miketoth1979
Well-known member
I know there is a lot of interest on this site about suspension modifications...and especially lifting. Many of the options for a full suspension redo can be very expensive, and for someone on a tight budget like me, were not really an option. Here is how I did a full suspension redo for right around $500, complete with all the positives and negatives of going this route.
I read through literally hundreds of pages on this site trying to arrive at a decision for my '01 5m Golf. With 130K, my stock suspension system was pretty well worn. It bottomed out hard over just about every moderate bump, and with the addition of a Defender steel skid plate in the front and a Curt towing hitch in the back, it just got worse. Also, I tow an 800 lb boat and trailer with a 70lb tongue weight which sagged my poor Golf somethin' fearful, so it was definitely time for some added beef.
There are guys who swear by shine springs with Koni Reds, yellows, or bilstein hd's strut/shock combos and 10mm spacers, plus new mounts, bolts, bump stops, bearings, etc. ($$$). And then there are those who go out and get the heavier VR6 front springs and Jetta Wagon rears springs. I put out many requests for the coveted 2blue 2white front Jetta spring combo and for Jetta Wagon Rears without much luck. My manual golf had 2 green 1 pink stock springs which are rated at about 146lbs. The 2b/2w are about 170...so it's a significant jump UP. Most of the springs I was offered on this site were only a slight jump up....usually 153lbs or so. You can always buy the exact ones you want from VW, but they sure are expensive..and since I am on a tight budget, I was looking for a cheaper and, hopefully, reliable alternative.
I ended up finding the website www.blauparts.com They offer full suspension kits with limited lifetime warranties for VWs and Audi's that include the replacement mounts, bearings, and all necessary hardware for something like $259 plus free shipping. Wayy cheaper than the Konis/Bilsteins and necessary suspension refresh kits. I bought the MGR1002-A kit listed for my A4 golf, but I think could have gone stiffer (more on that later). Since I couldn't find the springs I wanted, I went with what I was told by a member of this site and checked out rockauto.com because they have MOOG aftermarket springs that are direct replacements for VR6 and Jetta wagon springs, and the prices are pretty amazing. $42 for the PAIR. The part numbers 81134 are the VR6 fronts and 81055 are the Wagon rears.
2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLX 2.8L 2792cc V6 FI [BDF] DOHC MOOG81134Coil Spring$ 42.79$ 0.001$ 42.79 MOOG81055Coil Spring$ 42.79$ 0.001$ 42.79 ShippingGround (FedEx or UPS)$ 16.79
Those springs are the same height as the stock ones I removed from my Golf, although they are substantially thicker and heavier. (13.75" for the rears...I forget the front springs overall height, but the new ones were the same)
Rears. MOOG on right.
Difference in thickness. Sorry, no micrometer.
Anyways. Once I got these springs, I was sure that they were beefy enough. In fact before I put them on, I worried they were TOO beefy, so I ordered the softer shock/struts in order to compensate for that. Basically how some guys buy new springs and adjustable heavy duty shocks but put them on full soft to dampen the harsher springs and make a smoother ride. I also opted out of buying front strut spacers because I figured I wouldn't need them. Well...that was probably a mistake. I installed the rear shocks and springs and had a professional mechanic friend install the struts, mounts, springs, and bearings for me...plus the necessary alignment afterwards. Everything popped in just fine and fit like OEM components.
RESULTS:
Well, I succeeded in firming up the suspension. It seriously drives like a different car and there is virtually no body roll. Bumps are absorbed very nicely, and in no way would I consider the suspension too harsh. With the blausport shocks and the MOOG wagon springs, the rear of the car has boosted up about 1.5" after settling in for about 5 days (from 27" to 28.5" from the ground to top of outer wheel well) and is very solid, even with the boat on it. Exactly what I wanted. The fronts, however, not so perfect. With the blausport struts, new mounts, and MOOG VR6 springs, I gained a measly 0.5" (from 26.5" to 27"), which is probably what I gained by replacing the worn out mounts alone. I now have a forward rake of about 1.5"...which actually feels kinda cool.
WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY:
When I have the money to have the work done, I will probably need to get one or perhaps two sets of the VW 10mm strut spacers to boost up the front...which will require another alignment, etc. The front springs I installed feel nice. They are stiffer, and the body roll is much reduced, but I was quite surprised that I didn't gain more height than that. I was expecting another inch at least. I think I may have gone too soft on the blausport struts. You have the option to get beefier kits which are for the VR6's, and I wish I would have now.
Overall, I'd say I am happy with the results, although it is still way too early to tell how the components hold up. There aren't many threads here about blausports, so I figured I'd start this one.
For shocks, struts, all necessary hardware, springs, install and alignment, I paid right about $500. With the lifetime warranty, I figured it was worth a shot. In no way am I saying what I did is any better than a fancy new set of Konis or Bilsteins with new springs straight from a vendor of VW. But it's definitely a cheaper alternative....so I will keep you all posted on my results.
