VW Bora suspension, how soft should it be?

[logic0n3]

Hi All,
I have a 2001 4mo Bora (which I love), but I am getting concerned about the suspension.

It is really soft. And bouncy. pretty sure I have bottomed them out a couple of times travelling on a main road in the far left lane where there are side streets (so there are long bumps in the road).
And I only have a corola and subaroo forester to compare with, so it's not like I am used to sports cars with hard suspension.

So my questions is, is this normal? or do I need to replace my shocks?

And should I be looking to upgrade to R32 suspension or something like that?
I'm pretty keen to keep stuff as close to stock as possible, but I'm open to options.

Cheers

[dylan8]

normally was pretty soft and boaty from factory. Dunno about bottoming out though. Maybe struts are dead.
R32 springs and struts could be a goer. Or just buy some new bilstein struts to match the oem sprins

[logic0n3]

OK, so I had my car checked out at pedders (only place that was open) and my shocks definitely need replacing.

So at this point I am considering the following:

Bilstein shocks (with stock springs)
Stock shocks.
R32 shocks.

Would R32 shock be OK on a bora given that the rear is lighter on an R32?
When I was at Pedders, they told me that there was two versions of the stock shocks, a normal one and a sports one. Whats the difference? Which ones would my car have come with?

Any recommendations/advice much appreciated!
Cheers

[logic0n3]

Edit: accidental double post.

[CamYoung]

OK, so I had my car checked out at pedders (only place that was open) and my shocks definitely need replacing.

So at this point I am considering the following:

Bilstein shocks (with stock springs)
Stock shocks.
R32 shocks.

Would R32 shock be OK on a bora given that the rear is lighter on an R32?
When I was at Pedders, they told me that there was two versions of the stock shocks, a normal one and a sports one. Whats the difference? Which ones would my car have come with?

Any recommendations/advice much appreciated!
Cheers

I just recently bought a 2003 v6 4motion bora. It had already had the rear shocks replaced with the bilstein sports (yellow ones)
i could feel a big difference to the front, particularly on freeway. Rear was was far more planted then the front.
i then replaced the fronts and it balanced the car up again.
it was still softish with standard springs, but definetly would not bottom out with normal driving.
i have just last week replaced springs with 30 mm lowered spam springs, and I think it has made a huge difference.
the car feel a lot more planted on the road without too much sacrificed in ride quality.
the only downside to the bilsteins is the price, fronts cost $700 to supply only as I fitted them myself.

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Be careful with Pedders. I don't trust them as far as I can throw them and I have a bad aim.

Get it checked by a trustworthy mechanic or suspension shop. Pedders I do not believe is one of them. Every single person I know of who've had their $14 check have always been given a long list of necessary repairs - half of which were bogus.

I find my 4mo's coilovers a bit bouncy at times and the car can sway a bit through corners but I'm looking more to the puny 16mm swaybar at the back than the suspension.

How many kms has your 4mo done? I'd expect a good 200,000kms out of any car's stock suspension.

Also check your bump stops and strut tops before assuming the struts are gone.

[logic0n3]

I just recently bought a 2003 v6 4motion bora. It had already had the rear shocks replaced with the bilstein sports (yellow ones)
i could feel a big difference to the front, particularly on freeway. Rear was was far more planted then the front.
i then replaced the fronts and it balanced the car up again.
it was still softish with standard springs, but definetly would not bottom out with normal driving.
i have just last week replaced springs with 30 mm lowered spam springs, and I think it has made a huge difference.
the car feel a lot more planted on the road without too much sacrificed in ride quality.
the only downside to the bilsteins is the price, fronts cost $700 to supply only as I fitted them myself.

How hard was it to fit them yourself? I've been considering doing it myself, but ust a little nervous.
Also something is making horrible noises at the front right (tie rod end according to VW dealer, strut mounting plate according to pedders), so thought I'd get it all done at once.

[logic0n3]

Be careful with Pedders. I don't trust them as far as I can throw them and I have a bad aim.

Get it checked by a trustworthy mechanic or suspension shop. Pedders I do not believe is one of them. Every single person I know of who've had their $14 check have always been given a long list of necessary repairs - half of which were bogus.

I find my 4mo's coilovers a bit bouncy at times and the car can sway a bit through corners but I'm looking more to the puny 16mm swaybar at the back than the suspension.

How many kms has your 4mo done? I'd expect a good 200,000kms out of any car's stock suspension.

