Mk3 spring all around with a few coils cut will be a very large upgrade to the spring rate on the car, it will be much stiffer all around. If you don't upgrade the shocks the car will ride terribly, so plan to upgrade those regardless. If you just want to improve the ride, just upgrade the shocks for now and you can always change springs later. Stock springs do not wear out, only the shocks do.

Thanks for the advice. I will look for the Bilsten TC's. This probably sounds like a n00b question, but the enamel, or whatever on my springs is cracking off, is this not a sign that they need to be replaced? Or can i just repaint them? The car does return to level after one bounce when i push down on the corners

[-RalleyTuned-]

Are you talking about when the car is sitting or after it has been lifted up in the air via jack or other?

Have the springs started to sag? That would be the only reason to replace the stock springs.

[BromptonRodeo]

When it's sitting on the ground. No, i don't think the car is starting to sag, the height appears to be factory, at least when there's nothing in it. If there's any substantial weight in the back, like a couple of adults, or a few boxes of books, the rear wheels are right inside the wheel well, but the more i think about it the more obvious it is that the springs aren't the culprit. I guess I'll just re enamel them and put them back on the new shocks.

[perdaniel]

Stock springs do not wear out, only the shocks do.

In this part of the world springs do wear out. It is quite common for springs to have to be replaced because they have broken.

[under the radar]

just curious, why do think your springs need to be replaced? you'd be better off replacing the strut inserts, strut mount/bearings, ball joints and control arm bushings.

[BromptonRodeo]

just curious, why do think your springs need to be replaced? you'd be better off replacing the strut inserts, strut mount/bearings, ball joints and control arm bushings.

Because the paint on the springs is cracked and peeling off, and as perdaniel said, springs in Norway have to be replaced, and I think the climate there is probably quite similar to Vancouver. Wet. Not to mention the twenty winters this car has seen driving on salted roads. But for now I think I will just replace the struts, mounts, etc.. and repaint the springs and see how they hold up.

[perdaniel]

Because the paint on the springs is cracked and peeling off...

I wouldn't replace the springs just because the paint is cracked. The rear springs I have on my car now came off another golf. I held on to them because you could actually see that they had been painted. The ones that I removed were completely devoid of any trace of paint (not a problem) and around two thirds of a coil had broken of from the springs (problem). As to the weather, according to wikipedia Vancouver has under 1600 mm yearly precipitation. Thats practically arid

[BromptonRodeo]

Lol, I had to check the annual precipitation for Askoy. You win! I know what I'm going to do now. Keep the springs, and buy brand new, but inexpensive shocks. German Auto Parts seems to have the best prices.I think I might get their sachs/boge gas shocks. On the plus side they'll be new, on the down side I'll need to get a hold of a spring compressor and find out how to paint springs. Thanks for the tips