I read through literally hundreds of pages on this site trying to arrive at a decision for my '01 5m Golf. With 130K, my stock suspension system was pretty well worn. It bottomed out hard over just about every moderate bump, and with the addition of a Defender steel skid plate in the front and a Curt towing hitch in the back, it just got worse. Also, I tow an 800 lb boat and trailer with a 70lb tongue weight which sagged my poor Golf somethin' fearful, so it was definitely time for some added beef.
There are guys who swear by shine springs with Koni Reds, yellows, or bilstein hd's strut/shock combos and 10mm spacers, plus new mounts, bolts, bump stops, bearings, etc. ($$$). And then there are those who go out and get the heavier VR6 front springs and Jetta Wagon rears springs. I put out many requests for the coveted 2blue 2white front Jetta spring combo and for Jetta Wagon Rears without much luck. My manual golf had 2 green 1 pink stock springs which are rated at about 146lbs. The 2b/2w are about 170...so it's a significant jump UP. Most of the springs I was offered on this site were only a slight jump up....usually 153lbs or so. You can always buy the exact ones you want from VW, but they sure are expensive..and since I am on a tight budget, I was looking for a cheaper and, hopefully, reliable alternative.
I ended up finding the website www.blauparts.com They offer full suspension kits with limited lifetime warranties for VWs and Audi's that include the replacement mounts, bearings, and all necessary hardware for something like $259 plus free shipping. Wayy cheaper than the Konis/Bilsteins and necessary suspension refresh kits. I bought the MGR1002-A kit listed for my A4 golf, but I think could have gone stiffer (more on that later). Since I couldn't find the springs I wanted, I went with what I was told by a member of this site and checked out rockauto.com because they have MOOG aftermarket springs that are direct replacements for VR6 and Jetta wagon springs, and the prices are pretty amazing. $42 for the PAIR. The part numbers 81134 are the VR6 fronts and 81055 are the Wagon rears.
2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLX 2.8L 2792cc V6 FI [BDF] DOHC MOOG81134Coil Spring$ 42.79$ 0.001$ 42.79 MOOG81055Coil Spring$ 42.79$ 0.001$ 42.79 ShippingGround (FedEx or UPS)$ 16.79
Those springs are the same height as the stock ones I removed from my Golf, although they are substantially thicker and heavier. (13.75" for the rears...I forget the front springs overall height, but the new ones were the same)
Rears. MOOG on right.
Difference in thickness. Sorry, no micrometer.
Anyways. Once I got these springs, I was sure that they were beefy enough. In fact before I put them on, I worried they were TOO beefy, so I ordered the softer shock/struts in order to compensate for that. Basically how some guys buy new springs and adjustable heavy duty shocks but put them on full soft to dampen the harsher springs and make a smoother ride. I also opted out of buying front strut spacers because I figured I wouldn't need them. Well...that was probably a mistake. I installed the rear shocks and springs and had a professional mechanic friend install the struts, mounts, springs, and bearings for me...plus the necessary alignment afterwards. Everything popped in just fine and fit like OEM components.
RESULTS:
Well, I succeeded in firming up the suspension. It seriously drives like a different car and there is virtually no body roll. Bumps are absorbed very nicely, and in no way would I consider the suspension too harsh. With the blausport shocks and the MOOG wagon springs, the rear of the car has boosted up about 1.5" after settling in for about 5 days (from 27" to 28.5" from the ground to top of outer wheel well) and is very solid, even with the boat on it. Exactly what I wanted. The fronts, however, not so perfect. With the blausport struts, new mounts, and MOOG VR6 springs, I gained a measly 0.5" (from 26.5" to 27"), which is probably what I gained by replacing the worn out mounts alone. I now have a forward rake of about 1.5"...which actually feels kinda cool.
WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY:
When I have the money to have the work done, I will probably need to get one or perhaps two sets of the VW 10mm strut spacers to boost up the front...which will require another alignment, etc. The front springs I installed feel nice. They are stiffer, and the body roll is much reduced, but I was quite surprised that I didn't gain more height than that. I was expecting another inch at least. I think I may have gone too soft on the blausport struts. You have the option to get beefier kits which are for the VR6's, and I wish I would have now.
Overall, I'd say I am happy with the results, although it is still way too early to tell how the components hold up. There aren't many threads here about blausports, so I figured I'd start this one.
For shocks, struts, all necessary hardware, springs, install and alignment, I paid right about $500. With the lifetime warranty, I figured it was worth a shot. In no way am I saying what I did is any better than a fancy new set of Konis or Bilsteins with new springs straight from a vendor of VW. But it's definitely a cheaper alternative....so I will keep you all posted on my results.