Also check your bump stops and strut tops before assuming the struts are gone.

Yeah, not totally convinced with Pedders. They told me that it needed a break fluid flush, but that was done 6 months ago.

It's only done about 100,000km, but I am pretty sure the shocks are gone. It is really bouncy, and I bottom out way too often. That shouldn't happen.
Yeah, I was wondering about upgrading the sway bar myself. Graeme86 has a R32 sway bar atm. which I might get. I just don't know enough about what difference it will make. Don't even know how my car should feel with stock suspension that isn't gone, so makes everything hard to judge.

I've had it serviced at Bryan and Byrt VW before, but didn't think much of them. So might take it to Prestige and Performance or Alba European and see what they say.

[CamYoung]

How hard was it to fit them yourself? I've been considering doing it myself, but ust a little nervous.
Also something is making horrible noises at the front right (tie rod end according to VW dealer, strut mounting plate according to pedders), so thought I'd get it all done at once.

I wouldn't tackle unles you had a reasonable amount of mechanical aptitude. It's not a hard job, but you want to be careful with spring compressor. I watched a couple of utube videos to see exact sequence as well.
My car has done 200ks so I would be a bit surprised if yours needed replacing after 100k. Maybe just some stiffer lowered springs might firm up the ride for you.

I took mine for a blast through winding country roads this afternoon and I love it. Handles quite well now.

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Yeah, not totally convinced with Pedders. They told me that it needed a break fluid flush, but that was done 6 months ago.

It's only done about 100,000km, but I am pretty sure the shocks are gone. It is really bouncy, and I bottom out way too often. That shouldn't happen.
Yeah, I was wondering about upgrading the sway bar myself. Graeme86 has a R32 sway bar atm. which I might get. I just don't know enough about what difference it will make. Don't even know how my car should feel with stock suspension that isn't gone, so makes everything hard to judge.

I've had it serviced at Bryan and Byrt VW before, but didn't think much of them. So might take it to Prestige and Performance or Alba European and see what they say.

I outrightly just don't trust Pedders full stop. Not only have I heard horror stores about those checks but also the quality of their suspension is often very questionable. I know of people buying brand new springs and struts from them and they were bottoming out. The solution? - Half fill their tank with petrol!

I'd be very surprised if the shocks are gone at 100,000km. Did the previous owner live on bad mountain/farm road or something?
Are you sure the car's kms are legitmate?!

My car had it's suspension changed somewhere around the 180,000km mark and it was mostly due to the owner wanting "moar low". I was given the stock suspension and it was still in decent nick - not great but working. Unfortunately after leaving it out in the rain for a few weeks, it's completely rooted.

Nonetheless have it checked by a proper trustworthy place. Maybe check some recommendations on this forum or others for any VW or other workshops in your area.

As for your questions on a swaybar - Here's a great description (http://www.houseofthud.com/cartech/swaybars.htm)

[gringo_54_oval]

If you want firm suspension i would recommend you get Weitec Hicon coilovers firms it up heaps nice and not too much gets rid of that boat feel and if you dare you can lower it that suits your driveway :banana: and also replace your strut top mount and bearing while everything is out.
have a chat to preen on here he can hook you up with a decent price.
And like everyone else is saying get away from pedders they know only commodores and falcons

[dylan8]

I'd be very surprised if the shocks are gone at 100,000km. Did the previous owner live on bad mountain/farm road or something?
Are you sure the car's kms are legitmate?!

Mine were well on the way out at 100k km

[popeclement]

It's not so much the actual shocks that don't last, it's the rubber bits. When I installed the Bilsteins, I took note of quite a few bushes etc and replaced these with the supposedly firmer Audi TT variety. Car is close to 200,000 clicks.

[logic0n3]

So just to keep people updated,

I ended up buying some second hand R32 suspension from Graeme86, despite him trying to convince me to buy Koni's :)
Installed them myself without too much trouble, was a fair bit of work though. Haven't got the rear R32 springs in yet, couldn't get the old ones out easily. I'll have another go at it soon though.

The difference is amazing! I can now drive into driveways in second gear without hitting the front of the car and the car sticks to the road soooo much better.

Only real problem is that there now seem to be a vibration at about 70km/h, seems to be coming from rear left...
Have no idea what it might be :(

[dylan8]

get the rest of the setup in, then get an alignment in a weeks time once everything has settled