Lowering the VR6

[D.I.T]

Ok fella's it come time for me to lower the VR6. I really dont want to spend $1900 on a set of coilovers so i really just want to change the springs to lower the car.

What brand springs are you all using to do this?

How much lower does the car sit?

PS. I will have photos up in the next coupld of days of the car for everyone to see.

[peedman]

I have eibachs that i bought off these forums. They sit about 3cm lower they say but I like it that way.

When you take ur springs out might as well see whether ur shocks are munted and do them aswell. When i took mine out i had to replace the rears coz i bent one shock and it was leaking oil anyway. I should have done the fronts but i didnt have the dosh :(

[Golf Loon]

mk3vr6 used lowering springs and his car looks pretty damn low.
Whats the story with them Steve?

[ScienceVR6]

i belive mine to be on Pedders springs, lowered aprox 2" but it still has standard shocks. Its also very bouncy, as the stiff spring is too hard for the shock to deal with. im told other golfs do the same thing when lowered. Anyone confirm this?

[D.I.T]

i belive mine to be on Pedders springs, lowered aprox 2" but it still has standard shocks

Just got back from Pedders when i put this topic up and was told they only make rear springs for the golf vr6

:confused: :confused:

[sukebe]

If you want a more "cost efficient" spring (Pedders etc), one suggestion is Lovells springs. GT Suspension in Flemington stocks them. They also sell KYB Excel-G dampers which are pretty good for the price. I think Munroe make dampers for a VR6 too.

Do you want to lower the car for the "look" or for handling? If just for the look then you could get away with springs only, but if you want it to handle better you really need to upgrade the dampers too. Also, if handling is important then I suggest getting a rear swaybar. Some members here reckon the Nuespeed one is the duks nuts, but you can get a Whiteline one for about half the price (~$210). A rear swaybar is the best (low budget) suspension mod you can do on a VR6.

[D.I.T]

If you want a more "cost efficient" spring (Pedders etc), one suggestion is Lovells springs

The local Pedders dealer checked and also told me Lovells dont make them either.


Do you want to lower the car for the "look" or for handling? If just for the look then you could get away with springs only, but if you want it to handle better you really need to upgrade the dampers too. Also, if handling is important then I suggest getting a rear swaybar. Some members here reckon the Nuespeed one is the duks nuts, but you can get a Whiteline one for about half the price (~$210). A rear swaybar is the best (low budget) suspension mod you can do on a VR6.

Well its mainly for the look, but i dont want it to then handle like a sack of spuds once its been lowered. What do the dampers do exacty?

[rayray086]

My suggestion is if you're gonna do it, might as well spend the extra bucks and do it properly, i.e. do the shocks + springs combo. The factory shocks were only made to handle the factory springs, which are softer and wound higher than "lowering"/sport springs. Though you can still use your factory shocks with lowering springs, it won't be too long until they'll give out and just sag, which you'll end up forking more money out anyway.

I got myself Koni springs with Koni Special shocks (Reds) and they're much better than any combo with a factory shock. The Koni springs give me a 40mm drop (written on paper - I didn't actually end up measuring the difference, but the difference was definitely noticeable). The Koni Reds give me different dampening settings, ranging from "soft" (which felt just slightly harder than OEM) and "hard" (which gave a harsher ride). This set me back just a tad over $1000, and I did the install at home with some help from friends. I ended up buying some new parts like bumpstops and mounts, and that set me back roughly an extra $150, all up bringing the total to ~$1200. The ride is definitely many times better, with body roll less evident and the car wanting to just keep gripping onto the road (I did a wheel/tyre upgrade at the same time so that may have increased that feeling :D).

It's good money spent - I bought the springs + shocks as a combo and so I ended up getting a discount + free shipping from Melbourne. You definitely won't receive deals if you buy items separately months apart.

Oh, and the stance is much better now too :)

Before:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2007/03/CIMG4942-2.jpg

After:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2007/03/CIMG5445-2.jpg

That's a listed 40mm drop (less than 2 inches).

