Lowered front shocks specs

[v6mikey]

Quick q for mirez.  I bought the same lowering springs as you.  I had a local garage install them and they had to cut the old shocks off. Not sure what brand of new shocks they installed.  Since then I have installed new shocks on the rear, following your recommendation I installed kyb gas shocks.

Now I am not happy with the unknown brand they installed compared to the rears.  They seem to be very bouncy to the point of being uncomfortable.

Are yours bouncy on the front?

I'm starting to think about replacing them with the same as the rears.

[Mirez]

No far from it, I've replaced the front and rear shocks at the same time all with KYB and its rides very nicely, not as soft as the Golf but not in the least bit bouncy!

What alloys and tyres do you have on it? I did play around with PSI's at the time to get it riding right, ending up at 38PSI (F) and 36PSI (R) in the end on 225/50/17 XL Tyres.

[v6mikey]

Standard 16 inch wheels with nexen tyres. Tyres will need replacing soon though.  I don't fancy going to 17's as I think the ride quality will get worse.

I think I will just bite the bullet and replace the front shocks for kyb's.

[Mirez]

TBH I didn't notice a difference and I've just gone to 18's and it's still comfortable

[v6mikey]

Well I did ask for first refusal on your 17's, but I have spent enough recently! so that's not happening any time soon. Need to get the ride quality sorted first.

It is really bouncy on the front and I think my tyres have gone hard with age.  They are really noisy now and I feel every bump in the road.  It's driving me mad at the moment.

I think I am going for the barum bravius 2's at the moment. they get some seriously good reviews for grip and comfort.   I have some winter tyres (vredestein wintrac extreme)I might throw on around November time just to put me on till next year.

[Mirez]

Crap I forgot that http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221119078288?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_1164wt_1398 Feel free to make an offer if you want them! To be fair though, I didn't realise how knarly they've gotten - better look after the 18's a little more lol

Bouncy isn't good Well not where car's are concerned! 

What pressure are you running on the 16's?

[v6mikey]

I run a couple of psi less than the sticker for the unladed specs just to keep a bit of comfort. I put a few more psi for the trip to Wales as it was fully laden. This is when the car drives the smoothest because of all the weight!

Are there any differences between the shocks for the diesel and v6 version? I get the feeling that the shocks are far to underrated!

[Mirez]

OEM or aftermarket? OEM there are about 15 different shocks for weights, specs and models, heavy duty and general! Aftermarket there's generally one-type-fits-all I'll dig out the receipt for mine if you want...

[v6mikey]

The part number for the standard shocks to go with these springs and the v6 would be good if you have it.  I'll price them up at my local dealers. Otherwise it may have to be the kyb gas shocks.

Oh and pictures of the 18's are definitely required.  You can't hide that from us! 

[Mirez]

Have two, I need to clean her and take some decent photo's.... and preferably without a sheet of OSD on the roof 

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[SilverBeast]

.... and preferably without a sheet of OSD on the roof

I thought that was
(i) So you didn't have to wash it as often
(ii) So birds couldn't poo on the roof
(iii) Extra sun shade
(iv) Leaking sun roof drains and hadn't got round to fixing them

 

[v6mikey]

Looking good. I do like the oem ness of those particular alloys.  They look like they were made for the car.