Update:
I finally installed Passat springs up front w/ new monroe struts, the TT LCA bushings left outer cv joint boot. The rear got new monroe shocks & retained the 2x4 shim under the stock springs...
The passat springs were had cheap for $200 for the front pair still on their struts and the rears loose. If you pursue this avenue of lift, you will want some of the rubber parts that come from the strut assys from the passat, and skip the rears as those are too fat to fit w/o mods. (I intend to take a torch to them to bend the seating eyes over to one side to see if they will go in an offset manner) OR (I wanna try to install my old front springs in the rear first, which should/might achieve a leveling amount of lift w/o the wood shims currently employed)
the lift achieved is about as much as can be had w/o major reengineering to the car but it all fit in there w/ plenty of room for 205/75r15 dirt tires for max lift. the struts ride nearly topped out all the time. My 2000 tdi jetta compressed these spring/strut assys only an inch when I put the car down on its wheels. this implies that the required damping these passat springs are asking for does not exist in the jetta struts. Installing the rubber passat spring saddle onto the jetta spring cup was a last minute idea to properly hold that union together, the mismatch of those parts made this a good idea to this shadetree wrench hack.
I stay up in the air no matter what I run over.... like those annoying speed humps @ 40 is now a pleasure. The new LCA bushings add to the car's tightness, too. Alignment issues are nonexistant, but have yet to have a shop check it. I do feel the springs compress as these are not 1-ton truck springs that would overpower everything, just passat springs from a brother vw.... Otherwise the handling is great, body roll is gone, but the brakes feel they have taken a dive...
I did not touch my brakes this time as they still have plenty of life left in them, BUT... "I think" that with the altered geometry of the car now up in the air has affected braking performance, or maybe my cocky ass is now blazing thru stuff that I now hafta stop faster now that I'm going faster... so that nothin' is wrong with nothin' and its all in my head. I dunno, Its just an observation about the "new" car I now have.
"WHEN" the brakes finally wear out, an upgrade is on order including steel braided lines...
the peloquin 80% kit does not go to this new of a car... so getting a full LSD into my car is gonna be expensive no matter what. Is finding a used trans updated w/ LSD a cheaper way to go??? if so, how would I easily confirm its actually there?? cuz when one wheel has no resistance, nothing is transmitted to the other end, so how to check w/o disassy??
I like my lift for what I paid, handling is improved greatly for a "baja jetta" project is concerned.