I've taken the VR6 arches off too, which makes it look lower at the guards hehe.

[gldgti]

please please steer clear of KYB/monroe shocks. they are total crap. KYB/monroe are made in the same factory to anyone who doesnt know.

the monroes give out after a short while compared to a german made shock and always seem to be built for ride over handling. my lowered mk1 wiht monroe gt gas in the front is bouncy as heck.

if you cant afford bilsteins or koni's, go for SACHS super tourers or even BOGE turbo.

they will be lightyears better than any crappy aussie made shock.

[rayray086]

One little other thing - I was flicking through the latest Autosalon magazine and came across these new springs offered by Tein, the "S-Tech". They're meant to be compatible with factory shocks, yet still deliver the handling and stance (30mm drop) for your car offered by your typical sport springs. Listed price was "from 375", so it doesn't seem all that expensive. However, I've always associated Tein suspension bits with Japanese cars, so I don't know if they would offer it for Volkswagens, let alone the Mk3.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2007/03/skp_products-2.jpg

Edit: Gave the Tein website a visit and seems like they don't do it for European cars, not the Australian stockists anyway...

[syncro]

please please steer clear of KYB/monroe shocks. they are total crap. KYB/monroe are made in the same factory to anyone who doesnt know.

the monroes give out after a short while compared to a german made shock and always seem to be built for ride over handling. my lowered mk1 wiht monroe gt gas in the front is bouncy as heck.

if you cant afford bilsteins or koni's, go for SACHS super tourers or even BOGE turbo.

they will be lightyears better than any crappy aussie made shock.

I think KYB are made in Japan.

Boge turbo are great, and they're cheap.

[sukebe]

Dampers are the same thing as shock adsorbers, just a different name. I am used to calling them dampers from living in Japan (thats what they call them).

Check out GT Suspensions website. I didn't end up buying from them as I got a sweet deal on a slightly used kit, but they were very helpful when I spoke to them. Ask them what possibilities they have for VR6s. Personally, I reckon the above advice is very good. If you are not willing to spend $1000 on your suspension, then its not really worth doing.

[rayray086]

Check out GT Suspensions website. I didn't end up buying from them as I got a sweet deal on a slightly used kit, but they were very helpful when I spoke to them. Ask them what possibilities they have for VR6s. Personally, I reckon the above advice is very good. If you are not willing to spend $1000 on your suspension, then its not really worth doing.

That's exactly where I got my Koni shocks and springs from! Living in Sydney, I was only able to communicate by phone, but that was more than enough as they were very patient and helpful. They have special offers once in a while, so worth checking from time to time.

[D.I.T]

Going to pay them a visit this weekend as i really need to get this car lower, its driving me nuts as it sits now!

[evorobin]

Chill with $200 ish air freigth from the UK speak to demon tweaks and get a european answer to a euro question.

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=ROAD&pcode=KON1130-1400

Just one example but as they stock everything from cheap to KW have a look at products before you decide. I got my Weitec coilovers from here for less than $900 landed and I'm very happy :cool:

[rayray086]

I got my Weitec coilovers from here for less than $900 landed and I'm very happy :cool:

:O! $900AUD for Weitec coilovers on all four corners??

[evorobin]

GTN Kit is adjustable seated fixed spring on the rear and height adjustable coilover on the front. Remember the 90 pounds you pay in shipping would be eaten up with taxes if you were to buy in the UK anyway.

http://www.ledltuning.at/index.php?name=Golf+III+Variant&category=weitec-gt-tx&subcategory=VOLKSWAGEN&x=14&y=9

These are full coilovers (there is a cheaper GTN kit like mine for the mk3) but ledtunings shipping is off the scale so pick the product you want and give demon tweaks a call :cool:

Edit. UK is 9 hours behing AEST so you have all evening...

[bboyskidz]

Chill with $200 ish air freigth from the UK speak to demon tweaks and get a european answer to a euro question.

