Steering upgrade question

Kho1

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2020
Location
Foley, Al
TDI
MKlV
Ok fellas, so I’m new to vw, I have a 2005 golf tdi. I have always had and worked on diesels that have oversized tires, so I’m used to upgrading to heavier steering components in order to run them with less maintenance issues. Having a Cummins, the options for heavy duty steering components are endless. So far with vw, that has not been my experience. I would like to run larger wheels on my MK4, but I do realize the stock steering components do take more of a beating running heavier wheels. Does anyone know of any companies that make heavier duty steering components? Or am I going to have to fabricate heavier components myself?


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oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Yep, you are new to Volkswagen.

You will find the steering and suspension of these cars is not at all as wimpy as what you are likely used to.

Not sure what your angle on "oversized tires" is all about, but if they will fit in the wheel arches and you can stand to drive it, the steering will likely be just fine.
 

Kho1

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2020
Location
Foley, Al
TDI
MKlV
I was considering putting 18” wheels on it, but the previous owner told me he took 18’s off because he was replacing the tie rod ends more often. That was my only concern


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Kho1

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2020
Location
Foley, Al
TDI
MKlV
Yep, you are new to Volkswagen.



You will find the steering and suspension of these cars is not at all as wimpy as what you are likely used to.



Not sure what your angle on "oversized tires" is all about, but if they will fit in the wheel arches and you can stand to drive it, the steering will likely be just fine.


I won’t be putting oversized tires on the golf, just looking at putting some 18”wheels. My experience with oversized tires and steering components come from working mostly with trucks.


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oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
The bigger the wheel, the heavier the wheel, and the lower profile tires are often heavier, and they are pretty much always wider. This all means that the balance needs to be better, or otherwise it will jackhammer the steering components to death. Also, bigger and heavier rotating mass means the brakes will work much harder, which opens up the door for warping of rotors, which further jackhammers the dickens out of steering components.

Good quality wheels/tires/brakes properly balanced and installed should not give much more stress to steering and suspension components, but it is not rocket science to realize that the much harsher ride to the driver and passengers that some of these bling wheel/tire combos give will almost certainly shorten the life of parts that the standard 195-65-15-91H tires would not.

I just had to explain yesterday to some guy who insisted on putting some hoosier commando BF Goodrich LT off road tires on his Lexus GX470 was the reason the truck road/sounded/handled far worse than what Toyota intended. :rolleyes:
 

Kho1

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2020
Location
Foley, Al
TDI
MKlV
The bigger the wheel, the heavier the wheel, and the lower profile tires are often heavier, and they are pretty much always wider. This all means that the balance needs to be better, or otherwise it will jackhammer the steering components to death. Also, bigger and heavier rotating mass means the brakes will work much harder, which opens up the door for warping of rotors, which further jackhammers the dickens out of steering components.



Good quality wheels/tires/brakes properly balanced and installed should not give much more stress to steering and suspension components, but it is not rocket science to realize that the much harsher ride to the driver and passengers that some of these bling wheel/tire combos give will almost certainly shorten the life of parts that the standard 195-65-15-91H tires would not.



I just had to explain yesterday to some guy who insisted on putting some hoosier commando BF Goodrich LT off road tires on his Lexus GX470 was the reason the truck road/sounded/handled far worse than what Toyota intended. :rolleyes:


Absolutely lol. I worked in a shop for a long time and had this same discussion many times. I was just wondering about parts, just because I know on my Cummins, I have upgraded the trac bar, tierod ends, ball joints, suspension etc. to make it last longer and ride like a stock truck. I just didn’t know if it was possible to do the same with my golf.


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Rrusse11

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Location
PA Deutsch Country
TDI
2002 Golf, 5spd; 05 Jeep CRD
Read this thread;
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=133342
Then decide what kind of handling car you want.

Personally I'm a fan of 16" rims, and something nobody seems to get,
stiffening the monocoque body. A top strut tie bar and an internal rear
cabin brace for your Golf will stiffen our little box for a couple hundred.

Not a fan of poly bushings et al, or rear sway bars. Get some good shocks,
springs, a skid plate, and great tires. Then you're ready for a tune.

My $.02
 
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