Harsh ride / knackered shocks?

[ritch]

Just looking for some advice / confirmation:

My Golf is very harsh on the front end crashing over potholes and uneven roadsufaces. I've checked over and everything is tight (ARB,droplinks, top mounts etc)

There is very little movement when pressing on the front end, 10mm travel at best - its is practically rock solid - no bounce, so that explains the harsh ride.

Would this be a result of knackered shock absorbers? i.e. if they have lost all dampening then effectively they are always bottomed out and riding on the springs so they wont absorb any changes in the road surface, hence the harsh ride?

[LeoSayer]

Any details on the Golf?

How old, which model, how many miles, is it modified, how long have you owned etc.

[ritch]

Mk5 golf gti
120k
Owned for just over a week
looks like eibach lowering springs, which based on previous experience on jap cars is usually a better ride over standard

[rallycross]

More likely the after market springs have comPressed the standard shocks and totally ruined the ride and handling due to there no being enough travel for a standard shock.

[ritch]

rallycross said:

More likely the after market springs have comPressed the standard shocks and totally ruined the ride and handling due to there no being enough travel for a standard shock.

thanks, definately dont think there is enough travel, if I jack the car up the shock will extend quite a bit as you would expect with normal suspension, so it does look like the springs are compressing the travel range of the shock. I've looked into the springs, they appear to be Eibach Sportlines and should lower by 20 -25mm.

I think the next step is to find some standard springs and new front shocks then.

[LeoSayer]

Standard kit on a MK5 is just about perfect for UK roads in my opinion.

Check what shocks you have - just in case it's after market and you can sell the kit to recoup the cost.

If they're original shocks then at 120k they're probably past their best anyway.

[ritch]

LeoSayer said:

Standard kit on a MK5 is just about perfect for UK roads in my opinion.

Check what shocks you have - just in case it's after market and you can sell the kit to recoup the cost.

If they're original shocks then at 120k they're probably past their best anyway.

Shocks are Sachs and the part number matches OEM, so I assume they are the originals.

[Dubmaster77]

are the standard bump stops still fitted? the rubber bits wrapped round the top of the shock?

[tapkaJohnD]

Lowering springs are stiffer springs. The lower, the stiffer.
You've bought a smooth tarmac vehicle and used it on public UK roads!

John

[ritch]

by way of an update, I've purchased and fitted fitted standard shocks and springs with new top mounts etc. definitely an improvement over the previous lowered (knackered) setup.

Its still a firm ride, but more compliant. :happy2:

[LeoSayer]

Nice.

Thanks for the update.