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=ROAD&pcode=KON1130-1400

Just one example but as they stock everything from cheap to KW have a look at products before you decide. I got my Weitec coilovers from here for less than $900 landed and I'm very happy :cool:

that is fkn pro! $841.56 for my 97CL on all four corners + delivery included!

[DubSteve]

mk3vr6 used lowering springs and his car looks pretty damn low.
Whats the story with them Steve?

Well there not just a lowered spring I have adjustable shocks. When I bought the car it was making a knocking sound funny enough thought it was the bushings. Took it to the mechanics and said that it was the spring it was coil binding WTF. Had a look at it while it was turning and you could see that the tyre was turning one way and it didn't want to give way. The main problem was that the shock was sitting at a medium setting. I could have simply fixed this problem adjusting the thing back to standard... This wasn't going to happen.

I shopped and went to K-mac springs, where I got them to make a adjustable coil so that if I wanted to I could lower it or make it higher. Thus making it a Coilover kit.

Problem solved I think at the moment its a 40mm drop. It will look lower once the 16's go on(smaller tyre)

I can still drop it to even lower :D:D:D:D

Mine are good no problems at all and pretty good good ride yet stiff somewhat.

[bboyskidz]

Well there not just a lowered spring I have adjustable shocks. When I bought the car it was making a knocking sound funny enough thought it was the bushings. Took it to the mechanics and said that it was the spring it was coil binding WTF. Had a look at it while it was turning and you could see that the tyre was turning one way and it didn't want to give way. The main problem was that the shock was sitting at a medium setting. I could have simply fixed this problem adjusting the thing back to standard... This wasn't going to happen.

I shopped and went to K-mac springs, where I got them to make a adjustable coil so that if I wanted to I could lower it or make it higher. Thus making it a Coilover kit.

Problem solved I think at the moment its a 40mm drop. It will look lower once the 16's go on(smaller tyre)

I can still drop it to even lower :D:D:D:D

Mine are good no problems at all and pretty good good ride yet stiff somewhat.

how much did that end up costing? is that still with the stock shocks?

[DubSteve]

how much did that end up costing? is that still with the stock shocks?

No they aren't stock shocks there Koni Yellow's I think already on the car now with K-mac adjustable coils.

[peedman]

Yo dude look what just popped up today!

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=4423

[DubSteve]

Yo dude look what just popped up today!

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=4423

I saw these to, looks like the way to go. I'd get them if I was you ask Andrew and I'm sure that he could tell you about them.

[Tim]

deals like that dont pop up all that often! do it do it do it!

[moto]

Frankly, I reckon if the suspension is lousy the car is lousy. If I couldn't go to a Koni or Bilstein setup I'd leave the factory stuff there. Suspension - even the cheapy stuff - is too much money and mucking around to be doing experiments. And its too critical to be driving on to be going backwards from the factory setup. Same goes for second hand struts. Struts are good for about 60,000 Ks. Its the same cost or trouble to put in old ones as new ones.
My 10 bobs worth.

[jonesyGT]

I ended up buying some new parts like bumpstops and mounts, and that set me back roughly an extra $150

Hi rayray

I know you posted this a while ago but where did you get the bump stops & mounts from?

Cheers
Mark

[rayray086]

Tooleys Imports @ Waitara (Hornsby-ish).

Address is 1 James St, Waitara. Phone: (02) 9476-2999. Good to call up first as sometimes they might not have what you're after in stock.

They have a lot of new parts for our cars.

Alternatively, you can give Matt a.k.a. Golf Loon a call on 0423051737. A sponsor here, he'll be able to give you some cheap deals on second-hand stuff.

[frank_grimes]

I have a set of 2nd hand lowered APEX spring and rear APEX shocks for sale if you want them cheap...there just sitting in the shed..

[frank_grimes]

Finally got pics and price..have a look under the for sale part section

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?p=58130#post58130