MKII Golf 16v Suspension Refurbish

[Fat Audi 80]

Hi,

Apart from the head gasket failure, heater matrix explosion and sloppy suspension, my valver is lovely and I want to make it right again!

What do you guys recommend I do in terms of refreshing the suspension and is it something I can do reasonably easily at home with a jack and good tools?

I would like to fit new springs and shocks, retaining the standard ride height and a standardish ride quality. I like firm but progressive. I am thinking of doing all the bushes while I am down there. Is this a DIY job or are there lots of bushes to be pressed out etc making it a pro job?

Any BTDT's with makes of suspension would be nice! ( I am on a bit of budget but would do £400 - £500 if is was going to be really good afterwards.

TIA

Cheers,

Steve.

[J-skid]

Hmmmm - the bushes in the real beam are a sod to get out - the best way I found was to burn them out and hacksaw the remains out. Front ones are a little easier.

[iguana]

Rear beam you may struggle at home.

Poly bush every bush, use new shocks either O.E (specify 16v NOT 8v) or boge turbo gas, or for a few more quid Koni T/As & you wont quite belive the diference.

If you want to change springs too, I can advise Eibach progressives, firmer than stock & bit lower even than stock 16v but not too silly, works particually well with Eibachs own dampers= excellent fast road & even track use set up or even better with the Konis.


Ps aftermarket antiroll bars- Eibach/H&R etc a very worthwhile mod too, but do the other stuff 1st.

Edited by iguana on Friday 21st July 12:17

[Fat Audi 80]

iguana said:

Rear beam you may struggle at home.

Poly bush every bush, use new shocks either O.E (specify 16v NOT 8v) or boge turbo gas, or for a few more quid Koni T/As & you wont quite belive the diference.

If you want to change springs too, I can advise Eibach progressives, firmer than stock & bit lower even than stock 16v but not too silly, works particually well with Eibachs own dampers= excellent fast road & even track use set up or even better with the Konis.


Ps aftermarket antiroll bars- Eibach/H&R etc a very worthwhile mod too, but do the other stuff 1st.

Edited by iguana on Friday 21st July 12:17

Cheers Ig!

I will probably go for the cheapest option on springs. The is nothing noticable wrong with them at the moment but I can imagine affer 16 years hard use they have seen better days. IIRC the stock ones from GSF are very cheap. (I am assuming they are reasonable quality too unless anyone knows otherwise) I will check out prices of Boge turbo gas and probably do the front bushes myself. I will leave the reat beam to my mechanic.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,

Steve

[Pickled Piper]

Don't bother changing the springs unless they have collapsed. The GSF springs are Ventura and very poor quality. Spend your money on good shocks and replacing all the bushes.

pp

[Fat Audi 80]

Okay - Thanks!